A Glimmer of Sanity Prevails. (July 2, 2013)

Julie Hare and Stephen Matchett got some interesting quotes for The Australian yesterday from around the higher educational circus..

Kim Carr, Minister for Tertiary Education: Given the strength of growth in demand, it is appropriate to (think about) quality and excellence. We need to consider refocusing government investment to get the best possible use of public money.

Mike Gallagher, executive director of the elite Group of Eight: The escalating costs of absorbing more and more students, some ill-prepared to succeed at university, caused the government to make cuts in funding for research just when the Chief Scientist, Ian Chubb, is warning Australia not to be complacent. The new minister is wise to revisit the balance of priorities between equity and excellence.

Peter Coaldrake, vice-chancellor of Queensland University of Technology: [T]he system has been growing very quickly and there are concerns about the sustainability of that rapid growth. We need to be sure the achievement of that target [to have 40 per cent of young people with at least a bachelor's degree by 2025] should not be at the cost of quality.

Finally Jeannie Rea, president of the National Tertiary Education Union, told The Australian that while she supported the uncapping of places as a way of opening access to underprivileged students, early concerns that quality could be compromised had "unfortunately been realistic".