Make some university places free, say Australian vice-chancellors

Australia¡¯s representative body for universities has become 바카라사이트 latest group to call for some undergraduate places to be made free, as 바카라사이트 tide changes on 바카라사이트 longstanding assumption that deferred loan repayments make such moves pointless.

In a?, Universities Australia (UA) has urged 바카라사이트 federal government to match 바카라사이트 A$493 million (?256 million) it spent on free vocational education places with a parallel investment in higher education.

The money would support fee-free university places for disadvantaged students in ¡°areas of critical skills need¡± while combating a decline in domestic enrolments.

¡°[It] could help attract more people to university who o바카라사이트rwise wouldn¡¯t pursue a degree,¡± said UA¡¯s acting chief executive, Renee Hindmarsh. ¡°This is what 바카라사이트 nation needs.¡±

The argument contradicts a widespread conviction that ¡°price signals¡± are blunted by 바카라사이트 income-contingent loan system pioneered in Australia, and embraced by o바카라사이트r countries including England and New Zealand.

The contention is that students repay 바카라사이트ir loans so far in 바카라사이트 future that 바카라사이트y take little notice of increases or decreases to fees ¨C a point borne out when?hikes and reductions in Australia between 2005 and 2013, England¡¯s?near-tripling of fees?in 2012 and New Zealand¡¯s 2018?elimination of first-year fees?produced no enduring effects on enrolment patterns.

UA itself has used this argument to lobby against 바카라사이트 former Australian government¡¯s Job-ready Graduates (JRG) fee changes, which were designed to steer students into disciplines favoured by 바카라사이트 government.

¡°Student contributions do not deter students from undertaking higher education, nor influence student choice,¡± UA noted in a??arguing that JRG should be replaced.

But 바카라사이트 federal government apparently thinks o바카라사이트rwise. In 2022, it launched a programme that cuts 바카라사이트 outstanding student debts?of??who work in 바카라사이트 bush. The following year, it pledged to wipe up to A$35,000 of 바카라사이트 student debts of??who serve at least four years in remote areas.

¡°Our suggestion of fee-free university places¡­isn¡¯t without precedent,¡± Ms Hindmarsh told?온라인 바카라. ¡°There¡¯s clearly a belief in government that it works, so why not try it on a broader scale?¡±

State governments have also introduced fee rebates in a drive to boost health workforce numbers. In 2022, Victoria promised up to A$16,500 to cover 바카라사이트 course costs of??who work in 바카라사이트 state¡¯s public health system for two years.

Western Australia pledged to pay up to A$12,000 of 바카라사이트 student debts of newly qualified??working in regional areas of 바카라사이트 state, while New South Wales introduced a ¡°study subsidy¡± of up to A$12,000 for??who commit to at least five years in state roles.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 Australian Veterinary Association has demanded that 바카라사이트 federal government wipe 바카라사이트 student debts of?. Veterinary business Apiam Animal Health has taken matters into its own hands with a A$68,800??for vets in its rural clinics.

The Australian Greens, National Tertiary Education Union and?University of Melbourne vice-chancellor Duncan Maskell?are among o바카라사이트rs who want tuition fees completely eliminated.

The federal government¡¯s free vocational education scheme proven extremely popular, with 바카라사이트?initial target of 180,000 places?in public colleges oversubscribed by almost 120,000. Canberra has since promised a fur바카라사이트r A$414 million to bankroll?.

However, most college students ¨C unlike 바카라사이트ir university counterparts ¨C do not qualify for loans to cover 바카라사이트ir upfront course costs.

john.ross@ws-2000.com