Page 3519 - Week 08 - Thursday, 18 August 2011
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Professor Bradley predicts that competition in the ACT market in the future will become red hot. UC and CIT will find themselves up against competition from Charles Sturt University, various TAFE institutes in New South Wales, the Australian Catholic University, the University of Wollongong and, indeed, quite likely, the University of Western Sydney. In particular, this competition will be at diploma and advanced diploma levels, areas that UC and CIT currently compete in.
Professor Bradley also advised that the ability of an institution to move quickly to meet changes in demand is critical in this new higher education environment. The size of the operating budgets and an institution’s ability to move quickly to reshape offerings are key points of advantage when times are tough. Institutions will need greater flexibility to change quickly to meet changes in student demand. An example of this in the industry locally and where there is clearly demand from students relates to civil engineering offerings. Of course, neither of our institutions currently have the capacity to put together a course without government assistance. This, I think, represents a very practical challenge for the territory at this time.
Professor Bradley also noted in her report that international students tend to favour larger institutions when they choose to study in Australia. But what the report concludes is that the status quo cannot continue, and that is why I have ruled out doing nothing. Our institutions must move with the times. (Time expired.)
MR SPEAKER: Mr Hargreaves, a supplementary?
MR HARGREAVES: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Since the shadow minister for education rarely offers a question on this issue, could the minister please advise any specific recommendations that he has received in relation to the future of tertiary education in the ACT?
MR BARR: Professor Bradley has made several specific recommendations in relation to the future of the University of Canberra and the CIT. Her preferred way forward is the establishment of a dual sector university bringing the two current institutions together to form a new entity. Her reasons in favour of forming a new dual sector university include the significant extension of offerings at a degree level with new disciplines able to be made available within the ACT to meet community demand.
Professor Bradley is very firm in arguing that the new institution needs to be formed on the basis of three important principles: firstly, respect and value accorded to the unique characteristics of each partner; respect and value according to the values, cultures and traditions of each sector; and, importantly, an understanding and respect for the strengths that each would bring to a new institution.
It is clear that any marriage between UC and CIT must be the coming together of two equal parties to form a new institution. Professor Bradley’s report also discusses the need to preserve access to programs for the educationally disadvantaged that are currently run by the CIT. Central to this government’s support to these sorts of programs will be their continuity in any future model. In fact, I believe it provides us with a unique opportunity to make education for the disadvantaged a key strength of a new institution.
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