Consultation on next stage of university reform

Targeted consultation on the Universities Accord (Opening the Doors of Opportunity) Bill begins from today to help more students from disadvantaged backgrounds get to and get through university.

The Bill will put into law two big changes to how universities are funded. This will embed a new Managed Growth Funding system and Needs-Based Funding within the core funding model.

This is a key recommendation of the Universities Accord.

Managed Growth Funding will effectively provide demand-driven places for students from disadvantaged backgrounds and from the regions and the bush and will provide universities greater certainty about the number of fully-funded Commonwealth Supported Places they can deliver each year.

It means if an eligible student gets the marks required to get into university, they will receive a Commonwealth Supported Place.

Over the next decade the Government expects to fund an additional 200,000 commencing students at university.

Similar to Gonski funding in schools, the Bill will also provide Needs-Based Funding so higher education students from poor families, the regions and the bush and Indigenous students get the support they need to succeed at university.

Funding can be used to provide extra academic and financial support for eligible students.

The more students a university has that meet the criteria the more funding they will get.

Universities will also receive more funding for students at regional or remote campuses, recognising the higher costs regional universities face.

The introduction of Needs-Based Funding is expected to support around 140,000 students from disadvantaged backgrounds, and around 150,000 students at regional and remote campuses this year.

The Accord says that by 2050, 80 per cent of workers will need a university degree or TAFE qualification.

The only way to get there is to break down the barriers that stop people from getting to university, and to help them succeed when they get there.

Legislation to establish the Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC) passed the Parliament earlier this year.

The ATEC will allocate funding under the new Managed Growth Funding system and implement Needs-Based Funding.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:

“This is a key recommendation of the Universities Accord.

“If you’re a young person from a poor family, the bush or the regions and you get the marks and you’ve got the skills you will get a place, a Commonwealth Supported Place.

“If you have got what it takes you will get a place.

“We’re also going to help these same students who get in to get through.

“These reforms will help provide extra wraparound support to help students finish their studies.

“This is all part of our work to open the doors of our universities wider.”