Private uni bonanza

THE latest round of higher education places cements John Howard's plan for private providers to be as important as they are in schools.

THE latest round of higher education place allocations cements a plan by John Howard for private providers to be as important in tertiary education as they are in school education.

Of 375 new teaching places announced by federal Education, Science and Training Minister Julie Bishop yesterday, more than 50 per cent went to Christian institutions including Avondale College (NSW), Tabor College (Adelaide and Melbourne), the University of Notre Dame (Sydney and Perth) and the Christian Heritage College (Brisbane).

These colleges won just over 10 per cent of the 2300 new commonwealth-supported places, or 260 places, including 200 for teaching and 60 for nursing.

Last year private colleges received a lower proportion, just 6 per cent of 4600places.

Ms Bishop defended the allocations, saying they were for places in accredited courses in areas of national priority.

In contrast with recent years, when regional and outer metropolitan campuses subject to low student demand have been favoured in the allocation of new places, Group of Eight universities featured prominently this year. The University of NSW, Sydney, Adelaide, Monash, Melbourne and the University of Western Australia all were granted more than 100 places each.

Ms Bishop said allocations were based on national and state priorities and fields of workforce shortage. There are more new places in engineering than any other discipline, at 560, followed by nursing (395) and science (390).

Ms Bishop said all institutions that applied and were eligible had been granted places. An unprecedented number, 15, did not apply.

"This is strong evidence that we have now created as many commonwealth-supported places that are needed to meet eligible student demand," Ms Bishop said. These were the last places to be allocated under the Backing Australia's Future plan for more than 39,000 places over 10 years.

Alan Robson, vice-chancellor of the UWA and incoming president of the Group of Eight research intensive universities, said it was not surprising that Go8 universities had applied for and received more places.

"I think the Group of Eight mainly are the universities of first choice for students and hence, when there is a weakening of demand, it filters less into the Group of Eight," he said.

Among regional universities, only Sunshine Coast, Charles Darwin and Ballarat applied for 2008 places.

Last year several regional universities including Southern Queensland and James Cook struggled to fill their places, as did Edith Cowan University in Perth. The Government has also revealed figures showing private providers are blitzing public universities in the market for full-fee paying domestic undergraduate places.

Contrary to a recent erroneous media report seized on by the Australian Labor Party and National Union of Students, the number of domestic full-fee paying students in award courses at public universities has risen a modest 6.9 per cent, comparing enrolments for the first half of 2005 with the first half of 2006.

That category of enrolments increased by 24 per cent for the private universities, Bond and Notre Dame, during the same period.

Among other private higher education providers accredited for the FEE-HELP student loan scheme, domestic full-fee paying enrolments rose by 95 per cent to more than 8000.

Ms Bishop said this showed students were discerning in their choice of educators. "No eligible student is forced to take a place at a private university because there are now sufficient commonwealth-supported places. This is evidence that students are making choices based on factors other than (the availability of government places)."

Quality, flexibility in course provision and the availability of niche courses might be among the factors, she said.

University of Adelaide acting vice-chancellor Fred McDougall said the institution was very happy with the additional 235 places, which fit with the university's strategic plan to increase student numbers from 16,000 to 20,000.

He said most of the courses targeted areas of high demand such as engineering and mining as well as nursing and other health sciences.

"Clearly, given the mining boom, it was important to get extra places in engineering," Professor McDougall said.

He said the extra federal funding also allowed the university to establish South Australia's first veterinary school.

"We know there is unmet demand nationally for students wanting to study veterinary science," Professor McDougall said. "A new school will help to slow the brain drain of students from South Australia who are leaving to study at vet schools interstate or overseas."

UWA vice-chancellor Alan Robson said he was delighted with the new government-funded places for science and engineering courses.

"We have increased our intake into engineering enormously over the last three years," he said. "There is a very strong demand for our graduates doing engineering and science."

Universities Australia incoming chairman and Monash University vice-chancellor Richard Larkins said the commonwealth-supported places were given to courses of high demand.

He said the fact most Go8 universities applied for places while many regional institutions did not was indicative of the present education market.

"It's a reflection of uneven demand across the sector," he said.

"Some universities, particularly regionals, are finding it difficult to fill places."

Victoria University vice-chancellor Elizabeth Harman said the university had decided not to apply for more places for several reasons. She said the 105 per cent loading provided an extra 500 places and the university wanted to concentrate on implementing its new curriculum changes.

Professor Harman denied a decline in student demand was behind the decision, saying the university was following a clear planning strategy.