Unis 'put Revenue' Ahead Of Students
The Age
Friday September 12, 2008
AUSTRALIANS believe universities are more focused on their bottom lines than teaching students, according to a study into attitudes towards higher education.
The Australian National University poll of 1200 people found most people were so concerned about a decline in education funding that they would prefer greater government spending on universities to personal tax cuts.ANU vice-chancellor Ian Chubb said it showed wide concern about "the extent to which universities have become preoccupied with managing limited funds and raising new sources of income, rather than with their core mission of educating students".Almost half of those surveyed saw universities as being mainly concerned with operating as a business, against 39% who saw them as being mainly concerned with providing students with a good educational experience.Most thought university education had become less accessible in the past decade, especially for poorer people and those in remote areas. But they believed access to a university education had become easier for overseas and indigenous students, those from non-English-speaking backgrounds and those who could afford to pay full fees.Professor Chubb said: "The public mood seems receptive for major reform of student support systems to help less well-off but academically able students who struggle to get through the university gate, and struggle to get through their degrees." Six out of 10 believed a university education was more important today than a decade ago. -- DAN HARRISON
© 2008 The Age