Tertiary sector news & views
The future is not a gift: it is an achievement. Every generation helps make its own future. This is the essential challenge of the present... - Bobby Kennedy - Seattle World’s Fair, 7 August 1962 ……………………………………………………………………………………………….......…… Prosperity is not a gift. It needs to be earned. Joe Hockey- Australian Budget , 13 May 2014 ……………………………………………………………………………………………….......…… … [Read more...]
14 May 2014 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… Last week it seemed that New Matilda, which has been publishing intelligent coverage of Australian and international politics, media and culture since 2004, was about to fold. but it has found a white knight in the person journalist and former Tracker magazine editor, Chris Graham. New Matilda's regular cartoonist is Fiona Katauskas. ……………………………………………………………………………………………….......…… … [Read more...]
14 May 2014 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… Australia’s future university students, who will form the backbone of a skilled national economy, are the big losers in the Federal Budget according to the Australian Technology Network of Universities (ATN). ……………………………………………………………………………………………….......…… ATN Executive Director, Vicki Thomson said whilst the Government has confirmed its commitment to ensuring access for all students who qualify to attend an Australian university the cost of that reform will be borne by the very students they hope to attract. “The ATN is a strong advocate of the demand driven system as a significant reform measure and its continuation is welcome, … [Read more...]
14 May 2014 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… The higher education sector could use a good dose of student focus and greater innovation in order to drive better learning outcomes. Any industry that makes price the issue is giving more power to consumers. In other industry sectors, deregulation of fees has led to better outcomes for consumers. ……………………………………………………………………………………………….......…… On the back of the Federal Government’s 2014/2015 Budget announcements , Open Universities Australia (OUA) has released its breakdown of the budget and its impact on the Higher Education industry, and more importantly its impact on students. "It might seem that this is a bad budget for you … [Read more...]
14 May 2013 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… In this op-ed piece published in Fairfax Media in April, Suzanne Cory, president of the Academy of Science, challenged Tony Abbott to be visionary, in the manner of Robert Menzies, and to build his own science legacy for our future, and recognise that an investment in science and research is an investment in the future of Australia. Abbott failed the challenge, at least in this year's budget. As reported elsewhere, science and research was a net loser, notwithstanding the announcement of the Medical Research Future Fund. ……………………………………………………………………………………………….......…… If I had to name one of the big political heroes of Prime Minister … [Read more...]
ACPET | 13 May 2013 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… "The government’s higher education reforms are a major milestone, and deliver equity and fairness for the growing number of higher education students choosing to undertake their degree or sub- degree program at a non-university institution." ……………………………………………………………………………………………….......…… The Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Council for Private Education and Training, Claire Field has commended the government on its investment in tertiary education and creation of a level playing field for all tertiary students. “In what is clearly a difficult budget environment, the government is to be commended for its … [Read more...]
NTEU | 14 May 2013 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… No longer will students gain entry into university based solely on academic merit, but on their capacity and willingness to pay the market price for a degree. ……………………………………………………………………………………………….......…… The Budget has seen Tony Abbott succeed in his quest to be known as an ‘infrastructure prime minister’. He and Christopher Pyne have paved a road to ruin for our public higher education system. Student fees will now skyrocket at some universities, university funding has been cut, the cost of servicing student debt will increase and the viability of some of our universities will be undermined by for-profit private … [Read more...]
TDA | 14 May 2013 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… Concerns for apprenticeship students with cost shift from grants to loans. ……………………………………………………………………………………………….......…… Advocacy initiated by TAFE Directors Australia (TDA) over more than four years has emerged successful, with Budget 2014 overhauling Federal course funding contributions toward students enrolling in higher education courses at TAFE Institutes and non-university institutions. The deregulation of higher education, to take place from 1 January 2016, is listed as one of three features of Budget 2014, along with the Infrastructure Growth Package, and the $20 billion Medical Research Future Fund. Student … [Read more...]
UA | 13 May 2013 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… " By resisting some of the more severe recommendations made by the National Commission of Audit in relation to the higher education loans program (HELP), the Government has sought to keep higher education affordable and accessible." ……………………………………………………………………………………………….......…… The budget puts higher education on a path of radical change that the Federal Government anticipates will deliver the twin aspirations of financial sustainability and the world’s best higher education system. “These reforms will fundamentally alter the shape of Australian higher education”, said Ms Belinda Robinson, Chief Executive of Universities … [Read more...]
RUN | 14 May 2013 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… " ...keeping the demand driven system for bachelor places and extending it to sub-bachelor places...will assist in providing pathways and lift participation in higher education in regional Australia for less well prepared students," ……………………………………………………………………………………………….......…… The Regional Universities Network (RUN) welcomes the announcement in the Budget of an ambitious program of reform for higher education which recognises the importance of the sector to Australia. The Treasurer and the Minister are to be congratulated for highlighting the important role Universities play in Australia’s future. The Chair of RUN, … [Read more...]
