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ALP wants an education revolution
27 January 2007
Universities nationally are no longer attracting the large pools of applicants they used to do. Even the most wealthy universities in the land are seeing declining numbers in many subject areas.
Looking at QTAC figures this week, it was evident that most fields of study are experiencing declining numbers of applicants. Only nursing, health and architecture were experiencing significant increases of 10% over last years figures.
Whether it is the greater availability of jobs, tiredness of the pressures of full-time study, the increasing burden of HECS debt, or some other factors, the situation is a matter of serious national concern. In Queensland, it is a threat to the ‘Smart State’.
During the week the theme was picked up in the new national ALP policy document, ‘The Australian economy needs an education revolution’. The paper addresses the link between the long term prosperity of our nation being dependent on investment in education. Universities, in particular, it is claimed have seen reductions in funding per student, and greater reliance on student payments. Some universities now only receive around 20-30% of their funding from the public purse, and the Minister this week was encouraging universities to look for further sources of funding. It is a much bigger ‘ask’ for some regional universities to do that than older, long established universities with many wealthy donors and alumni.
The paper regards the 7% cuts to universities across the last decade, accompanied by falling economic productivity as two disturbing measures.
Rather than falling behind the rest of the world, Australia needs to have the most educated workforce and the most skilled economy in order to compete and win in global markets, it claims.
As a regular visitor to the US, Europe and Asia, and seeing first-hand the strong pace of development and the large scale investment in education and innovation systems, there is much in this policy paper that ought to be seriously considered. This issue ought not to be debased by party political point-scoring.
Our distance from the main power blocs, our heavy reliance on the resources boom, our small population are all pointers to us needing to really be the ‘clever country’, or our national ‘safe’ image and ‘lifestyle’ region may not always be able to sustain those tags.
An investment in human capital and universities is undoubtedly needed as the current trends are worrying for the nation and its economy.
Professor Paul Thomas is Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Sunshine Coast.