Universities Australia (formerly AVCC)

On 13 March 2008, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education, the Hon Julia Gillard MP, announced a major review of Australia’s higher education system which will examine and report on the future direction of the higher education sector, its fitness for purpose in meeting the needs of the Australian community and economy and the options for ongoing reform. [From the DEEWR website]

The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) welcomes the release of The Australian University Student Finances 2006 final report, and supports the call on the part of Universities Australia for practical changes to student income support.

The Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee advances higher education through voluntary, cooperative and coordinated action. The Committee is non-partisan and exists exclusively for educational purposes. Its continuing aim is to serve the best interests of the universities, and through them, the nation.

The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) welcomes the inclusion of postgraduate and Indigenous students in the AVCC's student finances survey for the first time. This is significant, and the findings certainly help to illustrate the reality of what is going on “students are struggling to cope with living costs, debt, and study expenses, and are being forced to work more hours at the expense of their academic work" CAPA President, Nigel Palmer said.

The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) is the national peak body of postgraduate student organisations representing Australia's 257,700 postgraduate students, including 47,300 research students. These research students contribute approximately 70% of the research conducted in Australian universities. This submission will comment broadly on the scope of Part A Introduction/1.Background and then on specific sections of the Draft
Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (the Code).

Full submission is in PDF below:

Distance education increases access to postgraduate study for students who would not otherwise be able to attend a university campus. This briefing paper discusses the educational experience of external postgraduate students, describing the difficulties they may encounter due to their distance from the university and suggesting strategies for their support. The scope of this paper has been directed by CAPA Action Policy for 2003:

The crippling effects of the onerous financial pressures faced by Australian students have been revealed by the new report Paying their way: A survey of Australian Undergraduate University Student Finances, 2000, released by the AVCC last week.

"This report confirms what most of us in the sector well know; that the financial burdens involved with studying, without adequate income support measures, are heavy, and often overwhelming" said CAPA President, John Byron.

CAPA President, John Byron, expressed his support for the recommendations of the AV-CC's Discussion Paper on International Education, released this week.

"It is important that Australia does not become complacent about its increasing popularity as an education destination for international students", Mr Byron said.

"The AV-CC's recommendations on international education will help to ensure that international students choose Australia, despite vigorous competition from the UK and the USA, among others."