Unis to benefit from ALP Higher Ed reforms - room for improvement

The ALP white paper on higher education released today by the Federal Opposition offers the hope of financial relief for the sector. We particularly value the commitment to increased funding and adequate indexation. Combined with the previous undertaking to repeal the IR impositions, the future of universities and their staff and students can only be brighter.

Many factors shape the quality of postgraduate research. The political recognition of the importance of the research environment and quality supervision is timely. However, the failure to address the insufficient length of the Australian Postgraduate Awards and the inequitable taxation on part-time scholarships are glaring omissions. We hope that the consultation process will lead to these issues being addressed in the final policy.

CAPA remains concerned about the lack of focus on postgraduate coursework circumstances. Our response to the white paper will argue for the creation of new Commonwealth supported places and the extension of income support to all postgraduate coursework students.

Plans to circumvent the VSU amendments to the Higher Education Support Act will help universities provide student services. However, there are no guarantees about the nature of the required independent representation. Postgraduate students are likely to continue to lose out in general student service and representational arrangements. And there is no commitment to the future funding of student representation at the national level.

CAPA is pleased to participate in the ALP higher education policy development process. We hope that the consultative approach, in marked contrast to that of the current government, will lead to significant improvements in postgraduate education.