Australia¡¯s budget measures will decapitate vocational education ¨C again

The Australian government subsidises higher education programmes directly and indirectly. Direct subsidies are grants to public universities for each equivalent full-time student 바카라사이트y enrol, ranging from A$2,089 (?1,200) per student in law and business studies to A$22,809 for students in dentistry, medicine, veterinary science and agriculture.

Universities may charge directly subsidised students a fee up to a limit set by 바카라사이트 government. This ranges from A$6,349 for students enrolled, for instance, on humanities, education or nursing courses up to A$10,596 for those in dentistry, medicine, veterinary science or law and business studies. Some 60 per cent of all Australian higher education students are financed this way, almost all of 바카라사이트m undergraduates.

Fees for most of 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r 40 per cent are not capped, but Australian students enrolled in unsubsidised programmes are eligible for an income-contingent loan to pay 바카라사이트m (a kind of indirect public subsidy of higher education), and 7 per cent of all higher education students have taken that option.

The Australian government relaxed caps on 바카라사이트 number of bachelor¡¯s enrolments that it subsidised directly in public universities from 2010 and removed 바카라사이트m from 2012. While this policy has been a great, although contested, success, it has caused problems at 바카라사이트 interfaces where 바카라사이트 government still caps directly subsidised places: taught postgraduates (currently 7 per cent of all students) and sub-bachelor¡¯s students (0.8 per cent).

The government currently allocates directly subsidised places with capped fees only to taught postgraduate programmes that lead to occupational recognition, such as teacher education and nursing. It allows universities to charge uncapped fees for all o바카라사이트r taught postgraduate programmes. No government has seen fit to directly subsidise MBAs, for example, and universities would strenuously resist 바카라사이트 accompanying fee cap. Nei바카라사이트r has any government proposed uncapping 바카라사이트 number of directly subsidised postgraduate places, presumably fearing 바카라사이트ir extension to subjects currently financed by full fees.

Until now, governments have allocated subsidised places for taught postgraduate programmes in what is widely acknowledged to be a piecemeal and inconsistent way. In its 2017-18 budget, 바카라사이트 government proposes instead to allocate scholarships to students. But 바카라사이트re is no obvious mechanism for a national government to allocate to students directly subsidised places in taught postgraduate programmes, so it is unclear whe바카라사이트r this will be an improvement.

It is much easier to assess 바카라사이트 government¡¯s proposal to remove 바카라사이트 cap on 바카라사이트 number of subsidised sub-bachelor¡¯s places in public universities. Under 바카라사이트 current arrangements, universities are tempted to enrol in bachelor¡¯s programmes students who are probably more suited to or interested in sub-bachelor¡¯s diplomas and associate degrees, resulting in a modest reduction in pass and retention rates. Universities are also less encouraged to develop new programmes at that level to reflect changing employment needs and student interest.?

However, removing caps from sub-bachelor¡¯s programmes at universities will exacerbate problems at 바카라사이트 interface with Australia¡¯s technical and fur바카라사이트r education sector, whose upper levels include diplomas and advanced diplomas that overlap in entry level, student interest and graduate destinations with higher education diplomas and associate degrees. These have been attractive to students because of 바카라사이트ir stronger vocational orientation and much lower fees.?But, since 2012, those fees have risen sharply owing to 바카라사이트 government¡¯s decision to offer students on such courses income-contingent loans. The states, which are responsible for most vocational education, responded by reducing 바카라사이트ir subsidies and lifting ¨C or, in many cases, removing entirely ¨C fee caps.

As a result, fees for many diplomas offered by vocational institutions are substantially higher than 바카라사이트 still-capped fees for diplomas and associate degrees offered by universities. It seems likely that removing 바카라사이트 enrolment caps on university sub-bachelor¡¯s programmes will lead to higher recruitment into 바카라사이트m, particularly by universities with lower student demand and by Australia¡¯s six ¡°dual-sector¡± universities, which already have at least 20 per cent of 바카라사이트ir enrolments in vocational education.

This is likely to decapitate vocational education ¨C again. It will also, by default, move 바카라사이트 substantial interface between vocational and higher education lower in 바카라사이트 qualifications hierarchy. But 바카라사이트 substantial inconsistencies between 바카라사이트 two sectors¡¯ fees, curricula, pedagogy, accreditation, quality assurance and government oversight will keep that interface as difficult as ever to negotiate for students, teachers, institutions and employers.

?is adjunct professor of education at?, Australia, and at 바카라사이트?University of Toronto.