#HEDereg – Deregulation in Higher Education Conference
Last week, the Deregulation in Higher Education Conference was held at the Rydges in Melbourne. Guest speakers included:
- ANU Director of Policy Impact and NCSEHE Advisory Board member Professor Bruce Chapman
- Grattan Institute Higher Education Program Director Andrew Norton
- representatives from the Higher Education Consulting Group, Innovative Research Universities, Group of Eight, Canberra Institute of Technology, Ministry of Education New Zealand and Australian Council for Private Education and Training (ACPET), and
- vice-chancellors from Swinburne University of Technology, University of Adelaide, University of Canberra and Southern Cross University, and Federation University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor Engagement.
For those who were unable to attend the conference, below are some highlights from Twitter courtesy of NCSEHE’s Dr Tim Pitman and Swinburne University of Technology’s Andrew Dempster.
At the Deregulation in HE conference today. Looking forward to hearing what the experts think things will look like if/when reforms go thru
— Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) September 29, 2014
First speaker is Warren Bebbington (uni Adelaide) speaking on the fate of unis. Says the standard ‘template’ for a uni wont work post-reform — Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) September 29, 2014
Bebbington is pro-reform and essentially argues these are the reforms we need to have to adapt to new educational order.
— Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) September 29, 2014
Now speaking on the impact of the proposed loan reforms is Professor Bruce Chapman, architect of HECS. — Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) September 29, 2014
Chapman: these are the biggest changes, potentially, to Aus HE of all time. These changes will not play out how many people believe
— Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) September 29, 2014
Chapman: normal economic models don’t apply. We have limited data and no real precedents to judge. The world of HE is very uncertain. — Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) September 29, 2014
Andrew Norton takes up the baton from Bruce Chapman and offers thoughts on pricing in a deregulated market.
— Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) September 29, 2014
1/2 Andrew Norton proposes different pricing strategies for unis. 1. Student experience 2. Premium brand. 3. Social/mission pricing. — Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) September 29, 2014
2/2 4. Price discrimination.
— Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) September 29, 2014
Panel discussion now around future student debt. How high might it get and who will pay for it in the future? — Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) September 30, 2014
1/2 Strong divergence of opinion on the panel. Andrew Norton concerned about future govt debt, thinks borrower risk needs to be factored in.
— Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) September 30, 2014
2/2 Chapman sees fundamental role of government being to insure unis against this. If not, higher education will become more inequitable. — Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) September 30, 2014
Peter Lee from SCU says too much focus on school leavers. His uni has many mature age students, who he believes are very price sensitive.
— Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) September 30, 2014
Question from @AndrewTrounson do we need a price regulator to protect students from fee gouging? Panel lets that one go thru to the keeper. — Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) September 30, 2014
Here are @stephenparkerVC predictions: 1. Unis will charge “what the market will bear and it will bear a lot.”
— Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) September 30, 2014
2. The future of many disadvantaged students will be “blighted” — Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) September 30, 2014
3. There will be a political backlash in the future to these reforms.
— Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) September 30, 2014
Conclusion from @stephenparkerVC . By definition, Australian higher education will become more inequitable as a result of these reforms. — Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) September 30, 2014
Now speaking Linda Kristjanson, VC of Swinburne. Please note @admpstr there will be a test.
— Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) September 30, 2014
Prof Kristjanson believes we have a world-class university system and this is because it is diverse, accessible and affordable. — Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) September 30, 2014
Prof. Kristjanson: Aspiration for university study remains low for Yr 12 students in regional areas
— Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) September 30, 2014
Prof Kristjanson argues for a cap on how much a student can loan. Based on earlier discussion this will divide the room. — Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) September 30, 2014
Prof Kristjanson prefers C’wlth Scholarships to be centrally administered and distributed proportionately to unis that enrol disad. students
— Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) September 30, 2014
Edited version of Prof. Linda Kristjanson’s speech to the #highered conference here: http://t.co/NTDEW2U84o — Andrew Dempster (@admpstr) September 30, 2014
Final speaker of the day is Roger Smyth, Ministry of Education NZ.
— Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) September 30, 2014
Roger Smyth to provide the NZ experience with deregulation in higher ed #HEdereg — Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) September 30, 2014
Roger Smyth: initial experience in NZ was prices rose for students but/and participation rose, esp for. Maori and mature age. #HEdereg
— Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) September 30, 2014
Roger Smyth: deregulation of fees can blow out government spending, as they are the underwriter of the student loans #HEdereg — Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) September 30, 2014
Tweeting again at day 2 of the Deregulation in Higher Education Conference #HEdereg
— Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) September 30, 2014
First cab off the rank is Michael Gallagher, Executive Director of the Group of Eight (Go8) #HEdereg
— Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) September 30, 2014
Michael Gallagher: there is a consensus in the sector that we must have deregulation, even if some have arrived to it reluctantly #HEdereg
— Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) September 30, 2014
Michael Gallagher: current funding regime is dictating pedagogical processes (trans: high student to staff ratios) #HEdereg
— Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) September 30, 2014
Michael Gallagher: It is socially progressive to charge those who can pay more to ensure the sector remains open to all #HEdereg
— Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) September 30, 2014
Michael Gallagher: we must take the opportunity for reform now, we might not have another chance. #HEdereg
— Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) September 30, 2014
Question from floor picks up on big theme of the conference i.e. dereg. fees subsidising non-teaching (e.g. research) activities #HEdereg
— Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) September 30, 2014
Roger Smyth warns Mike Gallagher about NZ’s experience (failure) with fee deregulation. Interesting to have such a close example #HEdereg
— Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) September 30, 2014
Now speaking Todd Walker DVC Federation University #HEdereg
— Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) September 30, 2014
Todd Walker: post deregulation, the quality of education across the board will be high – branding/marketing will say otherwise #HEdereg
— Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) October 1, 2014
Todd Walker: Standards wont fall under deregulation; the sector has strong governance and threshold standards #HEdereg
— Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) October 1, 2014
Todd Walker: Q: Will the prices set by unis reflect the true cost of education, or the brand power of the uni? #HEdereg
— Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) October 1, 2014
Now speaking is Peter Lee, VC at SCU, talking on pricing of higher education pst deregulation #HEdereg
— Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) October 1, 2014
Peter Lee: Talk of brand and pricing must not overlook the demographics of the students and community each university serves #HEdereg
— Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) October 1, 2014
Peter Lee: Many universities have legislative requirements to serve their local communities. This directly impacts their costs #HEdereg
— Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) October 1, 2014
Peter Lee: Universities with high enrolments of disadvantaged students will need additional support to survive post-deregulation #HEdereg
— Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) October 1, 2014
Peter Lee: allowing private higher education providers to access public funds is a radical shift & questions notion of public good #HEdereg
— Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) October 1, 2014
Peter Lee: the majority of my students are mature age, not Yr 12, and they are price sensitive. #HEdereg
— Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) October 1, 2014
Peter Lee: Already there is evidence that the mature age market for 2015 is down and the Yr 12 up. #HEdereg
— Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) October 1, 2014
Peter Lee: in 10yrs, will graduates students with large debts be less inclined to undertake postgrad studies? #HEdereg
— Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) October 1, 2014
Next up Larry Davies from ACPET to give the perspective of the private providers #HEdereg
— Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) October 1, 2014
Larry Davies: private sector is a small part of HE, looking after only approx 10% of all students #HEdereg
— Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) October 1, 2014
Larry Davies: Universities dominate the market and it will take longer for deregulation to works itself out in these institutions #HEdereg
— Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) October 1, 2014
Larry Davies suggests it is often easier for private providers to demonstrate a direct benefit to the student, by being specialists #HEdereg
— Tim Pitman (@timothypitman) October 1, 2014