CQUniversity Australia has welcomed the Bradley Review's recognition that well-supported regional campuses are crucial in helping a wider range of Australians reach their potential...

Vice-Chancellor Professor John Rickard said the Review strongly endorsed the regional universities' role in raising aspirations and access for low socio-economic, isolated and Indigenous students.

[Bradley Review of Higher Education]

Professor John Rickard

He said this endorsement came with recommendations for enhanced funding for outreach, retention, equity measures, mentoring and support.

"These are the very goals that we have pinned our new brand upon," he said. "That is, helping people from all walks of life and locations be what they want to be."

Professor Rickard was pleased with the Review's call for a catch-up in base operating grants and extra funding for the indirect costs of research. It was also good to see support for the need for vibrant and relevant research to underpin teaching activities.

"We welcome the concept of more flexibility in course offerings and student numbers which will enable us to change the mix of student load by discipline cluster in response to demand.

"We fundamentally agree with the call for streamlined accountability and regulation under a truly national higher education system."

Professor Rickard agreed with the Review's recognition of the need for funding to assist with structural change across the sector.

He said the idea of developing innovative local solutions through collaborative delivery arrangements was already being championed by CQUniversity. These collaborations could involve other education providers, business, industry, community organisations and the not-for-profit sector and could include partnerships and sharing of facilities and resources.

"We are open to proposals for fresh alliances or partnerships of benefit to students," he said.

The Vice-Chancellor said he did not feel threatened by the idea of funding following student demand as regional campuses would still be able to offer quality local outcomes to people not driven towards ‘the big smoke'.

The Bradley Review identifies CQUniversity as having the greatest proportion of revenues from overseas student fees of all universities.

As a key stakeholder in the overseas student market, Professor Rickard said he was encouraged by the Review's support for a new independent agency to promote Australia's leadership in international education.