The Minister for Tertiary Education, Chris Evans,  announced this week that courses offered by public universities leading to qualifications below bachelor degree level will be subject to annual allocations agreed between the Government and each university. He said the decision will ensure that the higher education sector does not expand at the expense of TAFEs and other vocational education and training providers in the new demand-driven funding system which comes into effect next year.

 

Mr Evans said the changes "signal the Government’s desire for universities and VET providers to complement each other in the delivery of courses that meet Australia’s training and education needs.

 

“The Government does not wish to see universities offering higher education Commonwealth supported places next year in courses below bachelor degree level to the detriment of the vocational education training sector.”

 

The designation of diplomas, advanced diplomas, associate degrees and enabling courses means that places for these courses will be allocated by the Minister rather than funded on a demand driven basis.

 

Courses at the diploma, advanced diploma, associate degree and enabling level account for only 3% of total Commonwealth supported undergraduate places at Australian universities.

 

The Government has previously announced that non-research postgraduate degrees and medical degrees offered by public universities will not be part of the demand-driven funding system from 2012 and these degrees will continue to be subject to annual allocations agreed between the Government and each university.

 

Diplomas, advanced diplomas, associate degrees and enabling courses will now be treated in the same way.

 

Universities Australia (UA) has expressed disappointment over the new restriction on universities.

 

UA CEO Glenn Withers said the decision "constrains universities' strategic options and their ability to put in place pathways and programs that may best suit the aspirations of students and the missions of individual universities,”

 

"The decision is also a reminder that student demand-driven growth may be subject to controls. This introduces some further uncertainties into university planning.”

 

UA also expressed concern over the timing of the Federal Government’s decision, saying that the capping comes after universities have already developed and promoted their programs for the 2012 education year.

 

"Universities ask that Government respects existing commitments, including those currently under offer to students or already reflected in Compact agreements with the Commonwealth. The Government will need to work directly with those universities affected to ensure that these changes do not unduly disadvantage universities and prospective students who have worked within an established policy framework,” Mr Withers said.