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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-07-27 Daily Xml
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UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION STUDIES

Ms THOMPSON (Reynell) (1503:): My question is to the Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education. Can the minister inform the house about how Flinders University and TAFE SA are collaborating to reduce the barriers to further education that are faced by some members of our community?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Treasurer, Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education, Minister for Workers Rehabilitation) (15:03): I thank the member for Reynell for her question, and I would like to acknowledge her interest in matters of further education, in particular, the excellent work she does as part of the ACE reference group and the Training and Skills Commission.

There are many people who would like to have the opportunity to go to university, and for all sorts of reasons they may feel as though they have missed that chance. They might have left school before completing year 12; they might have started a family; they might have made a career choice they'd like to change; or they might have come here from another country and are keen to expand their skills and opportunities. There is a chance for some of these people to make for themselves a better life by taking a new direction.

Flinders University and TAFE SA have negotiated a partnership arrangement to deliver University Foundation Studies at the Noarlunga and Adelaide City campuses of TAFE. Students will be enrolled with Flinders University and the government will provide the full fee for each student. The program will be delivered by TAFE lecturers in the main, with 25 per cent being delivered by Flinders University Student Learning Centre staff. Flinders staff will mentor TAFE staff throughout the pilot for quality assurance and the moderation of standards but work together to deliver to the students high quality, specialised study to ensure that students have the best chance to succeed at university. This pilot program aims to improve the rate of participation for people who have traditionally faced barriers to further study, including generational unemployment and a low socioeconomic background.

There are no prerequisites or entry requirements for this course. There are no fees for this course as the program is government funded. It is expected that this innovative program will result in more people studying to improve their prospects for the future and that of their families. It is hoped that the program will strengthen pathways to continued study, in turn leading ultimately to employment with three streams planned for the students.

First, successful students will have guaranteed entry to a range of Flinders University courses, which include business, environmental management, engineering science and information technology to name but a few. Secondly, students may elect to undertake a diploma or advanced diploma within TAFE SA and thereby opt for direct entry to Flinders University through successful completion of their studies at Certificate 4 or above.

Finally, students will be referred to TAFE SA courses suited to their capabilities and vocational intentions. So far, the program has 91 enrolments for the Adelaide City campus and over 50 at Noarlunga. The partnership between Flinders and TAFE will see greater accessibility to university education for students who may have considered further study impossible offering support to those in our community in most need.

I commend the program and the collaborative effort between Flinders University and TAFE SA, and I sincerely wish them well for future success.

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