There’s a new way of allocating enabling, sub degree and federally funded coursework masters places
Changes were first put on the agenda a year back (CMM November 14) and in September redistribution was promised “shortly,” (CMM September 25).
The government now advises no change in the number or distribution of places for next year. However, there will be a re-allocation of five per cent of “under-utilised” places in 2021, “in accordance with clear allocation criteria.” While the briefed is headlined “discussion paper” it looks liked the heads of a policy to CMM.
What could happen: * allowing universities to, move enabling, sub‑bachelor and postgraduate Commonwealth support places, “within their designated funding envelope, on a cost-neutral basis
* cost neutral trading places, not necessarily at the same level, with other institutions
* re-distribution of five per cent of “under-utilised” places in 2021, “in accordance with clear allocation criteria”
What won’t: * transfer of CSP places from sub-bachelor and PG courses to enabling programmes, “to encourage a migration” towards sub-bachelor
* no retrospective trades
* no trades which would prevent already enrolled students completing courses
* no single-year trades
What’s this about: Flexibility is one thing. “The focus for any redistribution of designated CSP places could be that the course is a requirement for initial entry to a profession, that there is demand and local economic or community need for the postgraduate course, or that there is a focus on supporting under represented students including those in regional and remote locations.
“To provide universities with the capacity to reallocate between course levels, funding agreements will only specify the maximum basic grant amount for designated places (which is a legislative requirement),” the paper states.
Transferring resources is another: “Given the strong demand for sub-bachelor places and the ability to charge full fees for postgraduate places, we expect enrolment patterns for CSPs to shift from postgraduate towards sub-bachelor over time.”
TOMORROW: expert reaction