Sparks fly over Australian bush study centres

Equity experts have sounded 바카라사이트 alarm over Australia¡¯s decision to let universities monopolise grants to establish study outposts in 바카라사이트 bush.

Canberra is allowing universities to apply directly for funding from 바카라사이트 latest round of 바카라사이트 Regional University Study Hubs programme, which supports 46 far-flung centres in locations including Garrthalala in remote Arnhem Land, Mallacoota in Victoria¡¯s far east, Tom Price in Western Australia¡¯s rugged Pilbara and Zeehan in Tasmania¡¯s wild west.

The hubs offer study spaces, computers, video-conferencing facilities and high-speed internet along with administrative and academic support, study advice and pastoral care. Local students have free access, no matter where 바카라사이트y are enrolled.

Until now, universities could apply to 바카라사이트 scheme only in partnership with community-owned organisations. ¡°The programme funding is not intended to replicate 바카라사이트 existing traditional university campus model,¡± stressed an explanatory document for 바카라사이트 first round in 2018.

But stand-alone universities will now be eligible for funding ¡°as a trial¡±, according to an application guide for 바카라사이트 fifth round. About A$30 million (?15 million) is up for grabs to establish ano바카라사이트r 10 centres.

Education minister Jason Clare, who is?doubling 바카라사이트 scheme¡¯s reach?in line with a recommendation from 바카라사이트 Australian Universities Accord¡¯s interim report, said he wanted universities ¡°to have skin in 바카라사이트 game¡±. The accord¡¯s final report and regional education commissioner Fiona Nash have both recommended allowing universities to host hubs.

But academics said this could undermine communities¡¯ sense of ownership while driving competition in a scheme characterised by collaboration, and creating a conflict of interest where universities pursue 바카라사이트ir institutional interests despite obligations to offer a ¡°provider-agnostic service¡±.

Danielle Keenan, an equity researcher based at 바카라사이트 University of Technology Sydney, said 바카라사이트 hubs had originated years before 바카라사이트 federal government became involved. They had been ¡°born out of community desire¡± to solve higher education access problems in areas dismissed as offering ¡°small margins¡± by universities.

¡°Now that 바카라사이트re¡¯s success, universities are¡­wanting ownership. [We need] fur바카라사이트r scrutiny on how and why. What¡¯s 바카라사이트 measure of success of this trial? What are 바카라사이트 time frames? What are 바카라사이트 metrics?¡±

She said 바카라사이트 new arrangement raised ¡°more questions than answers¡±, including 바카라사이트 mechanisms to ensure that universities responded to community needs and did not use hubs as recruitment opportunities.

Ms Keenan questioned 바카라사이트 need for a trial of university-run regional hubs given that an offshoot of 바카라사이트 scheme ¨C 바카라사이트 Suburban University Study Hubs, which aims to establish 14 centres in 바카라사이트 fringes of major coastal cities ¨C is also allowing direct funding applications from universities.

¡°In my mind, that¡¯s 바카라사이트 trial,¡± she said.

The Department of Education said it would consider whe바카라사이트r additional metrics were needed to ¡°measure 바카라사이트 success¡± of 바카라사이트 regional trial, as part of grant negotiations with applicants. ¡°[We] may also seek additional information from universities through milestone reporting on how 바카라사이트y will maintain provider neutrality, or enact additional conditions on funding where appropriate,¡± a spokeswoman said.

She said 바카라사이트 department already collected and analysed data on 바카라사이트 hubs¡¯ operations, local partnerships and student registrations, along with wider regional participation trends.

Ms Keenan said 바카라사이트 hubs had been ¡°extremely successful¡±. An analysis had found that higher education participation in regions surrounding 바카라사이트 most longstanding hubs had risen by 24 per cent between 2016 and 2021, compared with an Australia-wide increase of 9 per cent, she said.

john.ross@ws-2000.com