News Release:
UNE to bid for share of extra university places
| 28/1/04 014/04 The Minister for Education, Science and Training, The Hon Brendan Nelson, has announced on 27/1/04 the allocation of $542 million for 25,000 university places. The final state distribution model is based principally on participation and population growth with some (minor) recognition for regional development. There will have to be further consultations to determine the distribution of the 3,292 new places, growing to 9,002 as students progress through their courses, between universities in NSW and ACT. The University of New England is pleased to see that 36% of the new university places for 2005 have been allocated to the State of NSW. Participation in university study by NSW school leavers has historically been lower than that of other states, and this is particularly true for NSW school leavers in rural areas. So there is still some way to go in the allocation of additional university places to NSW before this historical disadvantage is fully addressed. But the increase announced by the Federal Minister yesterday is certainly a step in the right direction. The next important decision will be the distribution of these new places to individual universities within NSW, and UNE will be actively engaged in discussions with the government to ensure that we receive an appropriate share of the total. The additional funding for places at Universities is effectively recognition by the Federal Government of the over enrolment situation that exists in the sector.
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In effect the majority of the places mentioned are already filled by students and the funding will recompense Universities for their current over-enrolment while alleviating the pressures to reduce intakes over the next 4 to 5 years in order to get under the 5% maximum over-enrolment limit in the Nelson Reforms. UNE will be bidding for a share of these new places because demand for places at the University has increased. For the 2004 intake of new students UNE has made 7% more offers of on-campus places compared to last year. In addition the standard of HSC results required for admission to UNE courses has increased by an average of 3 points on the UAI scale. The biggest increase in the number of offers this year is in Nursing, followed by Communication Studies. Two new courses, in International Studies and a combined Arts/Science course have got off to a good start. Primary teacher education places have been keenly contested, with the UAI cut-off increasing to 80. Details of UNE's bid for a share of the increase in places will not be available until after talks have taken place with the NSW Government. However the University will certainly be making a case to have more places available for the 2005 intake of new students. Higher education is an important industry for New England, and the graduates of UNE are an important part of the skilled workforce that is crucial for the development of the region. Media contact: (02) 6773 2144 or (02) 6773 2779. |
