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Universities Australia urges government to abandon proposed funding cut Universities Australia urges government to abandon proposed funding cut
(21 days later)
Universities Australia has called on the federal government to abandon a planned $3.2bn cut to higher education, saying the sector has suffered enough.Universities Australia has called on the federal government to abandon a planned $3.2bn cut to higher education, saying the sector has suffered enough.
The call is contained in Universities Australia’s submissions to the higher education review ordered when the government dumped plans for full fee deregulation and delayed the scheduled 20% cut to per-student subsidies.The call is contained in Universities Australia’s submissions to the higher education review ordered when the government dumped plans for full fee deregulation and delayed the scheduled 20% cut to per-student subsidies.
The cut was first proposed in the 2014 budget, but the 2016 budget delayed its introduction from 2017 to 2018.The cut was first proposed in the 2014 budget, but the 2016 budget delayed its introduction from 2017 to 2018.
The chief executive of Universities Australia, Belinda Robinson, has warned that a world-class university system designed to help transition workers to high-skilled jobs “cannot be achieved while making cuts on this scale”.The chief executive of Universities Australia, Belinda Robinson, has warned that a world-class university system designed to help transition workers to high-skilled jobs “cannot be achieved while making cuts on this scale”.
Universities Australia criticised the options paper for focusing “almost exclusively” on the objective of budget savings despite “years of policy uncertainty and ad hoc funding cuts”.Universities Australia criticised the options paper for focusing “almost exclusively” on the objective of budget savings despite “years of policy uncertainty and ad hoc funding cuts”.
The universities’ peak body said it did not believe a defensible case for the $3.2bn cut over four years had been made, especially because it followed cuts in the 2011 and 2013 budgets that had saved $1bn a year.The universities’ peak body said it did not believe a defensible case for the $3.2bn cut over four years had been made, especially because it followed cuts in the 2011 and 2013 budgets that had saved $1bn a year.
Related: Government claims $2bn budget saving from delaying higher education changes
It said the size of the cut was “at odds with the government’s ambition to reinvigorate the economy through education, research and innovation”.It said the size of the cut was “at odds with the government’s ambition to reinvigorate the economy through education, research and innovation”.
Although its submission opposed the cut, it did recognise the need for savings through “careful policy adjustments in some areas”.Although its submission opposed the cut, it did recognise the need for savings through “careful policy adjustments in some areas”.
Universities Australia said fair adjustments could include:Universities Australia said fair adjustments could include:
The submission suggests that Universities Australia will support the government’s plan to force graduates to repay their student loans when they start earning $50,638 rather than $54,126 at present, which Labor backed during the election campaign.The submission suggests that Universities Australia will support the government’s plan to force graduates to repay their student loans when they start earning $50,638 rather than $54,126 at present, which Labor backed during the election campaign.
The options paper canvassed the creation of “flagship courses”, which would allow universities to set their own fees for particular high-quality or innovative courses.The options paper canvassed the creation of “flagship courses”, which would allow universities to set their own fees for particular high-quality or innovative courses.
Universities Australia said the majority of its members opposed the concept on the basis of the complexity of implementing it, “the likelihood of perverse outcomes, the potential to devalue existing degrees, and the potential creation of a two-tier system”.Universities Australia said the majority of its members opposed the concept on the basis of the complexity of implementing it, “the likelihood of perverse outcomes, the potential to devalue existing degrees, and the potential creation of a two-tier system”.
The Group of Eight universities also expressed caution about flagship courses for similar reasons.The Group of Eight universities also expressed caution about flagship courses for similar reasons.
Speaking on ABC’s AM on Wednesday, the education minister, Simon Birmingham, said there had been “phenomenal growth” in higher education costs, which were to increase from $16bn to $18bn over the forward estimates.Speaking on ABC’s AM on Wednesday, the education minister, Simon Birmingham, said there had been “phenomenal growth” in higher education costs, which were to increase from $16bn to $18bn over the forward estimates.
Related: Budget slashes program for university students from poor backgrounds
He noted that some submissions encouraged students to “make a slightly greater contribution ... [through] the generous loans scheme”.He noted that some submissions encouraged students to “make a slightly greater contribution ... [through] the generous loans scheme”.
“I welcome the fact that a number of universities and their representative bodies are seeing opportunities to help us with the real task of budget repair,” he said.“I welcome the fact that a number of universities and their representative bodies are seeing opportunities to help us with the real task of budget repair,” he said.
The Universities Australia submission said that although the cost of commonwealth university grants had increased by 59% since 2009, “this has been driven mainly by enrolment growth, rather than by increases in per student funding”.The Universities Australia submission said that although the cost of commonwealth university grants had increased by 59% since 2009, “this has been driven mainly by enrolment growth, rather than by increases in per student funding”.
Robinson said Universities Australia’s submission struck “a responsible balance between financial prudence and securing a university system that meets the quality and accessibility expectations of students, families and the community”.Robinson said Universities Australia’s submission struck “a responsible balance between financial prudence and securing a university system that meets the quality and accessibility expectations of students, families and the community”.