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Biggest mid-year enrolments yet
25 July 2009
By the start of Semester 2, next Monday, the University will have made over 1,000 offers to students wishing to start university study mid-year. This is pretty close to double the demand at this time in 2008 and follows record enrolment numbers at the start of the year. Our experience mirrors a trend that is happening in universities Australia wide. With the economy in tough times, more people are opting to invest in the future and gain qualifications that will provide greater job security and higher salaries.
However, what is happening at USC is really very special. Unlike many universities, that have had stable or declining enrolment numbers for domestic undergraduate students for quite a while, USC has been growing at 10 percent plus year after year, supported by the allocation of growth places from the Commonwealth Government. Over the last four years we have received nearly 1,000 new starting places, in recognition of meeting our enrolment targets and being able/willing to introduce new programs in areas where there are significant, national workforce shortages. This very substantial expansion of degree programs means there is now much reduced need for students to leave home to be able to enroll in their degree of choice. This, in turn, is reflected in the demand for places at USC.
The introduction of new degrees impacts on our enrolment numbers in another way as well. An issue for the University has been the number of students who complete a year at USC but then move elsewhere to complete a degree we don’t offer. Students who do well in first year generally have little trouble gaining entry to the second year of more specialized programs at large metropolitan universities. This is great for the students involved, especially as first year is the toughest for most students to get through. It is therefore great for the region, as it eases students into successful university careers in their chosen field after completing first year at home. However, it is a problem for USC because the Commonwealth doesn’t recognize this feeder-function of regional universities. As far as the government is concerned, students who move to another university are considered in a similar way to students who drop-out or fail their course. With regard to our book-keeping, we are relieved to see a reduction in the proportion of students needing to complete elsewhere.
And, there is at least one other factor that impacts on the quite remarkable growth pattern that has developed at USC. In the second half of 2006, the University introduced the Tertiary Preparation Pathway (TPP) program. This provides a one semester, alternative route to university to individuals who did not complete year 12 and/or receive an OP, or who have decided to attend university later in life. Programs of this type are encouraged by the Commonwealth and students do not have to pay HECS. TPP is particularly important for regions like ours where there is not a long tradition of engagement with higher education. From that initial intake of 70 three years ago, we enrolled more than 200 students in first semester this year. The University now has large numbers of TPP completers articulating into degree programs. This cohort just didn’t exist for us a couple of years ago. When international, postgraduate and non-award students are added, 1500 new students will be enrolled by Monday.
Professor Greg Hill is Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of the Sunshine Coast.