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Media Release
$54 MILLION BOOST FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE IN UNIVERSITIES
29 November 2005 MIN 2052/05
Excellence in undergraduate teaching in Australian universities will be rewarded for the first time with today’s announcement that 14 universities will share in an additional $54 million in 2006.
This funding is made available under the Australian Government’s 2006 Learning and Teaching Performance Fund, part of the Government’s reform package Our Universities: Backing Australia’s Future.
The Government is strongly committed to rewarding higher education institutions that pursue excellence in teaching and who support their staff to improve student learning outcomes.
While teaching is a vital activity for Australian universities, excellence in this area has not been properly rewarded, or recognised, as it should be.
Following extensive consultation with the higher education sector, a methodology was adopted which assessed universities on the basis of their undergraduate students’ employment outcomes or further full-time study, student satisfaction, attrition rates, and student progress.
This data was adjusted to take into account students and universities’ characteristics so that universities could be assessed on their contribution to the student’s learning. Universities were invited to provide detailed information regarding their quantitative data and performance against the indicators used.
As part of these deliberations, an Expert Panel chaired by Sir David Watson, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Brighton UK, examined these responses and the quantitative data and made recommendations as to the final allocation of funding under the Fund.
The Australian Government looks forward to further enhancing the methodology used for the Learning and Teaching Performance Fund and has committed to a review, building on the current model. Feedback from the sector on the 2006 process will be considered as part of deliberations leading to the 2007 round, when funding will be increased to $82 million.
The Government’s Backing Australia’s Future package, which includes $327 million to support teaching and learning in universities, will invest an additional $11 billion in the sector over the next ten years.
This package includes:
- $400 million between 2005 and 2009 in scholarships to assist students with their education and accommodation costs;
- $970 million in additional Commonwealth Grants Scheme base funding between 2005 and 2009;
- an increase in the HELP repayment threshold from $25,348 in 2003-04 to $35,000 in 2004-05 and $36,184 in 2005-06. This benefits around 185,000 Australians;
- additional opportunities for students to attend university through fee-paying places once Commonwealth supported (previously known as HECS) places are filled. Fee-paying students, in both public and private institutions, now have access to a loan up to a maximum of $50,000, through the new FEE-HELP loan scheme to support them through their study;
- $149 million to support regional campuses between 2005 and 2009;
- more than $246 million between 2005 and 2009 to support a range of equity initiatives, including funding for indigenous students, students with disabilities and those from disadvantaged backgrounds;
- $236 million between 2005 and 2009 to support the practical component of teaching and nursing programmes;
- $83 million to support workplace productivity in universities; and
- $41 million to support collaboration and structural reform.
Attached is the list of funded universities under the 2006 Learning and Teaching Performance Fund.
Media Contacts:
Dr Nelson’s Office: Yaron Finkelstein 0414 927 663
Dept of Education, Science & Training: Sally Harris 02 6240 8363
Attachment A
Universities funded under the 2006 Learning and Teaching Performance Fund
The following universities will share approximately $30 million in additional funding for best demonstrating excellence in teaching and learning:
Higher Education Provider (alphabetical order) Amount (million)
Australian Maritime College $1.143
Swinburne University of Technology $3.852
The University of Melbourne $9.853
The University of Queensland $10.424
University of Wollongong $5.108
The following universities were recognised for high achievement in teaching and learning and will share approximately $24 million in additional funding:
Higher Education Provider (alphabetical order) Amount (million)
Australian Catholic University $2.110
Monash University $4.591
Murdoch University $2.034
The Australian National University $2.060
The University of Sydney $4.950
The University of Western Australia $2.580
University of Ballarat $1.560
University of Canberra $1.898
University of New England $2.218
Each provider recognised under the Learning and Teaching Performance fund receives a base grant of $1 million, and a further amount calculated on the basis of undergraduate student numbers (Equivalent Full-time Student Load (EFTSL) for Bachelor students).
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