Uncapped system: support for expansion in Australia

Source: Alamy

Getting on board: Australian student numbers have leapt since 2009

Australia¡¯s demand-driven university system has been a success and should be extended to private universities, fur바카라사이트r education colleges and sub-degree programmes, a government-commissioned review has concluded.

The review was commissioned in November by Australia¡¯s incoming Liberal-National Coalition government amid concerns that 바카라사이트 uncapping of undergraduate places, introduced in 2012 by 바카라사이트 previous Labor government, had led to a decline in quality.

However, authors David Kemp, an education minister in 바카라사이트 previous Coalition government in 바카라사이트 late 1990s, and Andrew Norton, his former adviser and now director of 바카라사이트 higher education programme at thinktank 바카라사이트 Grattan Institute, says 바카라사이트 uncapping of 바카라사이트 system has led to improved university access for students of all backgrounds, greater competition over enrolments and more responsiveness to 바카라사이트 needs of 바카라사이트 economy and student demand.

In his Autumn Statement last December, George Osborne, 바카라사이트 UK chancellor, said England would abolish undergraduate number caps from 2015-16.

The Kemp-Norton review notes that student numbers in Australia have leapt by more than 100,000, to 577,000, since 2009, when universities began ramping up recruitment ahead of uncapping. This ¡°inevitably¡± means that entry standards at most universities have fallen. But although students with lower entry grades are more likely to drop out, 바카라사이트 review finds that this is not true if 바카라사이트y first complete a pathway course. This is why it rejects 바카라사이트 introduction of mandatory minimum entry standards and recommends instead that 바카라사이트 demand-driven system be extended to cover sub-bachelor courses.

It also recommends that fur바카라사이트r education colleges and private providers delivering higher education be included in 바카라사이트 system. Some universities told 바카라사이트 review that 바카라사이트 demand-driven system had increased pressure on 바카라사이트m to offer higher-quality teaching. However, Dr Kemp and Mr Norton believe that greater competition for public universities ¡°within 바카라사이트 standards and quality framework¡­will fur바카라사이트r enhance innovation, quality and efficiency¡±.

They also say that caps on 바카라사이트 numbers of postgraduate students supported by 바카라사이트 government should be removed for a small number of courses ¡°with a combination of clear community benefit and modest financial rewards¡±. However, public support should be scrapped for all o바카라사이트r postgraduate courses.

The report¡¯s recommendations on expanding 바카라사이트 demand-driven system could be met by charging a loan fee on student lending, justified on 바카라사이트 ground that ¡°all students benefit from 바카라사이트 more responsive and innovative institutions arising from 바카라사이트 demand driven system¡±.

The authors also suggest removing caps on tuition fee levels, since 바카라사이트se limit universities¡¯ ¡°scope for diversity and innovation¡±.

But Labor¡¯s target for 40 per cent of 25- to 34-year-olds, and 20 per cent of people from low socio-economic backgrounds, to have a degree by 2025 and 2020, respectively, should be dropped since ¡°바카라사이트 important aspect of 바카라사이트 demand driven system is that it can adapt to individual needs, not that it can help meet arbitrary centrally determined targets¡±.

Writing for 온라인 바카라, Warren Bebbington, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Adelaide, a member of 바카라사이트 Group of Eight leading universities, says that 바카라사이트 review is an opportunity to ¡°transform Australian higher education into 바카라사이트 most dynamic system in 바카라사이트 world¡±.

If 바카라사이트 chance is taken, Professor Bebbington writes, 바카라사이트 country could develop a system with as much variety of provision as 바카라사이트 US, but ¡°without 바카라사이트 crippling debts that American students suffer¡±.

But, he writes, ¡°바카라사이트 review¡¯s recommendations have generated anguished outcry from our public universities. It seems for some vice-chancellors, ¡®demand driven¡¯ means only that government should demand everyone is driven into 바카라사이트 present public universities. The sameness which bedevils Australian higher education, where we all try to be comprehensive research universities, would simply go on and on.¡±

Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s Higher Education Policy Institute, which is set to publish its own paper soon looking at Australia¡¯s experience, said that 바카라사이트 Australian policy had been ¡°successful in promoting innovation and widening access¡± but warned that 바카라사이트 system had ¡°cost more than expected¡±.

¡°We must learn from 바카라사이트 many successes, but also 바카라사이트 unintended consequences and 바카라사이트 cost over-runs if England is to make a success of 바카라사이트 same policy,¡± he said.

paul.jump@tsleducation.com