The Australian | 3 December 2015 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… … [Read more...]
How teaching funds research in Australian universities
28/11/2015 by
28 November 2015 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… A report by the Grattan Institute report finds that universities earn up to $3.2 billion more from students than they spend on teaching, and have powerful incentives to spend the extra money on research. International students, who usually generate more revenue per student than domestic students, contribute a substantial proportion of this surplus. The report’s author, Andrew Norton, says the finding is concerning because, while university research matters to Australia, the evidence that it improves teaching is less clear. He observes that direct spending on teaching, by contrast, is far more likely to ensure that universities … [Read more...]
The Scan # 173 22 July 2015
22/07/2015 by
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ News __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Vic international strategy directions 21 July 2015 | The Victorian government has released a discussion paper on international education as part of its $200 million Future Industries Fund. The paper covers all three education sectors (higher education, VET and schools). It proposes nine strategic directions, including developing more markets to reduce reliance on the two traditionally big markets of … [Read more...]
Realigning the VET system
21/07/2015 by
21 July 2015 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… With the the Prime Minister and the Premiers and First Ministers gathering in Sydney for a retreat on reform options for Australia's fractitious, if not fractured, Federation, all the chatter is round increasing the rate of the GST from 10% to 15%, either to "compensate" the states/territories for whacking cuts in Commonwealth grants in future years, which has a dark logic to it, or to make way for income tax cuts, which doesn't seem to have too much logic to it all. But there are other proposals on the table. SA Premier Jay Weatherill, in a speech to the National Press Club, has proposed, among other things, a realignment of … [Read more...]
Improving equity through VET FEE-HELP
21/07/2015 by
21 July 2015 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… Two of the key architects of the original HECS, Dr Tim Higgins and Professor Bruce Chapman, have produced a new report that argues for significant reform to the income contingent loan scheme that would extend it to more VET students while making it affordable. They argue that extending income contingent loans to more VET students is required to ensure equity among tertiary students, but this would require adjustment to the current system otherwise it would not be financially sustainable or equitable. They note that when compared to university graduates, Certificate III and IV completers have low incomes and, for women, low … [Read more...]
Who should go to university?
11/06/2015 by
Everyone, or just enough people to fill skilled jobs? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… We have more people going to university in Australia than ever before. In 1971 only 2% of the population over 15 years old held a Bachelor’s degree, in 2013 it was 25%. Last year a whopping 1,149,300 people were enrolled in a Bachelor’s degree or above. However, graduate employment rates are falling. This leads many to ask whether too many people are going to university. Should everyone go to university or just the correct number to be able to fill highly skilled jobs in Australia? asks Leo Goedegebuure (University of Melbourne), writing in The … [Read more...]
Deregulating university fees “not essential” – new UA chair
11/06/2015 by
Fairfax Media | 31 May 2015 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… Deregulating university fees is not essential for Australia to have a sustainable and high quality university sector, according to the new chairman of peak body Universities Australia, Barney Glover. …………………………………………………………………………………….......…… Glover, who is the University of Western Sydney vice-chancellor, said the university funding debate must focus on the "compelling case" for increased government investment – not just requiring students to pay more for a degree. In an interview with Fairfax Media marking his arrival at Universities Australia, he also queried the effectiveness of Labor's proposal … [Read more...]
