Fed: AVCC reject govt plans to overhaul higher education funding

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Fed: AVCC reject govt plans to overhaul higher education funding

By Sandra O'Malley and Denis Peters

CANBERRA, Aug 7 AAP - Australia's vice-chancellors today rejected federal governmentproposals to overhaul higher education funding, calling for more money for universities.

Labor and the Australian Democrats, who oppose suggestions to increase student contributions,backed the outspoken criticism from the Australian Vice Chancellors' Committee (AVCC).

The AVCC, which represents the chiefs of 38 Australian universities, plans to developits own funding policy model based on its framework for reform of the university sector.

Last month Education Minister Brendan Nelson released a discussion paper on universityfunding as part of the series from the current review of higher education.

The paper canvassed four funding models - a discipline-based model allowing universitiesmore flexibility to adjust their courses; fee deregulation; flat rate learning entitlements;and variable rate learning entitlements.

AVCC president Deryck Schreuder said vice-chancellors rejected the learning entitlementmodels but believed there were elements in the other models that could be developed further.

"There is agreement within the AVCC that an alternative model must be formulated andthat will now form the next step in the AVCC response process," he said.

"The AVCC also rejects full deregulation as a principle. We need a solution which notonly recognises the key differences across the sector but provides the best outcome forthe nation's students."

Professor Schreuder said the challenge was to find a funding model which allowed fordifferent but effective approaches, targeted at the needs of the students.

"Australia's universities need an increase in funding. That point is fundamental," he said.

"Total deregulation is not the answer."

Opposition education spokeswoman Jenny Macklin warned that the government proposalswould mean some students faced paying up to $100,000 for their degrees.

"That means an elite and discriminatory system where access to university is basedon wealth instead of merit," she said.

Ms Macklin said the federal government had already cut $3 billion from university fundingsince it took office.

"Not one of its four funding proposals provides for increased public investment inour university system," she said.

"The only source of additional funding the government has nominated is students.

"The AVCC's rejection of the Howard government's proposed university funding modelsis a serious blow to the review."

Australian Democrats leader Natasha Stott Despoja said the government needed to recognisethat university funding was not simply a means to an end.

"The fee options remain trapped in simple-minded faith in markets as the great panacea,"

she said.

"The government has lost sight of achieving an equitable, diverse, high-quality universitysector."

Dr Nelson was not immediately available for comment.

AAP so/jnb/sb

KEYWORD: UNIVERSITIES AVCC NIGHTLEAD