La Trobe targets regional enrolment growth

For the future: La Trobe discipline lead for social work Dr Corina Modderman, regional acting Pro-Vice Chancellor Elizabeth Capp, student Abby Hill, Chancellor John Brumby AO, Vice Chancellor Theo Farrell, with alumni and Committee for Greater Shepparton member Jenna Hearn. Photo: SUPPLIED

LA TROBE University has announced its latest five-year Regional Growth and Innovation Strategy, reinforcing its continued investment in its Bendigo, Shepparton, Albury-Wodonga and Mildura campuses.

The updated plan aims to grow enrolments in on-campus, hybrid and online courses by four times the growth rate of the domestic student population in regional Victoria by 2030.

La Trobe Chancellor John Brumby AO said the new strategy would greatly improve higher education access, as well as create a skilled workforce for regional Victoria’s economic and social prosperity.

“Fewer than 20 per cent of regional, rural and remote Australians attend university, yet the Australian Universities Accord has set a national higher education participation target of 55 per cent by 2050,” he said.

“The bold targets outlined in (our) new Regional Growth Strategy 2030 will contribute to reducing the gap between metropolitan and regional higher education participation and boost the skilled workforce in areas of greatest need, such as health and education.”

More than 650,000 people live in the regions covered by the university’s campuses.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Theo Farrell said these economies generated over $25.7 billion in gross added value in 2023, with the main employment sectors of health, agriculture and social care.

“By driving innovation and jobs growth through research and industry partnerships in areas like health and agriculture, of which La Trobe is already a research leader, our ambition is to create vibrant and inclusive communities that will flourish economically, culturally and socially well into the future,” he said.