(B) The need to ensure that Government funding mechanisms
support a national system of higher education, in which it is
recognised that universities play a vital role in regional economies.
An outcome of local university education is the provision of quality
graduates who gain employment in local industry. Such graduates
have grown up in the region and have a strong affinity with the
economic and social networks that exist in rural communities.
There is the added advantage that such employees are more likely
to remain in the region due to family ties which further enhances
the economic growth of the region.
Graduates from the Mildura Campus have obtained employment in
accounting, local government, health and human services, hospitality
and teaching. Strong links have been forged with local primary
schools who depend upon La Trobe University graduates for their
contract and emergency teaching staff.
The provision of post graduate courses has enabled local people
to upgrade their qualifications without having to relocate to
obtain such education. This has the positive outcome that the
loss of experienced employees who are forced to shift away to
continue their studies, is minimised.
The presence of La Trobe University in Mildura has led to the
establishment of links between the University's research expertise
and regional agricultural and environmental research bodies namely
Riverlink, CSIRO, Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre Lower
Basin Laboratory and SunRISE 21. The identification of regional
research needs, funding sources and the post graduate research
expertise available at La Trobe University will result in boosting
the research capacity across the region. This in turn will benefit
the region's environmental and economic development.
The enormous potential of the Murray-Mallee region in the production
of clean foods for international and domestic markets using environmentally
sustainable practices can be enhanced and stimulated through partnerships
with the university sector.
By expanding the conduct of rural based research targeted at the
region's environmental, industrial, community and social needs
we can address the issue of barriers to accessing research faced
by rural communities.
Furthermore, the international links forged by La Trobe University
throughout Asia has potential for industry and community links
to be developed which will be of economic and social benefit to
this region.
The cultural fabric of our community has been enhanced with the
support of the Mildura Arts Festival by La Trobe University. Such
activities enrich rural communities and provide the local economy
with opportunities to broaden its tourism potential.
The links forged with the university sector have already brought economic, community and social benefit to the Murray-Mallee region. Local graduates provide industry with new employees and existing employees are able to upgrade their qualifications without leaving the region.
The benefits of linking local research organisations with the university sector will have a major impact on the environmental, agricultural and community strategies needed for the development of this region.
(C) The Interfaces between the higher education sector and
the vocational education and schools sector operate efficiently
and effectively.
The collaborative model developed by Sunraysia Institute of TAFE
and La Trobe University is both efficient and effective.
This model involves the shared use of an existing community asset
providing for a more efficient use of government funded capital
assets.
University students have access to facilities and services which
include lecture/tutorial rooms, auditorium, laboratories, student
recreation areas, car parking, child care, library, on-site residential
accommodation, canteen, computer facilities, student support services
(counselling, welfare, careers, study skills, Koori support, disabled
support) and farms.
The model involves the use of appropriately qualified staff in
the delivery of university and TAFE courses maximising the use
of human resources available in the region.
Quality is maintained through host/remote lecturer contact by
phone, fax and videoconferencing, moderation of study assessment
and results, and visits by host lecturers. Statistical comparison
of student results at host and remote campuses is conducted to
ensure maintenance of standards.
The expansion of the TAFE library with university resources benefits
all students and community borrowers.
Economies of scale are gained in purchasing goods and services.
The joint campus arrangement of Sunraysia Institute of TAFE, La
Trobe University, Australian College of Hair Design and Beauty
and University of the Third Age provides a community focus for
post secondary education and training in the region.
The shared use of facilities at Mildura is an efficient and effective strategy by maximising the use of an existing community asset and infrastructure that supports higher education.
(D) The use of advanced communications technologies in teaching,
and in libraries and other teaching and research infrastructure.
Sunraysia Institute of TAFE and La Trobe University have pioneered
the use of videoconferencing in the delivery of university courses
at the Mildura Campus. In 1988 a joint application for funds from
the Victorian Education Foundation enabled the Bendigo and Mildura
Campuses to use this technology.
Currently the Bundoora, Bendigo, Mildura, Albury-Wodonga and Shepparton
Campuses are linked using VTEL videoconferencing to deliver lectures
and tutorials. The system is also used for supervision of PhD
candidates, employment interviews and administrative meetings.
Videotaped lectures circulated by courier are part of the flexible
delivery strategy.
The use of the Internet (www/Email) is another strategy employed
in the delivery of courses across the La Trobe University network.
