There is often more than one factor at play when a student drops out of a university course.
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Lower completion rates for rural and remote universities are not necessarily a reflection on the quality of the educational experience they provide, but reflect the demographics of their students.
Is school the most important part of education?
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We take a closer look at some of the common claims made this year to see if there is any truth to them.
A flat-rate fee on student loans isn’t a radical idea.
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A flat-rate fee on all student loans is a fairer economic proposal.
Universities will now need to use common language around their admissions processes.
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The government has announced it will accept recommendations to make the university admissions process more transparent. But that alone isn’t enough.
There isn’t enough robust data around what teaching style are effective in higher education.
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Research looking at evidence-based teaching in higher education tends to be based more on anecdotes than on large, robust and peer-reviewed data.
Academic Roz Ward was temporarily suspended from La Trobe University for her comments about the Australian flag on Facebook.
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A new clause being embedded in a number of university contracts attempts to restrict academics from speaking freely in public debate about issues that are outside their area of research.
Women are likely to be disproportionately affected by the new VET student loan scheme.
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Placing greater control over student fees will not lift the quality of student outcomes and ensure the integrity of the qualifications issued.
Students say they find university teaching staff unhelpful and unavailable.
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Students feel they are not getting the support they need, despite research showing that the relationships students have with their lecturers can have a big influence over retention rates.
Improved funding will provide better opportunities for students.
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An independent authority should control the tertiary funding system in Australia in order to best implement policy objectives.
For young people leaving school without completing Year 12, a VET qualification is the main way they can continue their education.
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New research shows private VET providers are ill-equipped to tackle the learning needs of vulnerable young people, who are increasingly being enrolled onto these training courses.
Between 2008 and 2015, the number of disadvantaged students enrolled at Australian institutions increased by 50.2%.
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While research shows HEPPP has helped to increase numbers of disadvantaged students going to university, more specific evidence is still needed.
Students around the world are taking a view on their universities’ colonial past.
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Higher education enables people to express a wide range of perspectives that can come together and be challenged.
What are some alternatives to the ATAR?
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In determining a replacement for the ATAR, it will be essential to consider the impacts of any such change on the school and vocational education systems.
Australian universities should explore ways of working with Indian institutions.
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Australia will face stiff competition from other countries, such as the US and UK, so it must have a clear strategy for how to deepen its engagement with India’s higher education sector.
The new government’s existing research policy framework is pretty thin.
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Research and development investment remains stagnant in Australia. It’s time for a new, long-term strategy for research.
Both sides of politics agree that student funding rates need reviewing.
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At best, there will be no new public money, just shuffling funds between programs. At worst, higher education will help reduce the budget deficit.
Capping the number of students at current levels would reduce future participation in tertiary education.
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One option could be to cut per-student funding and instead raise the student contribution from an average of about 40% to 50%, by raising HECS caps.
There has been an increase in research grants going to high-profile applicants.
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Demand for research grants has far exceeded supply, with success rates for grant applications falling to record lows.
University education has paid a rate of return of around 15%.
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Not only does higher education build the economy’s skills and knowledge, but that it pays for itself and much else many times over.
Visiting universities while in high school helps to demystify higher education.
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Mentoring support and campus visits are a couple of ways of familiarising students with university.