Professor Duncan Bentley speaks on international education reform

Federation University Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Duncan Bentley.
Federation University Australia remains focused on education affordability and supporting local businesses across regional and outer Metropolitan Victoria amid international education reform uncertainty.
In response to the Senate signalling it will not pass international student cap legislation, Federation's Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Duncan Bentley said the university's communities across Ararat, Ballarat, Berwick, Horsham and Gippsland need access to a higher education that is affordable to build the local skilled workforces these communities need to thrive.
"With cost of living hurting the aspirations of regional learners, families and businesses, we cannot let international education reform uncertainty slow down the work to meet the post-secondary education targets proposed in the Universities Accord – this must be above politics," Professor Bentley said.
"Issues impacting regional communities are different to those in our major cities. These challenges include addressing low post-secondary attainment aspirations, limited educational choices, and the pressing need to grow new industries critical to advancing Australia's interests and driving down costs.
"Limiting access to education into regional Australia means students have to move further to access education and then employers have to attract this talent back to the regions, which compounds immediate and long-term costs. Many will be put off building the critical skills they need for life – it is just too hard.
"I recently had a very productive discussion with the Minister for Education, the Hon Jason Clare MP, and the Assistant Minister for Citizenship and Multiculturalism, Mr Julian Hill MP, on Federation's role to provide more affordable and accessible education tailored to the needs of our communities throughout Victoria.
"I strongly support the Minister's vision for the Managed Growth Model and Needs Based Funding Model, and, given the circumstances, would welcome the rapid introduction of the Australian Tertiary Education Commission to start their implementation."
In late October, the Vice-Chancellor also wrote to the Regional Education Commissioner, The Hon Fiona Nash, to propose a Regional Priority Skills Statement that could guide how these models can link education to clear employment outcomes.
"While I supported the swift passage of reforms to create a fairer, more targeted and strategically managed Australian international education sector, Ministerial Direction 107 staying in place is not my greatest concern," Professor Bentley said.
"My main concern is whether our regional communities have confidence that our campuses have the offerings they need, and businesses know today that in three to five years they will have the skilled workforces to grow and thrive".
Federation has been working with all levels of government, especially the Treasurer of Victoria, the Hon Tim Pallas MP, and the Minister for Skills and TAFE, the Hon Gayle Tierney MP, to ensure regional communities can play a role in national-level skills plans and fulfilling the Victorian Skills Plan.
"I will be writing to our Ministers and MPs, strongly advocating for a regional priority skills statement to clearly set out the significant opportunities for economic development and vibrant growth across our regional communities and businesses," Professor Bentley said.
"I'll also outline how innovative Federation proposals, like incentive grants for businesses offering industry placements and a regional priority skills student visa can create a thriving and sustainable regional skills ecosystem that fulfills their needs.
"A regional priority skills student visa would bring genuine international students to live in regional Australia, where they would earn the qualifications needed by regional employers in priority industries such as engineering and technology. These are fields where the regions do not have enough domestic graduates to fill the jobs that are urgently needed in growth industries."
Professor Bentley says overseas students applying for this regional visa would be given equal priority to major metropolitan university students. Conditions would include residing in student accommodation or home stay in the regions and more work opportunities if it is related to their field of study.
"At Federation, we currently have plenty of open student accommodation and would happily accommodate more students to our regional campuses to the benefit of communities across Victoria."