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Media Release
IMPLEMENTING HIGHER EDUCATION REFORM
7 April, 2004 MIN 674/04
One of the key elements of the Government’s $2.6 billion Higher Education Reform package is a national Higher Education Information Management System (HEIMS).
HEIMS will provide students with information about course offerings, while streamlining the data collection and management of Commonwealth student loans, Commonwealth scholarships and higher education entitlements.
Australia’s 39 public higher education institutions will be allocated additional funding to support their implementation of the higher education reforms.
The Government, in its announcement of Our Universities: Backing Australia’s Future in May 2003, committed to provide each institution with $200,000 as a contribution towards the costs of implementation of the Higher Education Information Management System (HEIMS) and the new student financing initiatives associated with the higher education reforms.
The Australian Department of Education Science and Training has been working closely with the higher education sector on the development of HEIMS. The requirements for HEIMS are now much clearer as a result of these extensive consultations.
An additional $2.4 million will be provided to public higher education institutions as further support for the implementation of the higher education reforms. Payment of $250,000 to each institution will be made in the coming weeks. In recognition of the significant contribution that the five State Tertiary Admissions Centres are making on behalf of the institutions towards the implementation of the reforms, each centre will also receive $90,000.
In addition to HEIMS, universities and students will also be benefiting from other elements of the reform package as they begin to flow through over the next five years including:
- $838 million in additional base funding;
- $146 million to support regional campuses;
- $160 million to support the practical component of teaching and nursing programmes;
- $327 million in scholarships to assist students with their education and accommodation costs;
- $325 million to support teaching and learning in universities, including a new National Institute;
- two new loan schemes to assist those students who choose to pay the full cost of their education, and those wanting to spend a semester or two studying overseas;
- more than $100 million to support a range of equity initiatives, including funding for indigenous students, students with disabilities and those from disadvantaged backgrounds;
- $83 million to support workplace productivity in universities; and
- $36 million to support collaboration and structural reform.
In addition, in July this year around 185,000 Australians will immediately benefit from a reduction in their HECS repayments when the repayment threshold for HECS increases to $35,000 from $24,365.
Media Contact:
Dr Nelson’s Office: Ross Hampton 0419 484 095
Dept of Education, Science & Training: Laila Lacis 0412 040 034
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