Evans says sector will adapt

The higher education landscape in Australia has altered dramatically since the first issue of Campus Review hit the stands in August 1991. The past twenty years is testament to the fact that universities are both resilient and adaptable. Through the structural changes which followed the Dawkins reforms, the leanness of public funding that characterised the Howard years, and now as we enter a new era in which funding will follow the student, universities have adapted. And so when it comes to the future of Australian education, I am an optimist. I am confident that the higher education sector will be able to take advantage of the opportunities that lie in the period ahead. Since the release of the Bradley Review, Labor has been steadily putting in place the building blocks for a stronger and more accessible system of higher education in Australia. In 1991, there were just half a million students enrolled in our universities. Today, there are more than 1.1 million. And yet, while our higher education system has steadily expanded over the last twenty years to accommodate more students, it is a matter of great regret that the proportion of students from a low-SES background has remained unchanged at around 15 per cent. In a nation that prides itself on giving people a fair go, the disappointing reality is that successive governments have not been able to lift the proportion of people from under-represented groups and disadvantaged backgrounds who walk through the gates of our university campuses. Fortunately, I know that there are many people within our universities who are strongly committed to changing this. Likewise, it’s something that this Government is passionate about. The human face of this goal should not be underestimated—it’s about opening a door to an experience that would not have otherwise existed. For many it will mean being the first in their family to go to university, and the promise of a high skilled, well paid job when they graduate. There are already some encouraging signs. New figures released in June this year indicate that while applications are up across the board, the rate of growth among low-SES students has been the most impressive. Many people will be looking closely at how the higher education sector responds in the new funding environment which allows universities to grow in response to student demand. While the new Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency will oversee the foundations of a high quality higher education system, real responsibility for ensuring that quality remains high will continue to rest with each institution. In short, reputation matters. While many universities are looking to expand, it’s incumbent upon all participants to do so in a way that continues to protect both the quality of teaching and the experience that students receive. Going forward, the new demand-driven system will enable universities to respond better to meet the needs of the labour market. In that context, I believe that students will increasingly value learning experiences as part of their degrees which equip them to be more job-ready. I’ve been impressed by partnerships that are developing between universities and industry to allow students to undertake real-world job placements as part of their studies. This helps them better understand workforce requirements and provide employers with graduates who are ready to make a contribution on day one. As our economy changes, the demand for highly skilled, innovative and creative workers will continue to grow. The Australian economy of the future will require more Australians to be degree qualified. That’s why it is essential that, as a nation, we continue to invest strongly in higher education. The next few years will see transformations in our nation’s universities and open the doors of higher education to a new generation of Australians. Senator Chris Evans is Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations.