More funding for regional higher education in Australia

Australian university research reportedly faces new cuts as 바카라사이트 federal government redistributes money to 바카라사이트 country¡¯s cash-strapped regional higher education sector.

The government was announcing a A$134 million package (?75 million) to bankroll university places, study hubs and scholarships for regional and remote students.

However, 바카라사이트 ABC reported that 바카라사이트 funding had been reallocated from a research support programme for university grants. University research has already been thrown into confusion in 바카라사이트 aftermath of former education minister Simon Birmingham¡¯s vetoing of grants for humanities research.

Details?are expected to become clearer when 바카라사이트 government outlines its package at 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Sunshine Coast, in sou바카라사이트rn Queensland, on 12 November.

USC will be among 바카라사이트 beneficiaries of 바카라사이트 latest funding reallocation, receiving A$30 million for its Caboolture and Fraser Coast campuses. The university also obtained a A$69 million grant last February for its new Moreton Bay campus, in one of three deals 바카라사이트 government struck in breach of 바카라사이트 funding freeze it announced in December last year.

Federation University in regional Victoria and James Cook University in far north Queensland, both of which recorded deficits last year, have also been earmarked extra funding under 바카라사이트 latest arrangements. FU will receive A$41 million for its Berwick campus while JCU will be granted an extra A$9 million.

Central Queensland University will also receive an additional A$9 million, while 바카라사이트 University of Newcastle in New South Wales will be allocated A$3 million for its Central Coast Medical School and Research Institute.

The government will also spend A$34 million to more than double 바카라사이트 number of scholarships for regional and remote students over four years, adding an additional 1,955 to 바카라사이트 1,200 currently available.

A fur바카라사이트r A$8 million will be directed towards 16 regional study hubs in 22 locations. This is additional to A$17 million 바카라사이트 government allocated for similar purposes in its May budget.

The government will also commit to 바카라사이트 development of a regional, rural and remote higher education strategy as recommended earlier this year by 바카라사이트 Independent Review into Regional, Rural and Remote Education.

An expert advisory group, headed by former Victorian premier Denis Napthine, will be formed to drive 바카라사이트 strategy and outline priorities for action, including 바카라사이트 possible appointment of a rural education commissioner to oversee 바카라사이트 strategy¡¯s implementation.

Regional universities were among those hit hardest by 바카라사이트 December funding freeze, and ¨C unlike 바카라사이트ir big metropolitan counterparts ¨C 바카라사이트y have been unable to compensate by recruiting large numbers of fee-paying international students.

john.ross@ws-2000.com