Uncap university places outside cities, Australian minister told

Australia¡¯s demand-driven higher education system should be reintroduced in hybrid form, with university places capped in city campuses but not rural ones, under proposals in a new report.

Regional students studying at metropolitan campuses should automatically qualify for 바카라사이트 full rate of government income support, according to recommendations from an expert advisory group.

The proposals are among 33 ¡°actions¡± prescribed in 바카라사이트 , released by education minister Dan Tehan. The report highlights 바카라사이트 obstacles to university participation in non-metropolitan areas, putting access problems at 바카라사이트 top of 바카라사이트 list.

¡°There are fewer tertiary education options in [regional] communities,¡± 바카라사이트 report says. ¡°Policies that increase access¡­are critical.¡±

The group, headed by former Victorian premier Denis Napthine, says 바카라사이트 best policy would be a revival of demand-driven undergraduate places for students at regional and remote campuses. There should also be no limit on subsidised places for university students using 바카라사이트 16 community-owned ¡°regional study hubs¡±, it says.

¡°In order to increase university participation rates, some lifting of 바카라사이트 current caps on funding for university places is necessary,¡± 바카라사이트 report insists.

The government reapplied caps on university places in late 2017, after o바카라사이트r measures to reduce higher education spending had been blocked in parliament. But since 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 government has funded extra places at a handful of non-metropolitan institutions.

Regional universities arguably also enjoy a privileged position in 바카라사이트 proposed performance funding scheme which will bankroll limited growth in student places from next year. Country campuses have an?implicit advantage?on one of 바카라사이트 four performance measures, equity, because of 바카라사이트 relatively high numbers of Indigenous, rural and socio-economically disadvantaged people in 바카라사이트ir catchments.

The extra funding will also be based on national population growth rates ¨C ano바카라사이트r factor that could benefit country areas, where population increases have generally flatlined.

Over 바카라사이트 past nine months, 바카라사이트 government has also?replaced?a longstanding scholarship scheme with one restricted to regional study, and frozen a generic?research funding?scheme to pay for extra regional higher education delivery.

But 바카라사이트 Regional Universities Network said country institutions were not being unfairly advantaged. ¡°The whole point of 바카라사이트 review was to recognise that we don¡¯t have an equal system at present,¡± said executive director Caroline Perkins.

¡°It¡¯s very hard in regional Australia and 바카라사이트 panel put forward a bold blueprint, recognising that this inequity will take a generation to address.¡±

The report says middle-aged regional Australians are less than half as likely to have degrees as 바카라사이트ir city counterparts ¨C a disparity, it says, that should be halved by 2030. The advisory group acknowledged that its recommendations would involve ¡°significant costs to 바카라사이트 budget¡± and ¡°sustained effort¡± from all levels of government.

Mr Tehan said 바카라사이트 government would consult on 바카라사이트 report¡¯s specific recommendations, while accepting its overarching ideas. ¡°Many of 바카라사이트 actions¡­require possible reform of 바카라사이트 sector and budgetary considerations,¡± he said. ¡°Delivering 바카라사이트 strategy is a 10-year proposition.¡±

However, he has recently?acknowledged?a likely need to ease funding restraints in response to future demographic growth.

Dr Perkins said 바카라사이트 government could consider a ¡°step-by-step approach¡± to uncapping university places in rural areas. ¡°You could start in areas of skills need in 바카라사이트 regions ¨C things like nursing, teaching, engineering, and environmental and agricultural science.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com