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VC ’ s corner incentive for international students to study at regional universities , in what is already a fiercely competitive market .
As a regional vice chancellor , I have long advocated for the need to entice more international students to regional Australia , for the cultural enrichment and economic boost they bring to cities like Toowoomba , Armidale and Lismore .
When a regional differential for visa sub-class 485 was introduced recently , I was overjoyed ; finally , an incentive for international students to preference regional study over the allure of our capital cities , and perhaps stay and contribute to the regional workforce for a few years after graduating .
Unfortunately , the post-Summit proposal to expand these work rights for all international students ( including effectively doubling the working visa duration of an eligible Bachelor ’ s degree graduate , from two years to four years ) would completely erode the benefit of the regional differential .
I have heard from some corners that a regional differential could still be maintained ; international students in the regions could be eligible for up to six years ’ post-study work rights , compared to four years in the cities , for example . But would this really move the dial in favour of regional universities ?
Only 16 per cent of international students stay in Australia and work after graduating . Adding two years to an already lengthy four-year working visa is relatively unattractive , and unlikely to attract many of these students to favour attending a regional university .
A better outcome may be to provide regional graduates with additional points towards a General Skilled Migration visa . This would not only incentivise regional study in the short term , but it would also encourage international graduates with an affinity for the regional way of life to contribute their skills and experience to regional workforces over the long term .
Cities like Bathurst , Ballarat and Rockhampton stand to benefit greatly . I would welcome the opportunity to come to the table to discuss options with the relevant ministers and stakeholders .
A HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY Another notable outcome of the Summit was the historic announcement of 180,000 new , fee-free TAFE places , as part of a joint $ 1.1 billion investment by the states and the Commonwealth .
While the pre-Summit sweetener of 20,000 additional Commonwealthsupported university places was welcomed by the sector , post-Summit rumblings from some corners suggest that the outsized focus on VET downplays and undervalues the important contribution that universities will make to addressing the skills crisis .
As the vice chancellor of a dual-sector university , I may carry some bias , but I disagree with these negative sentiments . Rather than viewing this unprecedented level of TAFE investment as a direct challenge to universities , we should welcome the opportunity to re-open the conversation about tertiary education as a continuum of qualifications , rather than a partisan “ us and them ” scenario .
Bricklayers , bakers and boilermakers are as sorely needed for the sustainability of our regions as GPs , dentists and accountants .
The bigger threat to the regions is surely the encroachment of well-funded metropolitan universities on regional student markets , under the guise of equity and access .
On the coat-tails of the Jobs and Skills Summit , we have seen several metro-based universities introduce enrolment quotas and financial incentives aimed at attracting non-traditional students , including more students from the regions .
These announcements were celebrated and even publicly lauded by some , but my fear is that measures like these pose an existential threat to the sustainability and resilience of the very regional communities we seek to support .
Regional universities have been enrolling and educating students from low socioeconomic and disadvantaged backgrounds for years , without fuss or fanfare . The proportion of low SES background students at my own institution , CQUniversity , for example , is around 38 per cent , and most regional universities boast similar numbers . The best from the Go8 , by contrast , is the University of Adelaide at 16 per cent ; the Australian National University sits at just four per cent low SES .
You might well ask , why the sudden interest in regional students ? Surely , it is just a coincidence that “ non-traditional ” students ( a descriptor inclusive of regional students ) are the very cohort who will make up the 20,000 additional CSPs for which universities are now actively lobbying for a piece .
Students who study in the regions are far more likely to stay in the regions .
Of course , I would never discourage a young person from the regions from pursuing their dreams , even if that means going to the city to study . That ’ s not what this is about ; it ’ s about metropolitan universities using the heightened interest in jobs and skills to further cherry-pick the very best and brightest from the regions . When the political incentives and monies dry up , so will the metropolitan interest , leaving regional universities to pick up the pieces .
Over the long term , measures such as these – which effectively hollow out talent and potential from the regions – will deepen the regional skills crisis and cause economic pain for the nation at large .
MIND THE GAP Like it or not , the gap between regional and metropolitan Australia is still as wide as ever . I was reminded of this when I saw the results of a new study by CQUniversity researcher Dr Amy Cosby .
Dr Cosby ’ s survey of more than 5,000 primary and secondary students found an astounding lack of understanding about agricultural practices among our young people . The overwhelming majority of students surveyed believed commercial milking of dairy cows still occurs by hand rather than machine . Large numbers of students couldn ’ t tell if cotton was a product of plant or animal . Unsurprisingly , students with exposure to farms ( read : regional students ) answered more accurately .
How is this relevant to jobs and skills ? It ’ s a reminder that a regional perspective is critical in making decisions that impact the nation , particularly where city dwellers have clear blind spots .
Regional universities are a vital component of the jobs and skills ecosystem , and any future national dialogue must ensure our voice is heard , or risk failing our city and regional economies alike . ■
Professor Nick Klomp is vice chancellor of CQUniversity and Chair of the Regional Universities Network .
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