Increasing access to university education

CAPA welcomes the sixteenth recommendation of the Senate Committee report, Universities in Crisis, that public funding for universities be increased to support on-line education.

"Adequately funded, high quality on-line education will enable people who are not able to attend a university campus to access the benefits of higher education," said CAPA President, Mr John Byron.

"At the moment, if you have to work full time to support yourself and your family, it is very difficult to attend university courses, the majority of which are taught during the normal working day. For many people, taking time off work to study during the day is simply not an option they can afford," he continued.

Similarly, people living in rural and isolated areas must either re-locate away from family, friends and work or commute long distances in order to attend university campuses.

"Basically, on-line education allows people to study towards a degree without as much disruption to the rest of their lives," said Mr Byron.

"CAPA looks forward to the opportunity to contribute to the expansion of on-line learning in Australia. Consultation with all participants in the higher education sector is crucial to the development of a high quality system that meets the needs of potential students, academics and universities."

However, on-line education must not be funded at the expense of face-to-face teaching on university campuses. Similarly, academic staff must not be expected to develop on-line material in addition to their current teaching, research and administrative workload.

"Labor has recognised the potential for on-line learning, but has wisely advocated increasing public funding for traditional university activities in addition to its investment in the University of Australia On-line.

"Underfunded universities have found it increasingly difficult to meet their current teaching commitments as it is. We have seen staff-student ratios rise from an average of 1:12 in 1996 to more than 1:18 during the Coalition's two terms in government. Any additional public investment in universities must not be solely directed to on-line education," he argued.

CAPA also commends the Senate Committee's recognition of the need for free bridging or pathway programs to enable people to study on-line at tertiary level.

"The election campaign thus far has simply reinforced the message sent by the Senate Committee's report: that the opposition parties are far more committed to education than the current Government," he concluded.