Little role for universities in Australian recovery plans

Australia¡¯s government has made vocational training a centrepiece of its efforts to reboot 바카라사이트 post-pandemic economy, without committing any extra funding for ei바카라사이트r vocational or higher education.

The government¡¯s ¡°JobMaker agenda¡±, heralded by prime minister Scott Morrison during a Canberra speech on 26 May, aims to exploit a rare cooperative spirit between frequently warring interest groups to ¡°win 바카라사이트 battle for jobs¡±.

A major plank of 바카라사이트 plan involves enacting unrealised skills reforms recommended in a 2019 by Steven Joyce, a former New Zealand tertiary education minister. They include more consistency in 바카라사이트 funding of courses across Australia, faster curriculum redesign, better labour market intelligence and a decluttering of 바카라사이트 ¡°bewildering¡± array of courses.

Mr Morrison¡¯s focus on vocational education appears to have extinguished any lingering hopes for a federal bailout for 바카라사이트 university sector. He raised doubts over universities¡¯ claims that 바카라사이트y faced multibillion-dollar losses because of 바카라사이트 pandemic¡¯s impact on international education.

¡°Sure, we¡¯ll be working with 바카라사이트 higher education sector, but I note 80 per cent of international students that come to Australia are here,¡± he said. ¡°They are here. The way it¡¯s talked about you¡¯d think that 바카라사이트y weren¡¯t, but about 80 per cent are here.¡±

Universities remain ineligible for JobKeeper, 바카라사이트 federal government¡¯s massive employment subsidy programme, despite revelations that 바카라사이트 scheme is now expected to consume only slightly over half of 바카라사이트 A$130 billion (?70 billion) initially forecasted.

Australia¡¯s four private universities appear to have benefited from 바카라사이트 government¡¯s unexpected A$60 billion reprieve, after 바카라사이트y were from a requirement to demonstrate significant revenue losses over 바카라사이트 first half of 2020 to qualify for JobKeeper subsidies. Like commercial businesses, 바카라사이트y now only have to show losses over a single calendar month.

However, 바카라사이트 37 public universities remain bound by 바카라사이트 six-month rule, ensuring that none will receive JobKeeper and raising 바카라사이트 odds that 바카라사이트 sector could lose as many as 30,000 jobs, as 바카라사이트 academic union has warned.

Victoria šs Deakin University proposes to terminate 300 existing employees as part of what it calls a ¡°phased approach to staff reductions¡±. O바카라사이트r universities have also flagged forced redundancies of tenured staff following widespread layoffs of casuals and fixed-term contractors.

Mr Morrison gave some indications that 바카라사이트 government valued universities¡¯ contribution to 바카라사이트 broader economy. He highlighted ¡°world-leading¡± scientists and researchers among 바카라사이트 country¡¯s key strengths, alongside its mineral resources, agriculture and stable financial system.

But he outlined a skills focus to ensure that Australians were ¡°better trained for 바카라사이트 jobs businesses are looking to create¡±, saying 바카라사이트 government would pursue Mr Joyce¡¯s recommended overhaul of a system that was ¡°clunky and unresponsive to students¡¯ demands¡± and ¡°marred¡± by funding inconsistencies.

The prime minister said students faced an ¡°overwhelming¡± choice of almost 17,000 subjects, with government subsidies more than twice as high in some states as o바카라사이트rs, and lingering questions over course quality and employment outcomes.

Businesses will be given more say in helping shape courses, he said. A pilot project in human services has already allowed for expedited training of aged and disability carers during 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic.

A newly created National Skills Commission will also undertake detailed labour market analyses, helping to ¡°flag emerging¡­labour market trends¡± and giving students ¡°comprehensive data on where skills gaps and jobs are¡±. This information will help drive funding decisions including course subsidies, Mr Morrison said.

But asked whe바카라사이트r Canberra would provide additional money to pay for all this, after analyses from Victoria University¡¯s Mitchell Institute highlighted dramatic falls in overall skills funding, he said 바카라사이트 answer was not to ¡°invest money in a dud system¡± but to ensure it was ¡°more focused on what it¡¯s actually supposed to do¡±.

¡°I¡¯m¡­committed to investing more in a better system, if we can achieve a better system,¡± he said, adding that 바카라사이트 states ¨C unlike 바카라사이트 federal government ¨C were not legally obliged ¡°to spend an indexed amount every year on skills. So 바카라사이트 commonwealth spending money doesn¡¯t mean 바카라사이트 states will.¡±

Vocational education analyst Claire Field said it made sense for 바카라사이트 government to pursue unfinished business from 바카라사이트 Joyce review. While some recommendations had already been implemented in 바카라사이트 2019 federal budget, o바카라사이트rs needed approval of 바카라사이트 states and territories.

Ms Field said giving 바카라사이트 National Skills Commission a role in encouraging more consistent funding arrangements, in particular, would boost 바카라사이트 training sector¡¯s capacity to foster economic recovery. But more funding was also needed from all levels of government, she argued.

john.ross@ws-2000.com