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VC ' S CORNER
The panel unequivocally supported the interim report ’ s recommendation to undo the damaging effects of the JRG program
To support this , the report recommended establishing 34 new regional university hubs to encourage students living in regional , rural , remote , and outer suburban areas to pursue a degree .
The 2023 HEDX conference , hosted in Sydney one day after the report ’ s release , featured a panel of Sydney vice-chancellors and deputy vice-chancellors , including Professors Bruce Dowton , Merlin Crossley , Andrew Parfitt and Clare Pollock .
The panel unequivocally supported the interim report ’ s recommendation to undo the damaging effects of the Job Ready Graduates ( JRG ) Program 50 per cent pass rule .
“ The program unfairly disadvantages equity cohorts who are more likely to struggle with the transition to higher education ,” Professor Merlin Crossley from the University of NSW said .
SUPPORTING AUSTRALIAN RESEARCH
The report also acknowledged the importance of home-grown Australian research , particularly for regional universities that continue to experience a decrease in research funding .
“ Among the failings of the JRG was the removal of guaranteed funding for Australian research ,” said Professor Clare Pollock from the University of Western Sydney .
Sustainable research funding that isn ’ t demand-driven or reliant upon international student fees is required to increase the breadth and depth of Australian research .
During the panel discussion , University of Technology professor Andrew Parfitt identified a need to involve industry in funding Australian research and educating the next generation workforce .
“ Industry plays a pivotal role in the value of a degree , and if we are going to translate research to industry , we need industry to be financially involved .”
“ There ’ s a large price for people to take time off work for work-integrated learning ,” Professor Parfitt said . “ Students need outcomes for what they ’ re paying for , to know they ’ ll have skills that will translate to the workforce .”
GAPS IN THE REPORT Education experts agree that gaps in the report have been left deliberately to encourage further dialogue .
Questions about funding models to support reforms and the impact of rapidly evolving technologies will need to be addressed in the final report .
Bruce Dowton , the Macquarie VC said : “ The proposed levy on international students will need prompt economic modelling . Otherwise , we ’ re at risk of losing international student enrolments .”
Exactly how the higher education sector will innovate faster to meet the needs of a rapidly evolving workforce still remain unclear .
Professor Pollock emphasised that “ getting new courses approved and funded takes time , but if we don ’ t evolve quickly enough we ’ re at risk of falling behind .”
“ There ’ s too much red tape . It takes far too long to have new courses approved . We ’ re struggling to keep up with the changing needs of industry to equip our students to enter the workforce ,” Professor Pollock said .
The need to improve university governance , and make universities good places to work was glossed over in the report .
“ We need to invest in our teachers , so they feel safe in their workplaces and supported if we ’ re going to achieve the 50 per cent targeted increase in student numbers ,” Professor Pollock said .
Mary O ’ Kane ’ s call to action encouraged more diverse and ‘ pithy ’ feedback on the interim report in preparation for the final report , which she will deliver in December . ■
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