Uni calls for urgent action on unfair $50k arts degrees
Western Sydney University calls on the federal government to take immediate action on the unfair and escalating cost of $50,000 Arts degrees, which are a handbrake on its ambitions to dramatically lift tertiary qualification rates.
“Western Sydney University urges the government to urgently act to fix a broken system, which has now pushed the cost of a three-year Arts degree above $50,000,’’ Vice-Chancellor, Distinguished Professor George Williams AO said.
“How does this imbalance, impacting equity groups, serve the Minister’s commitment to make the system ‘fairer’?
“Arts degrees are a critical university entry point for many students, including students from low SES backgrounds, particularly women and Indigenous students. Arts graduates are the critical thinkers we need for future jobs.
“The debt incurred for gateway and foundation-style degrees works against the government’s stated aim of encouraging more equity and diverse students into university to reach its target of 80 per cent of the working age population with tertiary qualifications by 2050,’’ he said.
Professor Williams made his comments to support the university’s submission on government legislation in response to the Australian Universities Accord. Western Sydney University strongly endorses the government’s decision to improve how HELP indexation is calculated to ensure student debts do not outpace wages growth but action is needed now on the cost of some degrees.
“Two-thirds of our students are the first in their family to attend university, we have the highest number and proportion of students from Non-English Speaking Backgrounds of any Australian university, and the highest number of low SES students,’’ Professor Williams said.
“Students who can no longer afford an Arts degree do not undertake alternative degrees. The cost of Arts degrees do not reflect future earning power and ignore the important contribution that these graduates make to our economy and society.
“We understand the government is developing a needs-based funding system to be administered through the Australian Tertiary Education Commission. In the interim, we urge the government to act on the escalating and pointedly unfair cost of Arts degrees,’’ he said.
The legislation also expands FEE-FREE Uni Ready Courses and introduces Commonwealth Practical Payment grants for the first time.
“We applaud this measure which acknowledges the challenging circumstances many of our students face, including experiences contributing to placement poverty, such as caring responsibilities, disability, cultural barriers, and for many students, being the first in their family to attend university,’’ Professor Williams said.
ENDS
5 September 2024
Photo credit: Sally Tsoutas
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