Equity and the Future of Australian Higher Education

1
Equity and the Future of Australian Higher
Education

• National Centre for Student Equity in Higher
  Education
• Forum February 25 2009
• Peter Noonan

2
Equity and workforce and social participation
3
Equity and workforce and social participation

• Educational disadvantage starts early, compounds
  over time and is perpetuated through family and
  SES background through labour market outcomes.
• Powerful linkage between economic and social
  policy
• Equity of access to human capital formation
• Importance of coherent strategies across the
  sectors and across government
• COAG agenda

4
Equity and Higher Education

• Growth in provision and participation essential
• To meet qualifications goals and targets
• Existing patterns of participation will not
  change in static system and may worsen
• Stronger focus on adult learners
• Need to focus on completions, quality and
  outcomes
• Learner support
• Staff student ratios
• Academic workforce skills in working with diverse
  learner groups

5
Equity and Higher Education

• Funding priorities
• Integrated package across growth, improved base,
  targeted equity funding, SES loading, regional
  funding, performance based funding
• Student income support
• Approach to student fees.
• Broader tertiary sector
• Differences in SES, age and equity profile
  between HE and VET
• Importance of removing disincentives and sectoral
  barriers and creating pathways while preserving
  distinctive contribution of each.