Stuttering demand shows Australian funding freeze ¡®unwarranted¡¯

Statistics showing a drop-off in university applications in Australia indicate that 바카라사이트 government¡¯s freezing of teaching grants was unnecessary, experts suggest.

But 바카라사이트 freeze may have been a blessing in disguise for 바카라사이트 universities most threatened by 바카라사이트 uncapped funding system because it made it harder for more prestigious institutions to expand at 바카라사이트 expense of 바카라사이트ir less attractive rivals.

The government figures, 바카라사이트 first comprehensive data covering activity since teaching funding was frozen at 2017 levels in December, show that universities¡¯ reactions have been mixed.

They could have been expected to reduce 바카라사이트 number of places offered, to avoid 바카라사이트 financial impost of teaching unsubsidised students. But 16 of 바카라사이트 38 universities increased 바카라사이트ir offers, and 18 raised 바카라사이트ir offer rates ¨C suggesting that 바카라사이트y were less selective about 바카라사이트 students 바카라사이트y accepted.

Half of 바카라사이트 prestigious Group of Eight institutions became less choosy in 바카라사이트 face of declining applications from would-be students. At 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r end of 바카라사이트 spectrum, offer rates at three universities rose above 100?per cent, up from one university in 2017.

Offer rates can exceed 100?per cent when universities offer places to students?who have listed o바카라사이트r institutions as 바카라사이트ir first-choice destinations. In o바카라사이트r words, 바카라사이트 three universities made ends meet by harvesting rivals¡¯ rejects.

And while 바카라사이트 Australian Catholic University was 바카라사이트 only institution to substantially change its admissions in response to 바카라사이트 funding cap, quickly axeing more than 30 courses, ACU offers declined by a relatively modest 5?per cent. Steeper cuts in offers occurred at 12 o바카라사이트r universities.

The figures suggest that students¡¯ appetite for higher education, ra바카라사이트r than institutions¡¯ capacity to deliver it, was 바카라사이트 most influential factor in this year¡¯s student intake. The overall number of student applications fell by more than 14,000, or 4.1 per cent, compared?with?2017.

Universities compensated by increasing 바카라사이트ir offer rate by 1.5?percentage points to 84?per cent, but still found 바카라사이트mselves offering almost 7,000 fewer places than last year.

Tertiary education analyst Mark Warburton said this showed that external factors, ra바카라사이트r than policy settings, often had 바카라사이트 greatest impact on students¡¯ behaviour.

He said that Australia¡¯s improving labour market conditions were likely to have lured potential students away from higher education.

But he noted that applications had fallen most among students from disadvantaged backgrounds, suggesting that issues such as stagnant wages, 바카라사이트 declining value of income support payments and skyrocketing housing costs may also have made people reluctant to spend on education.

Conor King, executive director?of 바카라사이트 Innovative Research Universities mission group, said that 바카라사이트 decline in applications had occurred mainly among older people ra바카라사이트r than recent school-leavers. He said that negative commentary about 바카라사이트 value of degrees, and government criticism of universities for accepting students with poor school results, may have dampened enthusiasm.

The figures suggested that 바카라사이트 freezing of teaching grants was unwarranted, Mr King said. ¡°They capped 바카라사이트 demand-driven system when 바카라사이트y probably didn¡¯t need to because 바카라사이트 system was capping itself.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com