The incorporation of subjects from Open Learning Australia and
universities offering external studies provides flexibility of
course delivery at the Mildura Campus.
Sunraysia Institute of TAFE and La Trobe University have successfully demonstrated their capacity to utilise videoconferencing and the use of other technologies to deliver higher education.
(E) Sources of finance for higher education
The Sunraysia Higher Education Board's view is that given requires
the individual to contribute towards the cost of obtaining a university
qualification, then the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS)
is the least disadvantageous mechanism for rural students. As
a model it has a number of advantages over other alternatives
for rural students.
The alternative of student loans to finance studies is far less
desirable in this rural community as family incomes can be subject
to wide variation from year to year due to the effect of seasonal
influences making it difficult to sustain loan repayments during
periods of low rural incomes. For the same reason, rural communities
are unlikely to respond to the option of paying full fees for
university courses.
AUSTUDY continues to be a major form of support for those living
in rural communities and should be maintained to enable access
to post-secondary education.
The Sunraysia Higher Education Board expresses a concern that
there are no guarantees for the level of provision of higher education
to the region. Current funding arrangements for higher education
do not give any group an absolute right to access higher education.
However, the National Board of Employment, Education and Training
in its report Cross-Sectoral Collaboration in Post Secondary
Education and Training stated 'that more could be done to
provide for an increase in the level, and ensure the continuity
in the amount, of student load which is provided to non-metropolitan
communities through these forms of cross-sectoral collaboration.
The problem appears to be that there are few positive incentives
for higher education institutions to devote a proportion of their
student load to these arrangements.' (NBEET, p.62)
The Sunraysia Higher Education Board recognises the commitment
shown by La Trobe University in providing access to higher education
for students of this region. The university has achieved this
from within its existing resources. However, given the current
higher education funding climate, consideration should be given
to the university's funding to enable it to continue to address
the issue of rural access to higher education.
The National Board of Employment, Education and Training in its
report recommended that:
The Minister ask the Department of Employment, Education and Training
to examine the feasibility of putting a loading on the level of
funding for the Equivalent Full-Time Student Units higher education
institutions allocate to programs which they provide to non-metropolitan
communities in collaboration with TAFE Colleges'. (p.63).
The HECS model is less disadvantageous to students from rural communities compared to other alternatives. AUSTUDY is a vital factor in enabling students in rural communities access to higher education. Higher education institutions need incentives to participate in cross-sectoral provisions.
Cross-sectoral arrangements should be continued and expanded.
(F) Historical trends and likely future directions in the
level and nature of demand for higher education.
Since the inception of higher education delivery at Sunraysia
Institute of TAFE in 1986 1546 students have been enrolled in
the various courses offered. A feature of the delivery at Mildura
is the mix of courses that have continuing intakes and those courses
which have a limited duration to satisfy a short term need.
The Sunraysia Higher Education Board's Strategic Plan identifies
the following areas of future regional need and proposes to work
in close collaboration with La Trobe University to satisfy them.
Sunraysia Institute of TAFE and La Trobe University support the
notion of the provision of higher education across a range of
geographical sites in the region provided there is the appropriate
infrastructure available.
Significant demand exists in the Murray-Mallee region to warrant the expansion of higher education offerings through the Institute.
Sunraysia Institute of TAFE together with La Trobe University have developed a successful collaborative model for delivering higher education to students from the Murray-Mallee region covering the States of Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia. In particular students from disadvantaged groups can now access higher education locally. This has been achieved without specific government funding targeted towards addressing rural disadvantage in access to higher education.
The vision displayed by Sunraysia Institute of TAFE and La Trobe University Councils in making a commitment to access and equity for rural communities has provided significant benefits for industry and the communities of the Murray-Mallee region.
The Sunraysia Higher Education Board, in providing a link between the community and the university, sees an exciting future for the provision of higher education in this remote region using its successful collaborative model of sharing existing physical and human resources and making effective use of communications technology. Considerable expansion is possible without requiring extensive construction programs nor the establishment of duplicate administrative systems.
Recommendations to the Government by the Higher Education Review Committee should make provisions for the continuation of this vision.
Industry & Community Support
1. Education Victoria
2. Mallee Family Care
3. Mildura Base Hospital
4. Mildura Rural City Council
5. Thomsons Accountants & Advisers
National Board of Employment, Education and Training Cross-Sectoral Collaboration in Post Secondary Education and Training) (1995)
Canberra: AGPS