Labor leader reveals policy alternative on university funding

OPPOSITION Leader Bill Shorten says Labor won’t “harvest” students for their fees. But does his policy make any sense?

NSW Labor leader Luke Foley and Federal Labor leader Bill Shorten (pictured) announce a new nurse-to-patient ratio policy during the NSW election campaign at St George hospital in Kogarah. Picture: Toby Zerna

LABOR wants universities funded to ensure quality graduates rather than being forced to “harvest” students for their fees, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said today.

Mr Shorten outlined a higher education funding policy to compete with the Abbott Government’s plans for funding cuts and deregulation of fees for degrees.

He described the Government’s policy as “a system where students are collected and their fees harvested, rather than developing the talents and aspirations of the next generation”.

Mr Shorten said aims set by the Kevin Rudd Labor government in 2009 — to increase the number of degree holders and improve access to study for youngsters from disadvantaged families — were largely on track.

The next step was to “focus on guaranteeing quality”.

“This is not a matter of forcing down enrolment to improve quality — it is about lifting standards to catch-up to the new levels of access and equity,” Mr Shorten said in a speech delivered at his old university, Monash, in Melbourne.

“Governments and universities both need to evolve — we need to move our focus from enrolment to attainment.

“It’s not about getting first-years signed up and in the door.

“Rather, we must ensure that when you leave university after three, four or five years, your qualification equips you with the confidence, skills and knowledge to thrive in the new economy.”

Mr Shorten said Labor wanted discussion on the give universities the support and security needed to educate the national workforce.

He said Labor had aimed to have, by 2025, 40 per cent of Australians under 35 holding a bachelor’s degree — up from just over 30 per cent. That goal would be reached, Mr Shorten said.

A second aim was for 20 per cent of students to come from disadvantaged families by 2020. That proportion had reached 17 per cent and there was still work to be done.

“Equity and access will always matter to Labor. The next step, the next wave of university reforms must focus on guaranteeing quality,” said Mr Shorten.

He said: “This is not a matter of forcing down enrolment to improve quality — it is about lifting standards to catch-up to the new levels of access and equity.”

Originally published as Labor leader reveals policy alternative on university funding