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scientific edition of Bauman MSTUSCIENCE & EDUCATIONBauman Moscow State Technical University. El № FS 77 - 48211. ISSN 1994-0408
AUSTRALIA: Hubs solution for niche courses
05.06.2011 A model for concentrating research areas at certain institutions, called hubs and spokes, could be applied to teaching as a way to sustain disciplines that may be affected by low enrolments once the student-driven demand system starts next year.
The proposal, which has been informally floated by Universities Australia , could result in some niche disciplines being concentrated in only a few universities. This would allow students from other universities to study at these hubs while receiving full credit towards their home degree. The proposal comes in response to questions about how the government would preserve some disciplines and ensure skill shortages were met under the demand-driven system. Under legislation tabled last week, the government retains the power to slow the supply of places. It also has the power to allocate places for specific disciplines so it can respond to supply issues. Universities Australia chief executive Glenn Withers said a hubs and spokes approach could help sustain disciplines that failed to attract sufficient students, such as specific languages and even foundational-type disciplines such as physics and philosophy. Universities Australia, meanwhile, is pressing the government to spell out some principles to guide its power to slow the supply of places. "That would give universities some reassurance that when they are planning facilities and staff appointments in the expectation of growth in student numbers, that there wouldn't be arbitrary caps to make those investments redundant," Dr Withers said. He suggested the principles could be put in the legislation or in subordinate legislation. Universities Australia wants assurances that any decision to put limits on the supply of places in specific disciplines is made in consultation and based on analysis, possibly by Skills Australia. Full text of the article: The Australian |
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