Regional university students get $134 funding boost
PEOPLE living in remote and regional areas will have greater access to university courses under a new higher education package to be announced by the Federal Government on Monday.
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REGIONAL students will have greater access to university courses under a $134 million higher education package to be announced by the Federal Government today.
The ambitious new plan to increase university participation rates among remote and regional students will see scholarship numbers more than double and inject more than $92 million into regionally-focused universities.
“Every Australian, no matter where they live, should have access to Australia’s world-leading higher education system,” Education Minister Dan Tehan said.
“Our commitment to regional education is in the national interest because we need to support regional communities to retain and attract smart young people.
“Our Government’s investment in regional and remote education will give students greater choice and access to opportunities through more Commonwealth-supported places at regional campuses, more scholarships for rural and regional students and more Regional Study Hubs.”
The boost will bring the government’s higher education funding to $400 million over five years and will see Queensland’s regional communities given extra funding, including $30.2 million for the University of Sunshine Coast’s Caboolture and Fraser Coast campuses, $9.1 million to CQUniversity and $9.1 million to James Cook University.
The funding will also allow for the development of a National Regional, Rural and Remote Higher Education Strategy to drive participation rates in higher education and establish an Expert Regional Education Advisory Group to inform the government on ongoing education needs.
It will also allow for the establishment and expansion of 16 regional study hubs across the country, including one in Goondiwindi.
The newly-announced advisory group, which will also investigate the merits of establishing a Rural Education Commissioner, will be chaired by former Victorian Premier Denis Napthine.
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