Yak Magazine // 2020
Are humanities degrees undervalued? Hollie Hughes and Gemma Ferguson discuss. NO - Hollie Hughes As part of a proposed higher education reform package entitled “Job-Ready Graduates”, the Government plans to alter the University fee system for Australian students so that from next year those who study in-demand courses – in fields such as STEM, education, and healthcare – will have their fees reduced.
significant financial losses due to the absence of International students sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic. The change will have a positive impact on both the economy and students themselves, as it will increase the number of individuals qualified to enter into fields desperately needing workers.
It is evident this policy has been put forward to encourage students to stimulate the economy post-COVID-19, and to encourage students to enroll into courses which have higher graduate employment rates; not because humanities degrees are undervalued. Here’s why:
3. The Government does recognise the place for humanities degrees within the tertiary education system. To assist students already enrolled in humanities degrees, no current student will pay increased fees and students enrolled in courses where costs are going up will have their fees frozen.
1. Government priorities have been defined by pre-pandemic modelling which shows 62% of employment growth over five years will be in health care, science, technology, education, and construction. The policy also aims to increase the graduate employment rate of 72.2%, which currently sits lower than the rate for vocational education at 78%.
Times change, industries expand and contract, some die out all together. These proposed changes to university fees are simply reflective of current times, and projected industry growth.
2. This policy offers financial stability to Australian Universities which are experiencing Designed by: Bea King
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