UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES – AUSTRALIA

Stronger economy to cut size of deficit

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Original article by David Uren, Joe Kelly, John Ross
The Australian – Page: 2 : 15-Dec-17

The Federal Government’s May 2017 Budget had forecast a total deficit of $A46bn over four years. However, Westpac economists Bill Evans and Andrew Hanlan expect the mid-year budget update to revise this down to $A40bn. Westpac also forecasts a deficit of $A1.5bn in 2019-20, followed by a modest surplus in 2020-21. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has signalled that higher education funding will not be reduced in the budget update, although he has flagged new savings measures after the government’s proposed university funding cuts were rejected by the Senate.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, THE GROUP OF EIGHT LIMITED, GRATTAN INSTITUTE

Accuracy doubt on uni rape research

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Original article by Ean Higgins
The Australian – Page: 6 : 3-Aug-17

Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins says Roy Morgan Research has confirmed that the results of a survey on sexual assault at Australian universities are statistically valid. Roy Morgan undertook the survey on behalf of the Australian Human Rights Commission. Jenkins adds that an independent expert has reviewed the survey methodology and data. The survey found that 1.6 per cent of respondents had been sexually assaulted at university and 26 per cent had been sexually harassed.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. SEXUAL DISCRIMINATION COMMISSION, ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

Coalition out for big uni savings

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Original article by Tim Dodd
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 1-May-17

Education Minister Simon Birmingham will reveal changes to the Federal Government’s policy on higher education on 1 May 2017. The changes, which are understood to include a tightening of the HELP loan system and a moderate increase in student fees, are expected to result in savings of around $A1 billion a year. Birmingham will then have the tough job of trying to persuade the Senate to pass the changes.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, ONE NATION PARTY, UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Students face higher ed budget cuts

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 19-Apr-17

The Australian Government’s May 2017 Budget could include new measures that target university students and graduates. Stalled measures in the 2014 Budget are tipped to be abandoned, prompting speculation that the Government will seek to offset the failed $A7bn worth of spending cuts. These could potentially include an increase in students’ fees and a reduction in the income threshold for the repayment of HECS-HELP debts. At present, graduates must begin repaying their student debt when their annual income reaches $A54,869.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Unis need big shakeup: Labor elder

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Original article by Tim Dodd
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 8 : 26-Sep-16

Former federal education minister John Dawkins says his 1987 higher education reforms are no longer relevant and the sector needs a new reform process. Amongst other things, Dawkins has proposed the deregulation of fees, arguing that universities should not have to charge the same fees for courses that are not comparable. He has also urged greater competition in the sector and urged the Australian Labor Party to co-operate with the Coalition on higher education reform.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, THE GROUP OF EIGHT LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Australia’s rich and powerful need to back universities

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Original article by Harold Mitchell
The Age – Page: Online : 23-Sep-16

Harvard University has an impressive track record in terms of producing Nobel Laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners and heads of state. The Harvard Endowment Fund, which now boasts more than $36bn, has been a major contributor to the venerable institution’s success. While Australian universities continue to attract endowments from private individuals, they must be more active in this area of fund-raising, while the government also has a role to play.

CORPORATES
HARVARD UNIVERSITY

One in five first-year uni students drops out

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Original article by Julie Hare
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 8-Sep-16

New figures show that the proportion of Australian university students who quit their course in the first year rose to a record 21.09 per cent in 2014. However, this falls to 15.25 per cent if students who change courses are taken into account. Andrew Norton of the Grattan Institute says the rise in the first-year drop-out rate can be linked to the increase in university enrolments in recent years. The number of Australian students enrolled in university courses rose above one million in 2014.

CORPORATES
GRATTAN INSTITUTE, UNIVERSITY OF TASMANIA, UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE, SWINBURNE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, SEEK LIMITED – ASX SEK, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Unis call time on uncapped places

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Original article by Julie Hare
The Australian – Page: 5 : 15-Jun-16

Australia’s Group of Eight universities have urged the major political parties to reconsider the funding model for the nation’s tertiary institutions. Group of Eight chairman Michael Spence notes that while abolishing the cap on university places has increased the participation rate, it has not improved equality of access, as students from middle-class backgrounds account for the bulk of the increased demand for university places.

CORPORATES
THE GROUP OF EIGHT LIMITED, UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Budget to reopen uni fees fight

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 29-Apr-16

The Australian Government’s May 2016 Budget will include the deregulation of university fees. However, fees may be capped rather than allowing universities to set their own fees. The Senate rejected the Government’s previous attempt to fully deregulate higher education fees, which was a key initiative in the highly unpopular 2014 Budget. The Budget will also include reduced funding for schemes such as the Higher Education Participation & Partnerships Program and the Promoting Excellence in Learning & Teaching in Higher Education program.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, UNIVERSITY OF TASMANIA

HILDA report trod on some powerful toes

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Original article by Tim Dodd
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 19 & 22 : 20-Jul-15

The Group of Eight universities have disputed the validity of Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) research which suggests that graduates of less prestigious universities have better salary outcomes. Ironically, the research was carried out by an organisation that is affiliated with the Group of Eight’s Melbourne University. Such a situation would not arise in government or big business, where such adverse findings would most likely be quashed. The HILDA research also highlights the need for universities to be properly funded and managed.

CORPORATES
THE GROUP OF EIGHT LIMITED, UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE, UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE. INSTITUTE OF APPLIED ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RESEARCH, AUSTRALIAN TECHNOLOGY NETWORK, INNOVATIVE RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES AUSTRALIA