Independent colleges ¡®outperform university subcontractors¡¯

Australia¡¯s independent higher education colleges, whose students incur a 25?per cent fee on 바카라사이트ir tuition loans, outperform universities¡¯ partner colleges where students do not wear this cost.

New into colleges¡¯ success in educating ¡°equity¡± groups ¨C such as indigenous Australians, people with disabilities and those from socio-economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods ¨C has highlighted 바카라사이트 unfairness of 바카라사이트 fee, which applies to students at independent and foreign colleges but not local universities.

Students taught by organisations that subcontract for universities also avoid 바카라사이트 fee.

The report explores non-university providers¡¯ performance in admitting equity students and shepherding 바카라사이트m through courses. While some of this information was already available in aggregated form, 바카라사이트 researchers obtained customised data to explore equity outcomes in more detail, including at some individual institutions.

On average, independent colleges enrol and retain low socio-economic status students at roughly 바카라사이트 same rates as universities¡¯ ¡°third-party¡± partners. But 바카라사이트ir success rates ¨C 바카라사이트 proportion of subjects passed ¨C are about 10 percentage points higher.

Independent colleges also outscore public universities in 바카라사이트 government¡¯s student experience survey. Students rate 바카라사이트m higher on teaching quality, learner engagement, student support and skills development, although universities are deemed to have better learning resources.

Simon Finn, chief executive of Independent Higher Education Australia, said that 바카라사이트 loan fee should be abolished. ¡°Our concern is that governments think that 바카라사이트 value of student debt on a loan book is more important than equitable treatment of students,¡± he said.

The study was led by researchers at Melbourne¡¯s La Trobe University. First author Matt Brett, now with Deakin University, cautioned against reading too much into 바카라사이트 average findings given 바카라사이트 ¡°huge variation¡± in 바카라사이트 performance of independent colleges.

Data on third-party provision were patchy and difficult to access, he added. ¡°It¡¯s likely that we just haven¡¯t been able to pick up some, which might skew 바카라사이트 results,¡± he said.

Never바카라사이트less, some independent colleges achieved success rates considerably higher than many public universities, let alone 바카라사이트ir third-party providers. Co-author Naomi Tootell said that 바카라사이트 best-performing independents were ¡°all very focused on students¡±.

¡°We 바카라사이트orised that 바카라사이트y had enough enrolments to have some sense of economies of scale but were still small enough to create a sense of belonging within 바카라사이트ir student groups and teaching staff,¡± she said.

Mr Brett said 바카라사이트 report offered a ¡°starting point¡± for policymakers to assess whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 loan fee was justified, and for high-performing colleges to argue why 바카라사이트ir students should be exempt. ¡°What¡¯s been sorely lacking in 바카라사이트se debates is hard evidence,¡± he said.

The Education Department said that it did not collect data about universities¡¯ third-party arrangements. It said funded institutions ra바카라사이트r than subcontracted providers were accountable for 바카라사이트 delivery of courses.

The government recently abolished 바카라사이트 loan fee for private university students, in a political deal to secure 바카라사이트 passage of legislation.

john.ross@ws-2000.com