More deserving students will be able to attend James Cook University, with the Federal Government announcing additional funding for regional higher education.
JCU has welcomed the Australian Government’s announcement of a $134.8 million package of measures to support regional and remote students.
As part of the announcement, JCU will receive an extra $9.1 million over four years to fund an additional 106 sub-degree places (diploma pathway courses) in 2019, rising to an additional 263 sub-degree places from 2021.
It will also fund an additional 19 enabling places (courses that prepare students for university study) by 2021.
JCU students will be able to apply for an additional 1,995 scholarships that are being offered for regional and remote students across Australia, worth $34.1 million over four years.
Vice Chancellor Professor Sandra Harding said she’s delighted with the Minister’s announcement. She said it addresses a pressing need for increased pathways into higher education for deserving students across northern Queensland.
“This funding will allow us to expand our highly successful Diploma of Higher Education program, which we introduced in 2015.
“Almost 11 per cent of students in this program have been Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders, and 10 per cent have English as a second language.
“Student success rates as they transition from the program are strong, with Diploma students having a success rate of almost 83 per cent in Bachelor subjects. One student has even gained admission to our Medicine degree, a testimony to the student and to the strong preparation our sub-degree students receive in this program.”
Professor Harding said the additional places will help address the disparity in higher education levels between capital cities and the regions.
“For example, in Cairns and Townsville, 23.32 per cent of the population aged between 25–34 years have a bachelor degree or higher. This compares to Brisbane at 46 per cent, Melbourne at 44.19 per cent and Adelaide at 34.3 per cent.
“We know that students from northern Queensland have wanted to come to JCU to study through our pathway program, but couldn’t as we didn’t have these places. This is a fantastic day for them.
“These additional places will help us to ensure that more students are able to enter our Bachelor degree programs well prepared for their studies, giving them every chance of success,” Professor Harding said.
