Australia's "roadmap for transformation" in higher education advocates for a broader and more equitable international student enrollment.
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Australia's long-awaited assessment of its higher education system outlines a plan for significant growth until 2050. The report emphasizes a strategic approach to international recruitment, aiming for diversity, risk management, and alignment with national labor market goals and migration strategy.
After over a year of consultation, 820 written submissions, 180 meetings, and a debated interim report in July 2023, Australia's Department of Education unveiled the Australian Universities Accord Final Report on February 25, 2024.
Exceeding 400 pages, the report serves as a blueprint shaping the country's higher education sector for the foreseeable future. Minister for Education Jason Clare sees it as a roadmap for the next decade and beyond, encompassing student fees, funding, research, teaching, housing, student services, international education, and more.
The report advocates for significant higher education expansion in Australia, foreseeing that 90% of new jobs will demand post-secondary qualifications by 2035. Targets include raising post-secondary attainment among high-school leavers to 80% and university qualification attainment to 55% by 2050. The government-supported post-secondary spaces are set to double to 1,800,000.
Furthermore, the report calls for greater integration between Australia's VET and higher education sectors, promoting modular systems allowing students to transfer among qualifications and institutions.
Funding for the envisioned expansion will come partly from government and partly from universities, leveraging untied revenue sources like international student tuition, research funding, and philanthropic donations.
Regarding international education, the report delves into diversity and scale, addressing concerns about large concentrations of international students. Recommendations include aligning courses with labor market demands, expanding international enrollments beyond major cities, diversifying international student markets, strengthening alumni networks, and enhancing trust and integrity within the Australian visa system.
While an international student fee levy proposal was omitted from the final report, it proposes a AUS$10 billion Higher Education Future Fund, to be co-funded by government and universities, raising questions about the impact on universities' non-government revenue.
Leaders in the sector, like University of Melbourne Vice-Chancellor Duncan Maskell and University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor Mark Scott, have expressed concerns about taxing universities amid pandemic-induced deficits, highlighting the reliance on international student fee revenue and reduced government funding.
In essence, the report's recommendations set the stage for substantial shifts in Australia's higher education landscape, sparking debates on funding, sustainability, and the future trajectory of the sector.