Published in The Courier, 21 December 2024
AT A time when so many school leavers are considering their next steps, I find myself reflecting on my transition from a Melbourne schoolboy to a student at the then-Ballarat College of Advanced Education (BCAE) – now Federation University Australia.
I struggled through Year 12, passing my VCE by the barest of margins and it was BCAE that took a punt and offered me a place in the first-ever intake of the Bachelor of Education, Primary Physical Education.
The thinking back then was to get kids more active and develop a lifelong love of sport and recreation; we needed specialist primary PE teachers – solid thinking!
As a dyslexic student, I found reading, writing and numbers troublesome. Tertiary education did not come easy. I thrived in the practical components of my degree, and I vividly remember being in a school in week three of my first year, teaching and learning in the real world with real students.
Some years later, when I found myself teaching at the then-University of Ballarat, it was the practical learning and industry connection that saw Ballarat’s PE and Human Movement graduates among the most sought-after in the country.
That was then, and this is now, and for more than 150 years the Ballarat School of Mines, Ballarat Teachers College, BCAE, Ballarat University College, University of Ballarat and now Federation University have continued to deliver post-secondary education across a variety of sectors.
And whilst there have been many name changes and potential existential threats to the university’s future, the fundamentals have remained: practical experience, industry partnerships, and opportunities for those who may not have sought the academic acclaim of our ‘sandstone’ institutions.
In recent years, successive federal governments have not been kind to the sector, impacting regional universities disproportionately. Federation’s leadership has responded with a bold vision for its future, including the first university in the country to adopt a full co-operative education model across all its higher education programs.
Co-operative education embeds practical experience and work and world-ready skills at the heart of the student learning experience. Through direct connection to industry and employers, paid placements, career preparation and workplace skill development, students graduate with a key point of difference – they are work-ready. This is a key part of the uni’s future strategy, and the Federation is well-placed to continue to deliver the education, research, skills and experiences our regional economy needs to flourish.
Recent federal government caps on international students were yet another possible existential threat. Pleasingly, the advocacy by many, including the Committee for Ballarat, has seen the introduction of a new Ministerial Direction that will allow Federation to attract international students who recognise the significance of the co-operative education model and in particular, in high-demand industries where there are real skill shortages.
However, what will secure Federation for the next 150 years is its capacity to deliver high-quality programs in both the skills and higher education sectors to more domestic students. On its current trajectory, Federation will reach its total student load in 2025, and the “full house” sign will hang on the front door. We, as a regional community, must advocate for more places and ensure the next hurdle the university faces is not one of limited capacity.
Federation University is critical to our regional economy and to the country’s economy more broadly. Federation is Australia’s No.1 university on equity. As the first university to adopt the co-operative education model, it will provide a learning environment deeply connected to industry and real-world experiences, attracting students who are looking for a degree with a clearly defined pathway to employment.
We must back Fed Uni and continue to make the case that our regional development, workforce and innovation are enhanced by a truly regional university.
Just as it was for me, the university’s co-op model, practical experience and connection to industry will be the spark that lights the flame on many long and purposeful careers.
Michael Poulton
CEO, Committee for Ballarat