higher education policy in the US, are we blindly following the same track?

[bob10]

Interesting, in light of the recent proposed changes in the system, Bob






Great Unequalizer: Is Higher-Education Policy Making Inequality Worse? - NBC News

[DiscoMick]

Yes, it is interesting.
It seems clear the American system imposes costs on students which can often only be afforded by those from wealthier backgrounds, while those costs are a barrier to poorer students.
Australia's system is not the same, because we have Fee-Help which allows people to study now and repay the loan when they start earning about $50k from memory.
But we are going down the track of allowing universities to ramp up the costs, which do eventually have to be repaid, so that's still a disincentive.
Also, even if the fees are covered, students still have to meet their living costs. That's easier if they can live at home and go to uni, but harder if they have to move away from home to study.
Many students have part-time jobs, which is fine as long as it does not affect their study. However, fulltime study is already a fulltime job, so if they also have to work then it gets difficult.
Its particularly difficult if the student has children and is a single-parent or has a mortgage or other living costs.
So, I think we're better off than in the USA, which is a good thing, but we're certainly moving towards the US approach under this government, as Minister for Education Pyne has made clear.
Personally, I think that's a backwards step.

[bob10]

The Vice Chancellor of the A.N.U. , Ian Young predicted higher education costs will increase by almost a third, to make up for the 20% reductions in federal funding. A degree in medicine, or law, could cost more than $100,000 at some unis. Wouldn't this encourage our brightest students to head overseas, creating a ' brain drain', in effect. Bob

[DiscoMick]

Yes, some might go overseas, but others will simply not bother. It will also make our universities less competitive for international students, who are already slugged more than twice what local students pay.
Education is our number four export industry, so this is a big issue and could cost the country a lot of money.

[sashadidi]

The Vice Chancellor of the A.N.U. , Ian Young predicted higher education costs will increase by almost a third, to make up for the 20% reductions in federal funding. A degree in medicine, or law, could cost more than $100,000 at some unis. Wouldn't this encourage our brightest students to head overseas, creating a ' brain drain', in effect. Bob

Medical degrees in the USA and or say UK and or Ireland much more after course and living costs as you are considered a overseas student in those countries , cheaper ones in Russia for example (lots of Indian and African and South American people doing them but the degree not accepted in Australia and you have to learn the language as well as the medical degree. the reason why the degree is not accepted is another interesting story as well...

[frantic]

This is a perfect example of the freebie generation lining their own nest at the next two generations expense.
How many of those pollies ever had to pay for university? They would have had a free education with no debt burden when they left uni in the 70's And 80's. Now every student will be leaving with a large debt burden, and with the uni's predicted fee increases it could be equal or more than 1-2 years pay.

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Whatever the cost of an Australian University education, it will always be cheaper than one of it's US contemporaries, at least that is the experience to date.

While the sandstone unis (Melbourne, Sydney, Queensland, Adelaide, ANU etc) may ramp up their costs to be somewhat comparable to well known foreign unis, the majority of institutions will still be able to provide an education at an affordaible rate.

After all how many Arts graduates ever make $50K so never have to repay the debt!