The fact that a university has a surplus doesn’t mean it has a profit to be either reinvested or returned to shareholders. Grants, for example, should be spent on the projects they’re intended for.
Simon Birmingham said the reforms were ‘fair, reasonable and necessary’.
Mick Tsikas/AAP
The government is seeking savings of $2.8 billion from higher education over the budget period, in another attempt at a major shake-up of Australia’s university sector.
How do we measure success?
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The ministerial task team’s report presents a jaundiced view of an important organisation that’s opened the doors of higher education to many who would otherwise have been closed out.
Thabo Mbeki during his inauguration as Chancellor at UNISA.
Deaan Vivier/Netwerk24
There’s no doubt South African universities need to undergo a real shift. But are the country’s current intellectual and academic forces up to the task?
Spending on vocational education has declined.
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Pension fund managers must consider environmental, social and governance issues when making investment decisions. The student funding crisis is a perfect example of a social issue.
UNSW is one of a few Australian universities that play host to a Confucius Institute.
Jenny Evans/AAP
Many centres were set up in Australian universities to take advantage of China’s rising importance, but without ongoing funding they might be subject to interference from external donors.
There has been a great deal of research, planning and talking to come up with solutions to South Africa’s higher education funding crisis. Some of these plans must now be put into action.
“Free” education is not fair or sustainable.
Reuters/Mark Hutchings
Higher education is a resource intensive enterprise. It cannot effectively function without a massive injection of resources in a sustained and escalated manner.
Protesting students have had enough and their anger is burning hot.
EPA/Nic Bothma
South Africa’s universities have been told to set their own fee increases for 2017. That’s good news for institutions, but it hasn’t been well-received by many students.
A year on from South Africa’s #feesmustfall protests, funding remains a hot issue.
Kim Ludbrook/EPA
After almost a decade of failed processes to reform the current funding system, the government must produce a revised system that improves the quality of outcomes for students in all courses.
Is it fair that students pay different amounts for university courses?
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Andrew Norton, Grattan Institute e Conor King, La Trobe University
Students currently pay higher fees for courses that lead to jobs with typically higher wages. But not all students find, or want, a job in their area of study. Should all students then pay the same amount for their university degree?
Capping the number of students at current levels would reduce future participation in tertiary education.
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Africa’s universities must avoid collaborative programmes with the North that become mere tick-box exercises that only benefit Northern researchers and organisations.
Kim Carr (left) and Christopher Pyne (right) debating on innovation at the National Press Club.
ABC
Over the next ten years, 40% of jobs are predicted to disappear. Universities will be essential to helping people reskill, upskill and reinvent their jobs.