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New places capped?
6 October 2007
The University has been the most rapidly growing institution in Australia for quite a while now. Through this column we have been detailing just how impressive this growth has been. So the last round of growth places, announced by the Commonwealth on 11 September was not all that surprising. We asked for around 180 places to commence in 2008 and were granted 165. However, the outcome is very interesting on two fronts.
Firstly, the total number of places allocated to all Queensland universities was only 200. This mirrors softening demand in the sector as a whole and regional universities in particular. We clearly don’t fit this model. These places will allow the University to further consolidate the range of degrees offered that progress the employment needs of the region now and in the future.
Another very relevant consideration is that this growth-place era in Australian universities is over. A Backing Australia’s Ability initiative of the Commonwealth Government, the program commenced in 2005 and ends in 2008. With widespread problems with regard to reaching enrolment targets, and resultant retrieval of places and/or funds by the Commonwealth, the sector as a whole has signalled it doesn’t want further growth. This doesn’t suit USC but we’re the odd university out!
Over the last 3 years we have received more than 850 starting places, that by the time students progress through to graduation, will pipeline out to over 2300 places in 2010. By then we will have at least 11,000 domestic undergraduate students on campus. Our student numbers will double across the next three years. Growing from 500 to 5,000 over 10 years is pretty spectacular stuff for USC, however, the concept of 5,000 to 11,000 over three years is a different dimension altogether.
However, there is no guarantee of further growth places in coming years. For the University it raises issues related to how we can offer new programs that the community wants/needs, if there is no new government funding for them. Do we phase out of some existing areas that are not in high demand? Do we look to partnerships with local government/industry to sponsor new, high profile regional needs? Do we cap government supported places and introduce fee-paying places, as is the case with the so-called “Sandstone Universities”? None of these pathways fit easily into our vision of the University of the Sunshine Coast and its role in the future of the region.
Other things aside, it means that from 2009 onwards it will become more difficult to gain entry to USC and universities Australia-wide.
Professor Greg Hill is Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Sunshine Coast.