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10 août 2012

Invest in Australia’s Future, Invest in Our Universities

http://www.nteu.org.au///var/files/thumbs/a780532dd116f8da145bac8c4c7961bc_4ecaed0ee9b56_w940_.jpg'Invest in Australia’s Future, Invest in Our Universities' is a long term campaign started to call on the Federal Government to increase public investment in our universities by 10% immediately, and to commit towards matching the OECD average of investment in higher education to 1% of Gross Domestic Product in the medium term.
Universities are facing a crisis. Decades of underfunding have left them with declining infrastructure, overcrowded classrooms, overworked staff, higher levels of casualisation, and an unhealthy dependence on international fee income to fund all aspects of their work.
Universities help to develop our young people, our workforce, our communities and our aspirations. They do essential practical and theoretical research and they help build lives and skills that make a valuable contribution to our communities.
With one of the world’s most prosperous economies, there is no excuse not to invest more in our universities and Australia’s future.
About the Campaign

The Invest in Australia’s Future campaign is arguing for an initial 10% increase in public funding per government supported student and a measured increase of public investment in universities to bring it to an equivalent of 1% of Gross Domestic Product. This would put Australia on an even footing with the university systems of other industrialised economies, and would provide the best chance for Australia to generate a more secure economic future beyond the mining boom.
These papers provide an overview of the reasons why this increase in investment is necessary and must largely come from public sources.
Australian universities are finding it increasing difficult to maintain the quality of the educational experience that they are able to offer students, as well the quality of research and community service. NTEU argues that there are signs of a sector rapidly approaching breaking point.
Further Information
Overview
.

NTEU supports an initial 10% increase in public funding per government-supported university student and a measured increase of public investment in universities to an equivalent of 1% Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This would put Australia on an even footing with the university systems of other industrialised economies. It would also provide the best opportunity to generate a more secure economic future beyond the mining boom.
This briefing paper provides an overview of the reasons why this increase in investment is necessary. It also outlines why this investment must largely come from public sources.
The evidence presented in the paper shows that sustained and substantial cuts in real government base funding per student, from the mid 1990s until recently, have been associated with a rise in Student Staff Ratios (SSR). SSR at universities have increased from about 13 students for each class in 1990 to over 22 students in 2011.  This means that there are twice as many students per staff member and that Australian universities now have amongst the highest university SSR in the industrialised world. Recent surveys of students indicate concerns with the quality of facilities and lack of access to staff, especially casual staff who are not simply not around when students wish to consult with them.
Australian universities are finding it increasing difficult to maintain the quality of the educational experience that they are able to offer students, as well the quality of research and community service.
Economy
.
Australia’s Future Skills and Educational Needs

The most recent and comprehensive analysis of Australia’s future workforce needs was undertaken by Skills Australia. In addition to identifying a need to lift Australia’s relatively low workforce participation rate and improve adult literacy and numeracy, Australian Workforce Futures: A National Workforce Development Strategy, also concludes that Australia needs to increase the productivity of its workforce. The report concludes that:
We need a workforce in which more people have skills, but also multiple and higher level skills and qualifications.
According to the highest (Open Doors) growth scenario of economic modelling undertaken by Access Economics, the proportion of the workforce requiring qualifications (at Certificate III level or above) will increase from 52% in 2007 to 62% in 2015 and almost 70% by 2025.
When these projections are broken down by level of qualification for the periods 2010 to 2025, as shown in Figure 1, several interesting trends are apparent.
Firstly, the demand for workers without any post-school qualifications is expected to fall on average by 0.6% per annum over the next 15 years. Secondly, the projected increase of demand for qualifications predominantly offered by universities (Bachelor degree and above) is estimated to be considerably higher at 4% per annum, compared to qualifications predominantly offered by the VET / TAFE sector at 2.9% per annum. Growth in demand rises as the qualification level increases, indicating that the Australian economy not only needs more qualified persons but people with higherlevel qualifications as well.
Opportunity
.

Education provides enormous social benefits through better health, employment, housing, justice and community engagement. While most Australians understand that there is a direct link between education and productivity, it is more than just an investment in human capital and meeting the needs of an ever changing labour market. As such, if we are to secure our economic future and support our social development, there must be greater investment in physical, social and human infrastructure, a critical component of which is through our universities.
People
.
Who should pay for university?

There is no doubt that students gain a personal benefit over their lifetime from their education. However, their access to that education can be limited or restricted by the initial perception and/or reality of the costs. In addition to Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) charges, cost of living expenses are high for many.
Australia’s universities are fast approaching breaking point and are in urgent need of a substantial increase in funding. Free market economists and conservative social commentators argue that if universities need additional funding then university students or graduates should pay more. NTEU believes that there are compelling economic, social and equity reasons as to why any increases in investment in Australia’s public universities should come from government. They should not be imposed on students in the form of higher fees or HECS charges.
Regions & Communities
.
Social and Community Benefits

As a consequence of their research and teaching activities, regional universities are important drivers of their region’s economic and social development. A recent study by Charles Sturt University estimated the total economic impact of the University to the communities where it was located to be almost $1billion. This is largely due to the University’s status as a major regional employer and the economic activity generated by students living in the region. The University also provides a number of important social and community services in areas of identified need. These include dental and oral health clinics, the Functional Rehabilitation Clinic, the Allied Health Clinic, a veterinary clinic, the Kajulu Advertising Agency and 2MCE Community Radio.
Regional universities typically place a high priority on regionally focused and collaborative research, and provide local businesses, government and community groups with access to professional, technical and consulting services. Knowledge exchange also occurs through mechanisms such as business incubators, science and technology parks, staff and student secondments and placements, and exchanges between the university and business or community groups. Through their learning and teaching programs, regional universities are able to contribute to local economic and social development by tailoring courses to meet community needs and aspirations.
International
.
Higher Education and Export Earnings

The education sector is Australia’s thirdlargest export industry, generating around $19.1billion in export revenues in 2009-10. [2] Universities account for more than half of this income at around $10billion. The income received from this effort is used to subsidise domestic teaching and research, however, a range of issues have impacted on projections for future international income.
While improvements have been made to visa arrangements, the relative strength of the Australian dollar and increasing competition from other countries will mean that there is no longer the ability to rely upon this income to prop up the sector. Worse than this, as budgetary pressures squeeze institutional behavior, the need to cut corners will threaten the reputation of our universities, and thereby further damage our ability to attract this income.
If we are to remain internationally competitive, it is important that public funding levels at least match the average contribution of other OECD countries.
It is vital that increased levels of public investment translate to improved quality of education for students and better job security for researchers, academics and support staff. Lifting the level of public funding should also be tied to improved student-staff ratios and a reduction in the reliance on casual and short term teaching and research employment in universities. In this way, NTEU believes that the international standing of our universities can not only be assured, but enhanced.
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