A surge in the number of University of Southern Queensland students coming from low socioeconomic backgrounds has drawn high praise from the Federal Minister for Tertiary Education.
Senator Chris Evans said the 9.1% increase in students from low socioeconomic backgrounds at USQ over the past three years was a very encouraging figure.
Senator Evans said, for the first time, the number of university offers made to Australians from disadvantaged backgrounds had surpassed 40,000, a rise of almost 19 per cent nationally since 2009.
‘The Gillard Government's removal of capping on university places has seen 150,000 extra students enrol at university,’ Senator Evans said.
‘This growth is, in part, being driven by increasing numbers of young people from low socioeconomic backgrounds.’
‘Until the Gillard Government removed the cap on university places the benefits associated with higher education have eluded many Australians. Our reforms mean we are increasingly tapping into the potential of all Australians, not just the privileged.’
‘Under this system regional and rural students often could not get a spot, and lost out to city students who had not had to overcome the same challenges as them.’
‘It is great to see the University of Southern Queensland is offering so many students the opportunity of a university education.’
In response to the Bradley report, Transforming Australia's Higher Education System, the Labor Government set the ambitious target to ensure 20 per cent of people enrolling in an undergraduate course are from low socioeconomic backgrounds by 2020.
‘Expanding the number of graduates in Australia is an economic imperative,’ Senator Evans said.
Skills Australia has forecast that by 2025 a third of all jobs will require a minimum of a bachelor degree qualification.
‘It's not just that it is unfair to lock people out of university. We can't afford to,’ Senator Evans said.
‘An elitist model of university education will consign Australia to second rate economic growth.’
‘Australia's future is in having a highly skilled, flexible workforce and we need to make sure all Australians can share in it.’
University of Southern Queensland Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Jan Thomas said USQ was proud of its record in welcoming students from varied backgrounds.
Professor Thomas said USQ had worked hard to ensure it was as inclusive as possible.
‘This is what USQ is all about, providing an education to people who might not have otherwise had the chance,’ Professor Thomas said.
‘From my experience, USQ does this better than most universities in Australia and it is something I will continue to champion.’
Contact Details:
Jim Campbell, USQ Media, +617 4631 2977 , jim.campbell@usq.edu.au
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