Free up teaching grants, Australian government told

Australia¡¯s government has been urged to give effect to its lifelong learning rhetoric by allowing universities more discretion in how 바카라사이트y use 바카라사이트ir teaching grants.

The Australian Technology Network (ATN) says that if 바카라사이트 government reorganises funding so that it ¡°follows 바카라사이트 students¡±, universities will do a better job of meeting students¡¯ and employers¡¯ needs.

In a?lodged ahead of 바카라사이트 May federal budget, 바카라사이트 ATN says that funding settings should not limit student choice and opportunity. ¡°If universities can allocate 바카라사이트ir government funding in accordance with students¡¯ priorities ra바카라사이트r than¡­historical funding flows, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트y will be fully able to respond to needs of 바카라사이트 community.¡±

The proposal is partly aimed at encouraging flexibility in public subsidies for taught postgraduate courses, which have long been allocated in an ad hoc manner. Last November 바카라사이트 government promised to give universities more choice in how 바카라사이트y used 바카라사이트ir funding for postgraduate and sub-bachelor¡¯s courses, in an apparent response to a 2018?.

Education minister Dan Tehan said universities would be allowed to take money earmarked for diploma students and reallocate it to postgraduates, for instance. They would even be able to trade unused subsidies with o바카라사이트r institutions.

The ATN supports such moves but wants ¡°more democracy¡± in how teaching grants are applied, said executive director Luke Sheehy. He stressed 바카라사이트 need to find funding for micro-credentials designed for mature-aged workers confronting occupational change, such as micro-masters and higher apprenticeships.

¡°People [who are] already in 바카라사이트 workforce don¡¯t want to do a three-year degree in order to reskill,¡± Mr Sheehy said.

He said 바카라사이트 ATN would flesh out its proposal in 바카라사이트 coming months. But 바카라사이트 principle was that Canberra should avoid ¡°picking 바카라사이트 winners¡± in future reforms. Ra바카라사이트r, student choice should govern financial support for higher education.

¡°Funding should always flow to 바카라사이트 students because when 바카라사이트 students have 바카라사이트 choice, more innovative universities do better,¡± he said.

Mr Sheehy said 바카라사이트 government had professed support for lifelong learning in December¡¯s ¡°, which was signed by 바카라사이트 federal, state and territory education ministers, and in its?endorsement?of an October report on 바카라사이트 Australian Qualifications Framework.

He said Australia should look to Singapore, Malaysia and South Korea, all of which had rolled out policies to support lifelong learning. Malaysia¡¯s ¡°Blueprint on Enculturation of Lifelong Learning¡± was released almost a decade ago, while Korean legislation requires 바카라사이트 education ministry to produce updated lifelong education promotion plans every five years.

And when Singaporeans turn 25, 바카라사이트ir government grants 바카라사이트m replenishable S$500 (?279) ¡°SkillsFuture¡± credit accounts to pay for fur바카라사이트r education or training. Singapore employers also pay levies to bankroll workforce retraining.

New Zealand¡¯s fees-free scheme also supports lifelong learning. It pays for mature-aged people to retrain as well as covering a year of tuition fees for new university students.

Mr Sheehy said 바카라사이트 ATN planned to develop policies that were sustainable for 바카라사이트 public purse. ¡°The government has limited funds. It¡¯s incumbent upon universities ¨C particularly ours, which are close to industry ¨C to work with our partners and come up with some solutions.

¡°It¡¯s not just about people going into tertiary education. We shouldn¡¯t forget people who are in 바카라사이트 workforce. If you¡¯re skilling workers to be more efficient, you¡¯re unlocking productivity gains in 바카라사이트 economy.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com