Australian university students enrolling in arts and humanities degrees are set to continue paying fees of approximately £26,000 (A$50,000) for several more years, with new reforms unlikely to take effect until at least 2028. Barney Glover, the new head of the Australian Tertiary Education Commission (Atec), has indicated that he will not recommend any immediate interim measures to reduce these costs, despite acknowledging that the current 'Job-ready Graduates' (JRG) programme, which dictates these fees, has been a 'failure'.
The controversial JRG scheme, implemented by the former Morrison government, dramatically increased fees for arts and humanities courses while simultaneously cutting costs for science and mathematics degrees. The stated aim was to steer students towards STEM subjects. However, this policy has been met with significant criticism, with concerns raised about a decline in enrolments from students of lower socioeconomic backgrounds in certain arts subjects, leading to warnings of a 'segregated' higher education system.
Mr Glover, who previously served as commissioner of Jobs and Skills Australia, confirmed to Guardian Australia that his advice to the government on degree funding would be provided in the latter half of next year. He stressed the need for 'compelling evidence for change' at a time when governments globally are facing pressure regarding education investment. This timeline has caused considerable concern within the Australian higher education sector, with figures such as George Williams, vice-chancellor of Western Sydney University, highlighting that it effectively means high humanities degree costs will persist until at least 2028.
Critics, including the Greens deputy leader Mehreen Faruqi, are advocating for an immediate resolution, rather than an 18-month wait for recommendations. They argue that the prolonged delay means students will continue to incur 'unfair fees' and accrue 'unreasonable debt'. Data analysis from Innovative Research Universities in February revealed that the JRG programme has also resulted in a reduction of Commonwealth funding for the sector, with universities receiving £620 million (A$1.2 billion) less in 2024 than under pre-JRG arrangements.
In addition to the domestic funding review, Mr Glover has also put Australian universities on notice regarding their reliance on international student income. He cautioned that the 'international student boom' is over, with numbers stabilising due to government-imposed caps. He urged institutions to focus on stability rather than growth in international education and to actively diversify their funding sources, particularly if they are heavily reliant on a single market.
As Atec prepares to take charge of allocating international student numbers to universities from 2027, Mr Glover's comments signal a period of significant change and potential financial recalibration for the Australian higher education landscape, impacting both domestic and international student populations.
Source: The Guardian