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USC to benefit from review recommendations
The University of the Sunshine Coast is well-placed to benefit from the recommendations of the Bradley Review of Australian Higher Education.
The Bradley Review outlines a variety of recommendations to the government, for the reform of Australia’s higher education system, to ensure the nation remains one of the world’s top tertiary education providers.
Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of the Sunshine Coast Professor Paul Thomas AM said USC was perfectly positioned to benefit from the proposed increases to public funding, and welcomed the Review’s bold outlook for the future of higher education in Australia.
Professor Thomas said USC already was performing above many of the revised national targets.
“The report recommends that by 2020, 20 percent of undergraduate enrolments be from low socio-economic backgrounds – USC’s enrolments are already double that,” he said.
The Review recommends institutions meeting or exceeding enrolment targets be allocated increases in funding.
While acknowledging that the sector on the whole would be faced with challenges to meet some of the report’s targets – in particular the establishment of a national regional university and re-arranging state and federal responsibilities – Professor Thomas said USC’s location in one of the nation’s highest growth areas separated it from the issues facing other regional universities.
“South-East Queensland is one of the only regions in the country experiencing growth in the 18-24 age group,” he said.
“We have the best chance of anywhere in the country of continuing to meet, if not exceeding, our growth expectations. That strong position means we are better positioned to cater to the needs of our students.”
USC has enjoyed annual double-digit growth in student numbers since 2004, with almost three quarters of the approximately 5,800 students drawn from the Sunshine Coast region.
The Review also proposes deregulating the university sector and linking funding to students rather than allocating it to institutions.
Professor Thomas said the move would further benefit USC by effectively removing the cap on student numbers, allowing the university greater flexibility in deciding which programs would be offered.
He said he did not believe USC was at any risk of losing students to metropolitan universities.
Having this year granted 82 percent of applicants a place in their favoured program, Professor Thomas said the demand for positions at USC continued to be strong.
“Students want to study here, they don’t want to go to Brisbane and spend an extra $10,000 to meet the cost of attending an urban institution,” he said.
— Nathan Woulfe