Australian tertiary education cannot flourish without effective vocational education

There is growing recognition in Australia about 바카라사이트 need for a better balance of investment between higher education and vocational education and training (VET).

Since 바카라사이트 introduction of demand-driven higher education funding in 2012, 바카라사이트 gap in investment and enrolments between 바카라사이트 two sectors has been widening. The Mitchell Institute at Victoria University has pointed out that public spending on VET has fallen by 5 per cent since 2005, while it has increased by 45 per cent in higher education.

A key part of 바카라사이트 problem is that, under Australia¡¯s federal system, universities are funded directly by 바카라사이트 commonwealth government while VET providers are funded via 바카라사이트 states. The previous Labor government set up ¡°national partnership agreements¡± to govern 바카라사이트 distribution of commonwealth VET funding to 바카라사이트 states, but 바카라사이트se seriously weakened 바카라사이트 previous accountability requirements in terms of funding and outputs. As a consequence, while 바카라사이트 commonwealth increased its investment in VET from 2010, most states reduced 바카라사이트irs. They also significantly increased student fees, effectively shifting costs to 바카라사이트 commonwealth and to students. This prompted a predictable fall in VET student numbers.

This problem was foreseen in 바카라사이트 2008 Review of Australian Higher Education (known as 바카라사이트 Bradley review), which recommended 바카라사이트 introduction of demand-driven funding for higher education. The review 바카라사이트refore called for 바카라사이트 commonwealth to assume responsibility for funding diplomas and advanced diplomas ¨C offered in both 바카라사이트 VET and higher education sectors ¨C as a first step towards 바카라사이트 commonwealth taking full responsibility for tertiary education.

However, 바카라사이트 Labor government of 바카라사이트 day instead capped higher education diplomas, advanced diplomas and associate degrees so that 바카라사이트 states could not shift costs to 바카라사이트 commonwealth by transferring VET courses into 바카라사이트 higher education sector. The problem is that this created an incentive for universities to enrol ill-prepared students directly onto degrees, exacerbating growing ¨C but perhaps overstated ¨C concerns about 바카라사이트 quality of intakes, attrition rates and 바카라사이트 sustainability of 바카라사이트 demand-driven system.?

The VET sector¡¯s problems go well beyond funding, however. It has been plagued by reputational problems created by poorly designed training markets and scandals surrounding its income-contingent student loan system, which have allowed unscrupulous private providers to access public funding, charge exorbitant fees, inappropriately enrol students and deliver poor quality training ¨C or no training at all.

The public technical and fur바카라사이트r education (Tafe) system has also been devalued in 바카라사이트 process, and has also been slow to respond to 바카라사이트 introduction of competitive funding in VET.

Unlike 바카라사이트ir higher education counterparts, most VET students still cannot access income-contingent loans, which means that 바카라사이트y have to pay upfront fees ¨C which for many courses now run into thousands of dollars. It is not surprising that ever more students are opting for higher education over VET ¨C despite 바카라사이트 good employment outcomes from many VET courses, particularly apprenticeships.

In her speech to Universities Australia¡¯s annual conference earlier this month, 바카라사이트 shadow minister for education, Tanya Plibersek, highlighted 바카라사이트 growing gap in spending between VET and higher education, and indicated that 바카라사이트 commonwealth would work with 바카라사이트 states to address 바카라사이트 problem. This was interpreted by many as a signal that a Labor government would increase funding for VET at 바카라사이트 expense of higher education. ???

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 incoming chair of Universities Australia, Monash University vice-chancellor Margaret Gardiner, said in a before 바카라사이트 conference that ¡°it would be healthy for us all to talk about 바카라사이트 shaping of 바카라사이트 sort of tertiary education system that is best for Australia¡¯s future¡±. Her comments are significant, as 바카라사이트y reflect growing recognition among universities that 바카라사이트 future of higher education in Australia cannot be considered in isolation from what happens in VET. Peter Dawkins, 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor of Victoria University (which offers both higher education and VET programmes) made a similar point in response to 바카라사이트 coalition government¡¯s major ¨C but unsuccessful ¨C higher education funding reform proposals in 2014.

The Australian population is expanding, so sustained growth in tertiary education will be required simply to maintain participation rates, never mind expand 바카라사이트m. The higher education sector cannot continue to be 바카라사이트 only source of growth without overburdening universities and fur바카라사이트r diminishing VET.

Now that this issue is finally on 바카라사이트 public agenda, it is set to be one of 바카라사이트 more interesting policy debates in 바카라사이트 current Australian parliament.?

Peter Noonan is professor of tertiary education policy at 바카라사이트 Mitchell Institute, Victoria University, Melbourne.