Challenges facing spatial information and geomatics education in the higher education sector

Abstract

[Abstract]: With the continuing high demand for graduates in the spatial information industry and the low student numbers entering university courses, the long term viability of higher education sector, and the industry it supports, is in question. The Australian higher education sector continues to undergo substantial change that is being driven aggressively by government. In particular,government continues to reduce their financial contributions to institutions by limiting indexation of funding and requiring universities to supplement the shortfall through alternative sources such as international student fees. In response to this pressure, universities are adapting their business models to focus on high volume, low overhead programs. In this context, programs in all areas of the spatial sciences are under threat because they traditionally have relatively small enrolments and are unable to attract large numbers of fee-paying students. The current difficulty in attracting undergraduate students is making departments and programs less viable and there is a serious risk that a number of the smaller departments or programs will be threatened with closure.