Campus Review Vol 31. Issue 05 - May 2021 | Page 5

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NEWS
Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg . Photo : Sam Mooy / Getty images

Federal Budget 2021

Return of international students crucial , investment in skills widely welcomed .
By Wade Zaglas

The safe return of international students remains a key concern for Australian universities , despite several budget announcements that have been welcomed by the sector . Universities Australia ( UA ) said the assumed international border closures until mid-2022 pose significant challenges for Australia ’ s universities .

“ Governments across all jurisdictions need to come together with universities to develop a robust plan for the safe return of international students . The plan would mean the careful quarantine of students from low-risk countries ,” UA ’ s chief executive officer Catriona Jackson said .
“ The sector took a $ 1.8 billion revenue hit last year . Universities Australia conservatively estimates at least another $ 2 billion will be lost this year – against 2019 actual operating revenue .
“ Australia ’ s university sector cannot sustain these losses without serious damage to national productivity and the country ’ s knowledge base ,” UA ’ s chief added .
Despite assumptions that borders being shut until mid-2022 are now “ baked into the budget ”, universities are pleased that the budget assumptions also include small pilot programs for international students beginning in late 2021 .
“ These pilots will provide a useful proof of concept for a larger scale return of international students ,” Jackson said .
“ University research and development will be critical in the short-term to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic , as well as building a prosperous and globally-competitive economy in the future .
“ The sector will continue to work with government on long-term plans for research sustainability .”
Other budget announcements welcomed by the peak body include funding to skill aged care workers , initiatives to tackle genderbased violence , as well as improved mental health resourcing .
“ Universities are where the next generation of workers will learn their skills , whether in aged-care or mental health or violence prevention , and make life better for all Australians , whatever their background or circumstances ,” Jackson concluded .
Other budget measures that will benefit the higher education sector include :
• $ 1.1 million over two years from 2020-21 to create new employment pathways for students and boost financial incentives for universities to enrol students in ‘ Industry PhDs ’.
• A new $ 54.2 million Global Science and Technology Diplomacy Fund to support strategically important science and technology collaborations with global partners .
• $ 42.4 million over seven years to establish the Boosting the Next Generation of Women in Science , Technology , Engineering and Mathematics ( STEM ) Program by co-funding scholarships for women in STEM in partnership with industry .
• Initiatives to support the delivery of primary care and the health workforce in rural and remote Australia .
• $ 216.7 million over three years from 2021 – 22 to grow and upskill the aged-care workforce through additional nursing scholarships and places and related measures .
• $ 27.8 million to increase the number of nurses , psychologists and allied health practitioners working in mental health settings through 280 scholarships and 350 clinical placements .
• Additional postgraduate scholarships for Aboriginal and Torres Strait nurses and allied health professionals to undertake formal aged-care and dementia qualifications . However , the budget also announced a $ 9 million cut over five years to the Quality Learning for Teachers ( QILT ) surveys , which provide valuable information regarding student employment rates , student satisfaction , teacher quality , and other key factors . Funding will also be stripped from the Australian Awards for University Education , and the Learning and Teaching Repository after 2021 .
INDEPENDENT SECTOR The Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia ( ITECA ) welcomed the government ’ s 2021 budget investment in skills , but also shares concerns about borders remaining closed and the detrimental effect this will have on higher education revenue .
“ The budget ’ s inclusion of support measures for the international education sector are welcome ; however , there is an argument that more could have been done . We will continue to engage with the Australian government and ensure that the sector is positioned to welcome students from overseas in large numbers when it is safe to do so ,” ITECA ’ s chief executive Troy Williams said .
However , Williams went on to say that this budget will be remembered for its substantial investment in skills , as a “ generation of workers will be assisted in their career journey thanks to the skills funding commitments made by the Australian government in this budget ”.
“ An additional $ 506m over two years to extend the JobTrainer program is fantastic , particularly given its focus on aged care and digital skills . ITECA looks forward to working with the Australian government to address some of the program delivery issues that frustrated people accessing JobTrainer courses when they were first made available ,” he said .
“ The funding commitments of the past year have reversed the sustained decline in apprentice and trainee commencements . The additional investment of $ 2.7 billion over four years to expand the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements initiative is the key to ensure that this trend is sustained and that we support these workers through to the completion of their training .” ■
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