NEWS
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The Greens attempted to amend
legislation so this wouldn’t happen but the
Senate shot down their motion.
The Greens said for-profit models and
education don’t mix and, as such, for-profit
universities such as Torrens should not
be eligible for funding. They based their
concerns on the recent VET scandals.
“Look at how the dodgy registered
training organisations in the VET sector
have cut every corner to maximise profit
at the expense of education outcomes,”
Senator Robert Simms, Greens higher
education spokesman, told Parliament.
“With what confidence does the [education
minister, Simon Birmingham] say this will
not happen at Torrens?”
Labor Senator Kim Carr, shadow minister
for higher education, said the Greens
concerns were unfounded, as the Tertiary
Education Quality Standards Agency is a
more effective regulatory body than its VET
counterpart. He also said Torrens has a solid
reputation and its association with Laureate
International Universities means it doesn’t
follow a strictly for-profit model.
“The entity that Torrens University is
associated with … is not, strictly speaking,
a for-profit entity,” Carr said. “It is headed
up by an emeritus chancellor, former US
President Clinton, and has a number of other
distinguished academics associated with it.”
Birmingham agreed with Carr and the
motion was shot down.
The Greens aren’t concerned by all
private institutions. Bond University is
private but not-for-profit and the Greens
have not challenged its Table B status.
Torrens University Australia declined
to comment. ■
Moreton Bay Regional Council to set
up a campus in Petrie, Brisbane. The
campus will be completed in 2020 and
the university hopes it’ll cater for 10,000
students. USC’s current student population
is roughly 12,000. Professor Greg Hill, USC’s
vice-chancellor and president, is unfazed by
the population boom.
“We believe we can get to
10,000 students within 10 years, but
ultimately, given that Moreton already has
a population of over 400,000 people, over
time the campus there would be the same
size as the Sippy Downs campus,” Hill said.
The council decided to invest in a
university campus that would cater for the
local population. It will pay for the initial
establishment – worth $100 million. The
university is also leasing buildings from
council. Once the initial establishment is
complete, it’ll be USC’s responsibility to
expand, develop and pay for the campus.
Those attending university in the Moreton
Bay area currently have to travel up to three
hours a day for class.
“The tyranny of distance can be a
massive deterrent to many young people
wanting to take on higher education,
or for mature-aged students looking
to study around their work and family
commitments,” Moreton Bay mayor Allan
Sutherland said. “This takes a massive toll
on our region’s young people and their
families, who battle every week to get to
and from the university.”
The campus will offer courses in law,
business, science and engineering. USC is
planning to build a network of campuses
across its local area and Hill said the
establishment of the Petrie campus was
part of this. ■
Tussle over
Torrens
Australian arm of university
receives government
money, over objections
from the Greens.
T
orrens University Australia shouldn’t
receive public funding, the Greens
have argued.
In legislation passed in late November,
Torrens University Australia has been listed
as a Table B provider – meaning it’s eligible
for public research funding.
Room for
growth
USC set to add campus in
Petrie that will nearly double its
student base over first decade.
T
he University of the Sunshine Coast’s
new campus will almost double its
student population.
USC has recently won a tender from
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