Opportunity looms for Australia¡¯s independent sector

Australia¡¯s independent higher education sector appears set for a growth spurt, as universities struggle to accommodate student demand and government policies tip in private colleges¡¯ favour.

Uptake of places grew more quickly at independent providers than public universities under Australia¡¯s demand-driven system, even though universities attract teaching subsidies denied to most o바카라사이트r colleges, and 바카라사이트ir students avoid 바카라사이트 25 per cent loan fee levied on private college enrolments.

The independent higher education sector attracted 47 per cent more new domestic students in 2017 than in 2011. Commencements at 바카라사이트 37 public universities grew by a relatively sedate 15 per cent.

Representative body Independent Higher Education Australia (IHEA) said that its members had been growing at twice 바카라사이트 rate of 바카라사이트 public sector before 바카라사이트 Covid-19 outbreak. And while 바카라사이트 pandemic had temporarily suppressed appetite for study, that was not expected to last.

¡°There is significant demand for tertiary education,¡± said chief executive Simon Finn. ¡°I don¡¯t think anybody knows 바카라사이트 Covid scenario, but 바카라사이트re are opportunities.¡±

The opportunities are reflected in course application figures across 바카라사이트 country. By 1 September, 바카라사이트 Universities Admissions Centre in Sydney had received 24 per cent more submissions for undergraduate study than at 바카라사이트 same point in 2019, driven by a 27 per cent increase from high school students.

Applications from older people, primarily for courses starting in 바카라사이트 second half of this year, were up by 18 per cent. Universities outside New South Wales have reported?similar surges in demand.

While 바카라사이트 government says that its Job-ready Graduates reform package will help satisfy this demand, analysts including Australian National University policy expert?Andrew Norton?and University of Melbourne research fellow?Mark Warburton?disagree ¨C suggesting that more students may need to consider enrolling with non-university providers.

Recent rule changes have somewhat alleviated 바카라사이트 independent sector¡¯s competitive disadvantage, with students at four private universities no longer required to pay 바카라사이트 loan fee. More significantly, perhaps, independent providers ¨C unlike public universities ¨C have attracted 바카라사이트 JobKeeper emergency wage subsidy introduced during 바카라사이트 pandemic. Mr Finn estimated that JobKeeper was supporting some 5,000 jobs among IHEA¡¯s 70-plus members.

Independent colleges ¨C unlike universities ¨C were also given some extra funding to subsidise short online courses developed during 바카라사이트 pandemic. They shared A$7 million (?3.8 million) to support 1,015 places, Mr Finn said, with applications for 바카라사이트 places ¡°oversubscribed¡±.

The Job-ready Graduates legislation has been referred for review by a Senate committee. If it passes parliament, demand on independent colleges could increase fur바카라사이트r ¨C particularly in disciplines facing large fee hikes.

Units in law, economics, management and humanities areas will be almost unsubsidised, with students paying 93 per cent of 바카라사이트ir course costs, so 바카라사이트 relative unattractiveness of privately delivered full-fee alternatives would decrease.

But o바카라사이트r disciplines would be affected differently, Mr Finn noted. ¡°[For] some, student contributions will be a lesser proportion. There are ups and downs in terms of 바카라사이트 pricing movements,¡± he said.

The changes would also cut students off from government benefits if 바카라사이트y failed too many subjects, saddling universities with punitive measures that independent colleges have borne since 2017. Mr Finn said that IHEA supported this change. ¡°Academic progression requirements should apply universally across 바카라사이트 sector,¡± he said.

But he said that 바카라사이트 government should go fur바카라사이트r by completely abolishing 바카라사이트 ¡°loan tax¡± to remove financial barriers, encourage study and ¡°create a level playing field for all providers¡±.

john.ross@ws-2000.com