Federal MPs Stephen Jones and Sharon Bird have called on University of Wollongong students to make submissions to the Senate Inquiry into the Higher Education and Research Reform Amendment Bill.
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Member for Cunningham Sharon Bird said, if passed, the reforms could mean UOW lost top students to Sydney universities.
‘‘Universities will have to choose between offering scholarships and increasing fees for the rest of the students or not offering scholarships,’’ she said.
‘‘Sydney universities who can offer more scholarships will attract away Illawarra’s top students.’’
She also voiced concerns on how a 6per cent increase on existing HECS debt could impact services in the Illawarra.
‘‘In regional areas like ours, professionals get paid a lower income and would take longer to pay off their debt meaning they would accrue more interest.
‘‘They could decide that it’s not financially viable to work in regional communities, which could have an impact on our medical and legal community services like Legal Aid,’’ she said.
Member for Throsby Stephen Jones said higher fees could deter mature age students from gaining further qualifications.
‘‘People in this town see university as a second chance and they won’t be able to afford it if the reforms are passed.’’
He singled out nursing degrees as potential victims of the reform.
‘‘Nurses might not come back to uni to upgrade from enrolled nurses to registered nurses if faced with an $80,000 bill,’’ he said.
‘‘The assumption that everyone who comes out of university has a high paying job is just not right.’’
UOW undergraduate association secretary Peter Munford said his international relations degree could increase from $15,000 to $75,000 under the reforms.
‘‘The Pyne legislation represents the biggest attack on Australian students ever,’’ he said.