Study changes ‘hurt’ Gordon

JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
APPLICATIONS to study at Geelong’s Gordon Institute of TAFE have fallen 27 per cent after a shake up in tertiary education, according to new figures.
But the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre figures revealed Deakin University as a winner of the changes, with 20 per cent growth at its two Geelong campuses.
Gordon received 2246 applications in 2010, dropping 613 to 1633 this year.
Gordon chief Grant Sutherland said the “small” decrease on VTAC figures could be due to the deregulation of university offers.
“It only represents a small percentage of our total enrollments throughout the year, the majority of which are managed directly with The Gordon,” he said.
A Deakin spokesman said 2012 was the first year university places were uncapped, allowing universities to make as many offers as places available.
“The early indication is that the new demand-driven system resulted in growth in offers and more year 12 leavers going on to university,” the spokesman said.
Deakin received an “excellent” response for its new bachelor courses in optometry, exercise science, zoology and animal science and visual arts, he said.
Australian Education Union Victorian branch president Mary Bluett said TAFE numbers were down “dramatically” following the changes.
State Government’s changes to the vocational education system meant TAFE suffered at the hands of private providers, she said.
“Lifting the cap for universities combined with the vocational education free for all for private providers means it will be a race to the bottom in terms of quality. Qualifications will not mean much if this continues.”
Marcus Oldham chief financial officer Tony McNeill said enrollments for the Waurn Ponds agricultural college “remained steady despite soft demand”.