Grattan Institute | 3 July 2014
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The likely extension of commonwealth student subsidies to non-university providers portends big changes for the higher education sector.
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Australia has around 130 higher education providers outside the university system. They are a diverse group, ranging from large multinational companies to small theological colleges to the TAFEs now offering degrees. Together they enrol more than 70,000 students. These numbers could increase significantly in the future as a result of the government accepting a recommendation of the review of the demand driven funding system, to expand eligibility for government-supported tuition subsidies. If this passes the Senate, many of the students currently paying full fees in non-university higher education providers will pay much less than they do now. Public universities will face new price competition as they consider what fees they will charge in a deregulated market.
In this panel discussion chaired by the Grattan Institute’s Andrew Norton, a member of the review panel, the nature of the non-university higher education sector, the implications for it and its students of receiving Commonwealth tuition subsidies, and the consequences for the broader higher education system are explored. Other panel members are Mary Faraone (Holmesglen Institute), Jeannie Rea (National Tertiary Education Union) and George Brown (Study Group Australasia).
Higher education outside the universities: a better option? from Grattan Institute on Vimeo.
