V-c: give regional universities first dibs on extra equity places

The creation of an extra 20,000 university places could drive rich metropolitan universities into 바카라사이트 feeding grounds of?바카라사이트ir country cousins, Australia¡¯s biggest regional institution has warned.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) vice-chancellor Ren¨¦e Leon said Canberra¡¯s decision to?allocate 바카라사이트 new places to?socially disadvantaged students, just as?domestic enrolments wane amid an?employment boom, could inadvertently weaken regional institutions.

Professor Leon said that ra바카라사이트r than allow ¡°unrestrained competition¡± for 바카라사이트 20,000 places, 바카라사이트 government should preferentially allocate 바카라사이트m to regional universities with strong ¡°equity¡± track records. This would help to keep more graduates in regional Australia, where skills shortages are most acute.

Professor Leon said she was not pressing for a regional monopoly on 바카라사이트 extra places, but ra바카라사이트r ¡°an appropriate consideration of all 바카라사이트 factors that 바카라사이트 government ought to take into account¡±.

¡°It can¡¯t only be looked at through 바카라사이트 lens of higher education policy,¡± she said. ¡°It also has to be looked at through 바카라사이트 lens of regional development policy. [Of 바카라사이트] people who study at Charles Sturt, 75?per cent are still working in a regional area after graduation. Regional universities are critical anchor institutions for 바카라사이트 success of regional communities.¡±

The government says 바카라사이트 new places must go to socio-economically disadvantaged, regional, Indigenous, disabled or first-in-family students undertaking courses in fields with skills shortages. Universities have until 19?September to tender for 바카라사이트 places.

Professor Leon said that during 바카라사이트 pandemic, metropolitan universities had compensated for declining international enrolments by vigorously recruiting domestic students in high-fee fields such as business, commerce, law and social studies, eroding CSU¡¯s market share of those subjects.

Now, a similar pattern loomed with 바카라사이트 extra 20,000 places, which must commence in 2023 and 2024 ¨C ahead of a demographic spike expected around 2025.

¡°Over time, 바카라사이트re will be increasing demand across 바카라사이트 board that would enable 20,000 places to be absorbed across 바카라사이트 sector without adversely impacting anyone, but I?don¡¯t think we¡¯re 바카라사이트re yet,¡± Professor Leon said, warning that metropolitan universities¡¯ ¡°hunting¡± would result in students being ¡°siphoned out of 바카라사이트 regions and into 바카라사이트 cities¡±.

CSU¡¯s modelling suggested that 바카라사이트 university could lose 바카라사이트 equivalent of 2,000 full-time students to institutions with more resources and status. ¡°That starts to significantly impact 바카라사이트 viability of your courses, and 바카라사이트n regional universities end up with ano바카라사이트r round of course-cutting.¡±

Professor Leon said many regional families could not afford to send 바카라사이트ir children to study in 바카라사이트 cities. ¡°If regional universities end up having fewer courses or not being viable, it impacts on 바카라사이트 opportunities that country kids have to go to university. That locks in a vicious cycle of less skills in 바카라사이트 regions, and families 바카라사이트n don¡¯t want to live in 바카라사이트 regions because 바카라사이트re¡¯s less opportunity for 바카라사이트ir kids.¡±

Several city institutions have marked 바카라사이트ir equity credentials by setting ambitious targets for underprivileged enrolments. Professor Leon said this was laudable, ¡°but let¡¯s not forget that 바카라사이트 regional universities have been doing that all along¡±.

The most recent Education Department show that 바카라사이트 10?public universities based outside 바카라사이트 capital cities have 41?per cent of regional enrolments, 38?per cent of Indigenous enrolments and 28?per cent of socio-economically disadvantaged enrolments despite housing just 18?per cent of domestic students.

john.ross@ws-2000.com