University Accord a Win for Regional Students
On February 25th the Federal Education Minister Jason Clare released the highly-anticipated Universities Accord final report, billing it as a “blueprint” to change higher education for decades to come.
Through its operations on the MidCoast of NSW, Taree Universities Campus (TUC), one of 34 Regional University Study Hubs across Australia, contributed data to the Accord process to inform on the opportunities and obstacles for those studying in the regions.
CEO Donna Ballard welcomes the findings detailed in the report, along with the 47 recommendations for action, the majority of which are framed to ensure equitable access to education.
Mrs Ballard says, “This resonates with the mission of Taree Universities Campus, who places all its resources on supports and programs to ensure students of the MidCoast can go further close to home.”
These words are more than just a statement with the recent success of 45 students completing their degrees in 2023 with access to TUC for study spaces, support from student support officers, and local work placements.
Mrs Ballard continues, “These supports have allowed TUC to see 95% of students that commenced their degree in these first three years to complete their degree locally. This is a sharp contrast to the statistic that only 18% were completing degrees in the years prior to Taree Universities Campus opening in 2020”.
TUC Campus Coordinator, Evan Weller is impressed that recommendations made by TUC to the Accord process have been heard and placed as actions. “Important points like ‘in-demand’ jobs such as Nursing and Teaching will see students being paid for their placements”. Evan believes “ this will go a long way to supporting those already studying, but additionally attracting many more into the degree that saw those months of unpaid placement as a hurdle”.
“I am encouraged by the emphasis on building wider pathways to tertiary qualifications so that we can achieve the set targets of 80% of the working age population having tertiary qualifications by 2050” says Mrs Ballard.
CEO Donna Ballard adds “The report is themed as a once in a generation reform to tertiary education, so perhaps the major universities are feeling a move in their foundations , but it can be Regional University Study Hubs like ours, perfectly placed in regional areas, that can assist and support the major universities to make the recommendations of the University Accord a reality.”
For media enquiries, and further information please contact:
Donna Ballard
ceo@tareeuni.org.au
M: 0417 570 359
About the Australian Universities Accord: The Government has invested $2.7 million over two years from 2022–23 to deliver the Australian Universities Accord through a 12-month review of Australia’s higher education system, led by a Panel of eminent Australians. The objective of the Accord is to devise recommendations and performance targets that will improve the quality, accessibility, affordability and sustainability of higher education, in order to achieve long term security and prosperity for the sector and the nation.
Source: https://www.education.gov.au/australian-universities-accord