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Martin Betts speaks with a panel of Vice-Chancellors at HEDx Sydney . ( L-R ) Vice-Chancellors Bruce Dowton , Clare Pollock , Merlin Crossley and Andrew Parfitt . Picture : Supplied
‘ Unreasonable impact ’
Punitive university pass rate on the chopping block
By Erin Nixon
The Australian Government has released a Consultation Paper in response to the Australian Universities Accord priority action number two .
Priority action two recommends ceasing the 50 per cent pass rule that is part of the Job Ready Graduates ( JRG ) package , and improving university processes for reporting student academic achievements .
The JRG package , which was implemented by the Morrison government , decreased fees in identified national priority areas such as education and nursing , and increased them in others including arts and law .
The interim report highlighted the JRG ’ s unreasonable impact on students who had their Commonwealth Supported
Place ( CSP ) revoked if they failed to pass 50 per cent of their units .
The JRG ’ s contentious funding changes and 50 per cent pass rate requirements applied to independent providers and public universities from Jan 2018 and Jan 2022 respectively .
A panel of university vice-chancellors unequivocally supported the Accord ’ s second recommendation at the Sydney HEDx event in July .
“ The program unfairly disadvantages equity cohorts who are more likely to struggle with the transition to higher education ,” UNSW vice-chancellor Merlin Crossley said .
According to the Accord interim report , more than 13,000 students at 27 universities were affected by the punitive 50 per cent rule , disproportionally impacting students from underrepresented backgrounds , leaving them with big debt and no degree .
To remove the pass rate , the Higher Education Support Amendment Bill 2023 must be passed by the Australian Parliament .
More than 13,000 students at 27 universities were affected by the punitive 50 per cent rule
The Bill was introduced into Parliament on 3 August and if passed , the federal government has pledged to replace it with a ‘ Support for students ’ policy .
The Australian public has been invited to submit responses to the Consultation Paper , which will be considered in creating the ‘ Support for students ’ policy .
Higher education providers will be required to comply with the policy , which would include new reporting requirements to support students at risk of failing their courses , a government representative has confirmed .
Submissions to the Consultation Paper are now open and will close 11:49 pm ( AEST ) 15 September 2023 . ■
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