By Daniel Stringer – 9th January 2020

Australia’s independent tertiary providers have been included in the federal government’s Short Courses Initiative budget extension with the announcement that there will be an extra 5000 places allocated to non-university higher education providers.

Troy Williams, CEO of the Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia, said the new higher education short courses was “a welcome trial of an innovative funding model that allows students to access a subsidised place with an independent higher education provider”.

However, while Mr Williams acknowledged the progress made by the government, he said “the funding amount has been insufficient to constitute a major shift in the sector” and that “a succession of one-off funding announcements was not conducive to providers being able to commit to developing and offering short courses”. As such, he said that “ITECA would welcome a long-term commitment from the Australian government to sustain this funding and our members have highlighted some improvements to program design that would benefit students” and that “it’s in that context that ITECA would like to see the initiative expanded so that there are more places to allow more students to study with independent higher education providers.”

To find out more about the Australian government’s Short Course Initiative and other area of federal investment into skills and qualifications development, read the full transcript of ABC Radio News Breakfast’s interview with Minister for Education, Dan Tehan, here. 

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