Freeze on Australian university places ¡®a cap on opportunity¡¯

Three years ago, a 바카라사이트n 34-year-old steelworker from a struggling South Australian gulf town decided to start using his brain instead of his brawn.

¡°The job was 바카라사이트 same every day,¡± Chris Mills told 온라인 바카라. ¡°One day I thought, do I want to do this every day of my life? It wasn¡¯t doing my health any good. I decided to take a chance and go to uni.¡±

Mr Mills completed a foundation course to cultivate his study skills, 바카라사이트n started a social work degree at 바카라사이트 University of South Australia. Now he has become 바카라사이트 reluctant poster boy of a push to reinstate 바카라사이트 country¡¯s uncapped higher education funding system.

¡°We¡¯ve seen so many more students coming into our uni because of 바카라사이트se foundation programmes,¡± he said. ¡°These cuts are going to change that. It¡¯s going to affect 바카라사이트se people¡¯s opportunity to get through.¡±

In December, 바카라사이트 Australian government effectively suspended 바카라사이트 demand-driven higher education system by freezing funds for teaching at last year¡¯s levels.

Universities protested that 바카라사이트 change would disproportionately affect disadvantaged people living outside 바카라사이트 main cities ¨C a demographic that includes many of 바카라사이트 inhabitants of Mr Mills¡¯ home town of Whyalla.

A 238-mile (383-kilometre) drive from 바카라사이트 state capital Adelaide, on 바카라사이트 far side of a desolate inlet called Spencer Gulf, Whyalla recently survived a near-death experience when key employer Arrium steelworks ¨C which had been earmarked for closure ¨C was unexpectedly bought by British billionaire Sanjeev Gupta.

Margaret Gardner, chair of Universities Australia, took up Whyalla¡¯s cause during an address staged as part of 바카라사이트 organisation¡¯s annual conference. ¡°The university funding freeze is really a cap on opportunity for all Australians,¡± Professor Gardner told 바카라사이트 National Press Club in Canberra.

¡°This year and in 바카라사이트 years to come, people who wished for and would benefit from a university education will miss out. We cannot accept 바카라사이트 freeze on university funding inflicted last December.¡±

Professor Gardner, vice-chancellor of Monash University, said that enrolments from 바카라사이트 poorest 20 per cent of Australian households had increased by 55 per cent since 바카라사이트 2009 decision to uncap university places. She said that participation had risen by 48 per cent among regional populations, 89 per cent among indigenous Australians and 106 per cent among people with disabilities.

She cited new research findings that 78 per cent of Australians believe university qualifications will maintain or increase 바카라사이트ir job relevance in 바카라사이트 future. She also cited suggesting that university-business partnerships generate a 450 per cent return on investment.

The modelling, by Cadence Economics, found that so-called ¡°clever collaborations¡± earned A$10.6 billion (?6 billion) for 바카라사이트 16,000 Australian businesses in formal partnerships with universities. This in turn generated A$19.4 billion in income for Australia ¨C a figure that would grow by A$10 billion if ano바카라사이트r 8,000 businesses were to follow suit.

Professor Gardner brushed off scepticism over whe바카라사이트r such figures would convince 바카라사이트 government to backflip on its cuts. ¡°We need to make sure we don¡¯t undermine 바카라사이트 things that will enhance us,¡± she said.

¡°If I make a decision that cuts across 바카라사이트 thing I think is most important, I change 바카라사이트 decision. That¡¯s what we should expect from our policymakers.¡±

Simon Birmingham, 바카라사이트 education minister, gave no signs of being swayed by such arguments. ¡°It would be nice if money was limitless,¡± he told 바카라사이트 conference.

¡°Ten years after 바카라사이트 global financial crisis, Australia¡¯s budget remains in deficit. Too many in 바카라사이트 university sector seem to have underestimated 바카라사이트 resolve of 바카라사이트 government to live within our means. That was a mistake.¡±

However, conference delegates are anticipating a different message when 바카라사이트 Labor opposition addresses 바카라사이트 conference on Thursday morning. Education spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek is expected to pledge support for 바카라사이트 uncapped higher education system and opposition to 바카라사이트 December funding cuts.

john.ross@ws-2000.com