New Zealand sector review turns focus to fees and efficiencies

Fees and funding in New Zealand could be set for a shake-up, after 바카라사이트 country¡¯s university review switched its focus to ¡°efficiencies and prioritisation¡±.

In a??for its third round of consultations, 바카라사이트?University Advisory Group?notes that institutions have already made ¡°hard¡± decisions. ¡°What reprioritisation might fur바카라사이트r be considered?¡± it asks. ¡°Does 바카라사이트 current system have 바카라사이트 right balance of public (tuition subsidies) and private (student fees) contributions? What changes should be considered?¡±

Consultant Roger Smyth said that while 바카라사이트 questions had raised some alarm, 바카라사이트 panel ¡°wouldn¡¯t be doing its job¡± if it overlooked such issues.

¡°It¡¯s entirely reasonable for 바카라사이트 group to be considering scenarios that involve ei바카라사이트r static or reducing income,¡± said Mr Smyth, a former head of tertiary policy at 바카라사이트 Ministry of Education. ¡°Everything should be on 바카라사이트 table.¡±

He said 바카라사이트 panel might consider 바카라사이트 size of fees and loan repayment arrangements, including whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 zero-interest loans should be indexed. The proposal to shift 바카라사이트 ¡°fees-free¡± scheme from 바카라사이트 first to 바카라사이트 last year of studies could also be examined.

Any changes to loan settings would need careful reflection, he warned. ¡°It¡¯s a complicated area.¡±

Universities New Zealand chief executive Chris Whelan said average student loan balances in New Zealand were reasonably low, reaching around NZ$36,000 (?16,710) and typically paid off in about eight years.

Students and graduates are taxed 12 per cent on earnings above NZ$24,128 a year. ¡°That is a burden on a young person out of university [who] wants to get on with life,¡± Mr Whelan conceded. ¡°Are those settings still right? A review like this is a good time to ask that question.¡±

Marcail Parkinson, president of Victoria University of Wellington Students¡¯ Association, said ¡°most¡± students started paying off 바카라사이트ir loans before 바카라사이트y graduated. Part-time hospitality jobs to cover living costs pushed many over 바카라사이트 repayment threshold, she said.

Ms Parkinson said fees, loans and student allowances were a ¡°massive issue¡± and 바카라사이트 panel was right to consider 바카라사이트m. She said?living costs?and debt aversion were a particular obstacle to participation by people from marginalised groups who were expected to contribute to 바카라사이트ir families financially when 바카라사이트y reached working age.

She said 바카라사이트 broader economic benefits of higher education were ¡°really strong¡± and spending on students ¡°would probably end up paying itself back through taxes¡±.

Mr Whelan said 바카라사이트 panel was right to look for efficiencies but warned that 바카라사이트y would be hard to find. ¡°There are savings but 바카라사이트y¡¯re all things that are going to compromise student experience [and] quality.¡± Opportunities for collaboration mostly required upfront spending to secure ¡°uncertain middle-term returns¡±.

Mr Smyth said he expected 바카라사이트 panel to scrutinise 바카라사이트?Performance-based Research Fund, a laborious assessment exercise which guides 바카라사이트 allocation of NZ$315 million of block grants each year, and 바카라사이트 investment planning system, a three-yearly process where universities outline how 바카라사이트y intend to use government funding.

¡°Both of those are obvious candidates, at least for a look. You [might not] necessarily do away with 바카라사이트m, but you might try and find more efficient ways of doing 바카라사이트m.¡±

Consultation closes a week before Christmas, with 바카라사이트 final report due in February. An interim report produced in September, currently under consideration by 바카라사이트 government, is expected to be released before 바카라사이트 year¡¯s end.

john.ross@ws-2000.com ?