VICTORIA University’s vice-chancellor has welcomed the Federal Government’s higher education budget announcements, saying they will help fund VU’s vision.
“I congratulate the government on a Budget that has made education its cornerstone,” Professor Elizabeth Harman said.
“It will fund the vision VU has for its future, and the ways it will be making a distinctive offer to students, employers, enterprises, and our communities.”
Prof Harman said it was the first time to her knowledge that a federal government had given explicit financial support and recognition for dual-sector institutions.
Universities will get $1.7 billion in additional funding from this Budget, exceeding hopes of the Australian Vice-Chancellors Committee, which had called for closer to $1 billion.
On top of that is a $5 billion higher education endowment fund for approved capital works and research facilities.
VU will also benefit from a diversity and structural adjustment fund of $209 million over four years aimed at getting universities to differentiate their missions and improve teaching and learning in areas of skills needs.
Prof Harman said a decision to relax caps on Commonwealth-supported places and domestic full-fee paying undergraduate domestic students would give universities greater flexibility to change their course mix and student numbers.
In recent years VU has embarked on a complete rebranding of its image that includes a commitment to ensuring all students in all courses do one-quarter of their learning on-the-job.
“It will help us to continue to play to our strengths in particular disciplines, build on existing dual sector activities, and provide learning and teaching that will focus on local skills needs, and global workforce changes,” she said.
The vice-chancellor also welcomed several other student-focussed initiatives that would financially benefit VU’s mature-age students and students from low-income backgrounds.
