Outer Urban Higher Education Working Party
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OUTER URBAN HIGHER EDUCATION WORKING PARTY REPORT Anne Langworthy Centre for Regional Development Swinburne University of Technology February 2004 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 3 Terms of Reference: ................................................................................................................ 3 The Working Party ................................................................................................................... 4 Higher Education Provision in Outer Urban Areas ............................................................... 4 Cranbourne in 2001 ............................................................................................................. 7 Warburton in 2001................................................................................................................ 8 Unmet Demand .................................................................................................................... 9 Recommendations............................................................................................................... 9 Higher Education Participation in Outer Urban Areas.......................................................... 9 Recommendations..............................................................................................................10 Addressing the Skill Needs of Outer Urban Areas...............................................................10 Recommendations..............................................................................................................11 The Regional Impact of a Higher Education Campus ..........................................................11 Recommendation................................................................................................................11 Regional Engagement and Outer Urban Campuses ............................................................12 Recommendations..............................................................................................................12 Enhanced Co-operation with TAFE .......................................................................................12 Recommendation................................................................................................................13 Research Infrastructure and Practices..................................................................................13 Recommendation................................................................................................................13 Melbourne 2030.......................................................................................................................13 Recommendation................................................................................................................14 The Potential for Continuing the Outer Urban Working Party.............................................14 Recommendation................................................................................................................14 Conclusion...............................................................................................................................14 References...............................................................................................................................15 Appendices:.............................................................................................................................15 Appendix A: Higher Education Provision in Outer Urban Victoria................................15 Appendix B: Courses Offered and Major Industry sectors .............................................15 Appendix C: Regional Engagement ..................................................................................15 Appendix D: Determining the Economic Impact of Universities ....................................15 OUTER URBAN HIGHER EDUCATION WORKING PARTY REPORT Introduction The Minister for Education and Training, the Hon Lynne Kosky established the Regional Higher Education Working Party in October 2002 to address issues related to the regional provision of higher education, simultaneously establishing the Outer Urban Higher Education Working Party (OUHEWP) to address issues specific to outer urban higher education. The Working Party first met in July 2003 at Swinburne University of Technology, Lilydale and subsequently at Victoria University of Technology, Werribee in September (a joint meeting with the Regional Higher Education Working Party), Monash University, Berwick in December and Victoria University of Technology, Sunbury in January. In addition to the joint meeting, the Chairpersons of both working parties have communicated regularly about issues in common and circulated draft reports. Terms of Reference: 1. Develop and provide advice to the Victorian Government concerning the need for, and allocation of, higher education places in outer-urban areas of population growth and in key subject areas. 2. Consider strategies to promote greater participation in higher education in outer-urban growth areas. 3. Identify and promote models of co-operative higher education course provision in outer-urban areas. 4. Identify and develop practical initiatives to strengthen the ability of outer-urban campuses to supply the skills required by industry and job seekers in local labour markets. 5. Identify best practice models for university engagement with local communities, industries and local government. 6. Identify opportunities to improve research infrastructure and practices at regional universities. 7. Secure commitment from universities to strategic alliances to develop and deliver complementary programs in outer-urban areas. 8. Identify best practice models for university engagement with local communities. 9. Identify opportunities for enhanced co-operation between higher education and TAFE providers in Melbourne’s outer west and outer east. 10. Consider issues of common relevance with the Regional Higher Education Working Party. OUHEWP Report Page 3 15/03/2004 The Working Party Members Professor Barbara van Ernst Chair – Swinburne University Mr Bob Burnet Monash University Mr Mark Doubleday For Cr Clive Larkman nominated Municipal Association of Victoria representative Dr Alison Duncan National Tertiary Education Union (Victoria University of Technology) Ms Christine Kotur Victoria University of Technology Professor Rodger Eade Victoria University of Technology Mr David Hanna Economic Policy and Planning, Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development Ms Robyn White Economic Policy and Planning, Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development Mr John Ross Collaboration Unit, Commonwealth Department of Education, Science and Training (for Mr Brendan Sheehan) Professor Ron Slocombe University of Melbourne Dr Terry Stokes General Manager, Higher Education and Regulation Division, Department of Education & Training In attendance Anne Langworthy Swinburne University, retained as a consultant to develop the report on behalf of the Working Party. One of the difficulties the Working Party encountered was the unsuccessful attempt to recruit industry and student representation. Should the work of the Outer Urban Working Party be continued, it is important that these constituents be represented. The Working Party has met at the outer urban campuses in rotation. A strategy to engage local industry, in particular industry that has the capacity to employ graduates, has been identified where these representatives and local student representatives could be recruited to attend the meeting held in the particular outer urban campus area and thereafter be kept informed by the campus representative on the Working Party. The Working Party has also determined that representation from the LLEN (Local Learning and Employment Network), the Department of Infrastructure, in particular from an area associated with Melbourne 2030, and from the Commonwealth Department of Education, Science and Technology (DEST) is essential. Higher Education Provision in Outer Urban Areas All members of the Working Party acknowledge the important role that Victoria’s outer urban campuses play in providing higher education and in regional development. Jacobs determines that “Victoria’s outer urban campuses play an important role not only in providing higher education in Melbourne’s outer metropolitan areas but also in supporting and stimulating local industry in growing regions, alleviating educational inequity, providing facilities and infrastructure for outer urban communities and offering flexible learning options for those living in rural and semi rural areas around Melbourne”.1 It is noted that whilst the University of Melbourne’s outer urban campus at Werribee does play an important role in the local economy, it differs from the other outer urban campuses since it caters for students who have already enrolled and spent time studying at the central Melbourne campus in Parkville. These campuses are located in areas with the following characteristics: 1 Jacobs, E, Higher Education Provision in Outer Urban Victoria (paper prepared for Outer Urban Higher Education Working Party 2003 attached as Appendix A) p2. OUHEWP Report Page 4 15/03/2004 Lower population density but often high population growth – over the next two decades it is estimated that Melbourne’s population will grow by 500,000 people with the majority of