… English Student Loans, Corbyn, and Free Education in New York

Australia is set to fall behind the rest of the world in the Higher Education sector as politicians continue to hack away at the outdated HECS system rather than looking into new ways of financing the sector.

A recent research brief by NUS looked across the globe at emerging trends in the sector and noted voices such as Anthony Adonis, who crafted income contingent loans in the UK, now proclaiming the significant flaws of the system.

“New York’s shift to free education for low and middle income students and the massive electoral support for Corbyn’s attempts to abolish tuition fees in England can be game changers here. Free education is no longer a Whitlamite nostalgia trip. As mentioned before 80% of the OECD already free education or low fees. Now there is popular support and a new existing practice from the two counties with the highest tuition fees.” the paper noted.

The global shift will likely have political implications for all sides of politics as Australia remains on hold without any ambitions to reform the sector in order to meet a changing labour force and equip the next generation of educated, productive and socially responsible Australians.

“This has implications for the current government’s attempts to increase student fees through Simon Birmingham’s higher education review. It also has implications for what the ALP will offer as an alternative in next year’s federal election – will Bill Shorten just oppose the latest government fee increases or instead look to Corbyn and New York and put up a real alternative.” the paper states.

“Instead of watering down regressive policies for political wins, we call on the Government to seriously address ways of refinancing the sector,” said NUS President, Sophie Johnston. “Australia will fall behind the rest of the world if we continue to ignore the overwhelming benefits education has on employment growth, economic growth, and overall social prosperity for our nation.”

Full research brief: http://bit.ly/2tl7gKu
Sophie Johnston National President | National Union of Students