Flagship education partnership schemes take $18m knock

EQUITY was the focus of a low-key higher education budget, with a total $23 million increase.

EQUITY was the focus of a low-key higher education budget, with a total $23 million increase.

While enabling and bridging programs received a $40.6m increase, guaranteeing $1400 per student for a full year, the flagship participation and partnership programs took an $18m hit.

In a move designed to encourage universities to develop more bridging programs for under-prepared students, funding will be increased from $1833 to $2500 next year. That will increase again to $3068 in 2014 with annual indexation thereafter.

But the big-budget Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program had incentive payments to universities for enrolling disadvantaged students decreased by $400 a student, from $1800 to $1400. That cut will take place this year and could affect mid-year enrolments.

But of the $68m saved from the cuts, $50m was channelled into the partnerships arm of the program to encourage universities to work more closely with schools and other institutions to encourage aspiration to higher education.

Tertiary Education Minister Chris Evans told The Australian that funding for enabling courses had been dropping.

"It's been a fixed pool of money and the more students who are enrolled in these courses, the less the institution has received per student," he said.

However, he said bridging programs provided a valuable addition in the armoury of ensuring under-prepared students stayed the course and didn't drop out.

The government has set targets to increase the participation of disadvantaged students to 20 per cent by 2020. It set incentive payments under the HEPPP and also by taking quotas off the number of places universities could offer. An estimated 40,000 offers were made to disadvantaged students this year, an increase of 19 per cent since 2009.

Senator Evans said the changes were in line with advice from a review of funding of university teaching and learning last year by Jane Lomax-Smith.

However, the budget also included bringing financial support for indigenous students in line with their non-indigenous peers on Youth Allowance and Newstart Allowance. Eligibility for ABSTUDY will be increased from 20 to 21 and the minimum age to qualify for the maximum rate will increase from 21 to 22.