May 11, 2018
Australia’s leading research-intensive universities have welcomed the Federal Opposition’s commitment to put post-secondary education front and centre of our nation’s future with a commitment to ensuring our universities remain accessible to all who have the ‘ability and dedication’.
Group of Eight (Go8) Chief Executive, Vicki Thomson, says the Demand Driven System (DDS) has to date been a success for Australia in opening up a university education to a large proportion of school leavers.
“It is vital that any post-secondary policy framework for the 21 Century is sustainable and ‘fit for purpose’ and importantly provides capacity to ensure that outer metropolitan and regional students have access to a quality education,” she said. “This is critical as there are too many forgotten potential students we must assist.”
Ms Thomson said that the Opposition Leader’s commitments in his speech introduced a positive shift in the national conversation on post–secondary education and, importantly, recognised our universities as a national investment rather than a source of funding cuts.
“The Go8 believes that the future of work means Australia is going to require a more and more sophisticated post-secondary education system if it is going to thrive.
“This includes high end studies at Bachelor, Masters and Doctoral levels at Go8 universities – but also a range of credentials that support life-long learning, and this element cannot be ignored or seen as less important. The Go8 is therefore committed to working in the national interest to see the implementation of a holistic vision for post-secondary education, including in our world-leading research sector.
“To that end, we look forward to working with the Opposition on this policy framework, beginning with the significant measures announced in the Budget Reply speech on Thursday evening,” said Ms Thomson.
Contact: Vicki Thomson Group of Eight Chief Executive on +61 438 047 155
