Universities need ‘more skin in the game’ to cut dropout rates

Removing restrictions on enrolments at Australia’s universities has opened up access to tertiary education but has also led to a surge in dropout rates, a national policy review has said.

The present 22 per cent dropout rate must be addressed, the review says. Universities must be more accountable and “have more skin in the game” to improve student retention. 

The Productivity Commission, a federal agency that advises the government on policy impacts, published the report on 17 June. It warns that the high dropout rate will have significant economic impacts for the country and that many young people will struggle to pay back debts of between $12,000 and $20,000 for courses they did not complete.