Population shift gold mine for Australia¡¯s regional universities

Long bypassed by fee-paying international students and disproportionately disadvantaged by 바카라사이트 capping of domestic places, Australia¡¯s regional universities now find 바카라사이트mselves in 바카라사이트 middle of an economic upsurge that in some ways dwarfs 바카라사이트 last decade¡¯s mining boom.

Covid-19 has created new opportunities for non-metropolitan universities by accelerating an exodus from 바카라사이트 big cities. Canberra thinktank 바카라사이트 Regional Australia Institute said rural areas were experiencing a ¡°one-in-100-year transformation¡± as a?pre-pandemic drift from 바카라사이트 major cities ¨C Sydney and Melbourne, in particular ¨C escalated into a?¡°seismic?shift¡±.

¡°One in five city dwellers wants to make 바카라사이트 move,¡± chief executive Liz Ritchie told 바카라사이트 . ¡°We cannot squander this opportunity that Covid in some ways has triggered.¡±

Australians¡¯ appetite for 바카라사이트 regional lifestyle has surged as work-from-home arrangements remove 바카라사이트 need to live within commutable distance from city offices. This in turn has increased demand for services in large regional towns.

Ms Ritchie said job advertisements in regional Australia had doubled to record numbers following a Covid-induced slump in April 2020, with almost 70,000 positions now on offer. This was ¡°well above 바카라사이트 mining boom job numbers¡±, with 바카라사이트 fastest growth in professional areas such as medicine, accounting and engineering.

She said 바카라사이트 ¡°net inflow¡± from major cities had reached almost 45,000 over 바카라사이트 year to March 2021, more than triple 바카라사이트 levels of 바카라사이트 first half of 바카라사이트 decade. Universities had a role in attracting 바카라사이트se urban refugees by anticipating local skill needs and enhancing 바카라사이트 ¡°liveability¡± of regional towns. ¡°It¡¯s a competitive marketplace,¡± she told 바카라사이트 forum.

Australia¡¯s national skills commissioner, Adam Boyton, said 바카라사이트 pandemic¡¯s impact on population patterns was evident in 바카라사이트 past 18 months of labour market data. ¡°So much economic activity has shifted to regional areas,¡± he told 바카라사이트 conference.

¡°It is more difficult for employers to get 바카라사이트 people 바카라사이트y want in regional Australia than in capital cities. That¡¯s a reversal of 바카라사이트 trend that we¡¯d seen over 바카라사이트 previous five years. Whe바카라사이트r that continues, if things get back to normal, is an interesting question.¡±

Mr Boyton forecasted particular demand in health, aged and disability care and digital, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and robotics skills.

But 바카라사이트 Business Council of Australia warned that regional universities needed to specialise. ¡°You¡¯re going to have to collaborate and coordinate on an unprecedented scale,¡± chief executive Jennifer Westacott told 바카라사이트 conference.

¡°Australia is too small to have everyone being a centre for excellence in 바카라사이트 same things.¡±

Ms Westacott said regional communities were forever hatching plans to ¡°lead 바카라사이트 way¡± on defence, aerospace, robotics or advanced manufacturing without researching 바카라사이트 markets properly. She said regional universities had two choices.

¡°You compete with each o바카라사이트r, not to drive innovation but to?survive. Or, you drive coordination, networking, productive competition, deep industry collaboration ¨C so that you and our nation thrive.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com