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The collapse of a major college in the VET sector leaving thousands of students stranded and hundreds of workers in limbo highlights the need for the Government to redirect investment into TAFE, rather than for-profit providers, the Australian Greens say.

"This is yet another example of students being dudded by Government policy. While reforms passed by the Parliament last year provide some safeguards, the for-profit model will never guarantee high quality courses for students," Greens higher education spokesperson Senator Robert Simms said.

This edition of the Higher Education Update e-newsletter covers Senator Simms' background in the higher education sector, the successful #stoplomborg campaign, the Overseas HELP Bill, campaigning to save Start-Up Scholarships, concerning developments in the VET FEE-HELP sector, the need to save Radio Adelaide, and more. Simply click the link below to download the PDF.

The Greens welcome Malcolm Turnbull's commitment to university research, but are concerned about the increased focus on industry engagement with universities in the Government's announcement.

The Government today announced its intention to consolidate all Research Block Grants into two streams and that research funding from these grants would be increasingly allocated to an industry engagement metric to be developed by the ARC.

Greens NSW Senator Lee Rhiannon commenting on the latest scandal involving a private Sydney based college ripping off vulnerable young people, said similar abuses will continue as long as for-profit companies are given public money to run vocational education and training courses.

"Low integrity companies, like Unique International, get away with misusing public money because the current system does not put the needs of students and employers first," Senator Rhiannon said.

Commenting on the Turnbull government's decision to shelve university deregulation Australian Greens Senator for NSW Lee Rhiannon said:

"This is a huge win for thousands of NSW staff, students, their families and unions who ran a fierce and formidable campaign for many months against the Liberal-National government's deregulation agenda.

"Any future government should think twice the next time they try to rip billions from public universities, give millions to private education providers and introduce $100,000 degrees.

Commenting on Sydney University Vice Chancellor Michael Spence’s plan for students who benefit from subsidised places to pay more for a degree, Greens NSW Senator Lee Rhiannon said: 

“VC Spence’s plan would lead to a new elite within universities and risks the development of subprime degrees.

“Just as it appeared that the university sector could shake off the destructive and time-wasting deregulation debate Mr Spence is back pushing a plan to load the cost burden onto students.

Newly appointed Tourism and International Education Minister Richard Colbeck will need to embrace Tasmania’s wilderness values to be a success in the role, Australian Greens Senator Nick McKim says.

“He needs to realise that Tasmania’s wilderness underpins our tourism sector by attracting tourists and international students to Tasmania to visit,” Senator McKim said.