This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/08/christopher-pyne-flags-major-changes-to-higher-education-in-budget

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Christopher Pyne flags major changes to higher education in budget Christopher Pyne flags major changes to higher education in budget
(about 20 hours later)
The education minister, Christopher Pyne, has flagged major changes to higher education in next week’s budget, arguing universities should be able to set their own fees.The education minister, Christopher Pyne, has flagged major changes to higher education in next week’s budget, arguing universities should be able to set their own fees.
Despite concerns from student groups that the changes would drive up graduates’ debt under the Higher Education Loan Program (Help), Pyne said on Thursday that more competition between higher education providers “would be good for students”.Despite concerns from student groups that the changes would drive up graduates’ debt under the Higher Education Loan Program (Help), Pyne said on Thursday that more competition between higher education providers “would be good for students”.
But he acknowledged the government would have to tread carefully on a proposal to extend Commonwealth grant scheme funding to non-university education providers such as private colleges.But he acknowledged the government would have to tread carefully on a proposal to extend Commonwealth grant scheme funding to non-university education providers such as private colleges.
In a speech at Monash university, Pyne said the government would respond to the budget challenge with a “fair and balanced” package to reform higher education and research. He said he wanted to free universities and colleges to compete, diversify the course offerings supported by government, improve access and equity, and provide better information to students. This would include deregulating university fees.In a speech at Monash university, Pyne said the government would respond to the budget challenge with a “fair and balanced” package to reform higher education and research. He said he wanted to free universities and colleges to compete, diversify the course offerings supported by government, improve access and equity, and provide better information to students. This would include deregulating university fees.
“If universities and colleges were able to compete on price, it would mean they must have a greater focus on meeting the needs of students,” Pyne said. “They would need to continuously improve the teaching and learning they offer to attract students.“If universities and colleges were able to compete on price, it would mean they must have a greater focus on meeting the needs of students,” Pyne said. “They would need to continuously improve the teaching and learning they offer to attract students.
“The Soviet system was disbanded long ago but government control of universities in Australia lingers. While the government no longer tells universities how many bachelor degree students they can take, it continues to dictate how much students are charged for their place.”“The Soviet system was disbanded long ago but government control of universities in Australia lingers. While the government no longer tells universities how many bachelor degree students they can take, it continues to dictate how much students are charged for their place.”
Pyne said Help – which allows students to contribute to their education costs only after they are earning a decent living – was the envy of the world. But he would take action “to ensure it is affordable for students and the taxpayer into the future”.Pyne said Help – which allows students to contribute to their education costs only after they are earning a decent living – was the envy of the world. But he would take action “to ensure it is affordable for students and the taxpayer into the future”.
Before the election the Coalition said it had no plans to increase university fees or cap places.Before the election the Coalition said it had no plans to increase university fees or cap places.
The president of the National Union of Students, Deanna Taylor, said students were worried they would lose out from changes that encouraged universities to become more business-oriented and removed controls on course fees. Taylor said the prospect of Help debts growing even larger was “very frightening to students”.The president of the National Union of Students, Deanna Taylor, said students were worried they would lose out from changes that encouraged universities to become more business-oriented and removed controls on course fees. Taylor said the prospect of Help debts growing even larger was “very frightening to students”.
“I think it’s a very sneaky way of raising fees but being able to say it wasn’t us, it was the universities that did it,” she said.“I think it’s a very sneaky way of raising fees but being able to say it wasn’t us, it was the universities that did it,” she said.
The Greens argued the Coalition’s vision was an “unequal, unfair and elitist education system”. The party’s higher education spokeswoman, Lee Rhiannon, said fee deregulation was code for increasing student fees.The Greens argued the Coalition’s vision was an “unequal, unfair and elitist education system”. The party’s higher education spokeswoman, Lee Rhiannon, said fee deregulation was code for increasing student fees.
“Minister Pyne should prepare himself for more student protests over his fee deregulation policy, and such actions are now urgently needed,” Rhiannon said.“Minister Pyne should prepare himself for more student protests over his fee deregulation policy, and such actions are now urgently needed,” Rhiannon said.
But the Group of Eight Universities backed Pyne's comments, arguing deregulation would "enable universities to reach their full potential and provide better choices for students".
"The minister has clearly recognised that institutional autonomy is a key requirement in building excellence," said Professor Ian Young, chair of the Group of Eight and vice-chancellor of the Australian National University.
Pyne is not likely to reintroduce caps on bachelor degrees as a way to limit increasing costs, but has backed an extension of the demand-driven funding system to include support for diploma programs to which students may be better suited than bachelor courses. He said if the government extended Commonwealth grant scheme support to all registered higher education providers, it would have to give “very careful attention” to how it was done. The government would have to consult and review evidence to set conditions of eligibility for Commonwealth-supported places.Pyne is not likely to reintroduce caps on bachelor degrees as a way to limit increasing costs, but has backed an extension of the demand-driven funding system to include support for diploma programs to which students may be better suited than bachelor courses. He said if the government extended Commonwealth grant scheme support to all registered higher education providers, it would have to give “very careful attention” to how it was done. The government would have to consult and review evidence to set conditions of eligibility for Commonwealth-supported places.
“Moreover, there are important differences between universities and non-university higher education providers that need to be recognised,” Pyne said. “As you know, universities are required to undertake research and non-university higher education providers are not. For this reason it would be appropriate for Commonwealth-supported places in non-university providers to be funded at a lower rate than in universities.“Moreover, there are important differences between universities and non-university higher education providers that need to be recognised,” Pyne said. “As you know, universities are required to undertake research and non-university higher education providers are not. For this reason it would be appropriate for Commonwealth-supported places in non-university providers to be funded at a lower rate than in universities.
“There are other differences between universities and non-university higher education providers that may be relevant, perhaps including different community expectations and service obligations.”“There are other differences between universities and non-university higher education providers that may be relevant, perhaps including different community expectations and service obligations.”