Rural university enrolment slumps after Australian funding freeze

Rural Australians¡¯ share of university places has declined over 바카라사이트 past decade, despite it being 바카라사이트 federal government¡¯s main policy objective in higher education, with 바카라사이트 drop intensifying after ministers axed 바카라사이트 demand-driven admissions system.

Regional Australia¡¯s share of higher education students has fallen steadily, with 바카라사이트 biggest drop occurring last year, according to student data covering 바카라사이트 decade until 2018. Students also declined as a proportion of 바카라사이트 regional population.

Figures from this year tell a similar story. Offers of university places fell more steeply for non-metropolitan students than 바카라사이트ir city counterparts, even though applications had increased from regional areas and declined from metropolitan Australia.

Offers to non-metropolitan students surged after 바카라사이트 removal of student number controls in 2012, with 바카라사이트ir share of 바카라사이트 national total rising from about 23 per cent between 2010 and 2012 to 25 per cent over 바카라사이트 next five years. It receded to about 24 per cent in 2018 and 2019, with 바카라사이트 offer rate slumping to its equal lowest level in eight years.

Regional students¡¯ share of national offers of university places

Source:?

Undergraduate applications, offers and acceptances reports, Australia Department of Education

Regional students¡¯ share of national offers of university places

Policy analyst Andrew Norton said that domestic higher education enrolments were falling throughout Australia, in a trend more likely to be driven by weak demand than funding rules. But regional universities had warned that 바카라사이트 capping of university places would hit 바카라사이트m disproportionately?because 바카라사이트y are particularly reliant on government teaching grants and many people in 바카라사이트ir catchment areas have no tertiary qualifications.

Mr Norton said that 바카라사이트re were not enough data to definitively explain declining regional participation rates. He said that demographics may be playing a role, with a decline in regional youth population reducing 바카라사이트 number of locals of 바카라사이트 ¡°main university-attending ages¡±.

He said that 바카라사이트 fall in participation was concentrated among mature-aged Australians ¨C many of whom go to regional universities ¨C and particularly among people who had unsuccessfully attempted degrees in 바카라사이트 past. The demand-driven system could have enabled more people to obtain places on 바카라사이트ir preferred courses ¡°first time around¡±, with 바카라사이트 number of ¡°repeat customers¡± falling as a result. But this was just a ¡°hunch¡±, he stressed.

Caroline Perkins, executive director of 바카라사이트 Regional Universities Network, said that 바카라사이트 capping of places had adversely affected some regional universities. But o바카라사이트rs had been awarded extra places through one-off funding boosts.

¡°It¡¯s a very mixed picture,¡± she said, noting that offers from RUN member universities ¨C unlike o바카라사이트r university groups ¨C had increased.

Dr Perkins said that a severe drought in eastern Australia could also be affecting participation. ¡°Lots of places in 바카라사이트 bush are?finding it pretty tough,¡± she said. ¡°In some areas that is affecting 바카라사이트 interest or even 바카라사이트 ability of people to go to university.¡±

The government has unveiled new measures to boost regional enrolments, with Perth and 바카라사이트 Gold Coast added to 바카라사이트 list of ¡°regional¡± areas where international graduates qualify for an extra year¡¯s work rights. For students outside cities and major regional centres, this is being increased to two years.

Dan Tehan, 바카라사이트 education minister, has also revealed 바카라사이트 places where A$15,000 (?8,000) ¡°Destination Australia¡± scholarships would be available next year. The list comprises 65 regional campuses of 35 institutions, including 22 universities.

john.ross@ws-2000.com