According to founder Juius Grafton, the college failed because it never attracted more than 50 full-time students, and fell under the threshold required to operate an accredited college in Australia. After running for almost eight years, it’s closure leaves Austrlaian students wanting a Diploma in Technical Production, Theatre and Events in NSW with even fewer options than previously.
The official closure announcement further revealed that enrolments for 2011 had fallen to justten in early December, against 20 at the same time last year and 25 in 2008. This was attributed to lack of vocational educational training (VET) fee help from the Government – while most colleges have access to the scheme, Julius College did not qualify.
News of the closure also brought to light the fact that the industry appears reluctant to undergo a skills assessment, with fewer than ten each year taking advantage of this service offered by the college. This sits uncomfortable with the availability of school-based VET training that provides school leavers with a Certificate Three in Live Production, Theatre and Events – and abilities questioned by Grafton.
Again, the closure announcement suggests that many colleges complain about regulation and red tape, but Julius College claims this is not a factor in its own closure: ‘It was purely a commercial decision based on inability to continue to underwrite the business. Tighter standards in 2011 require a college run at a profit every year, and not take fees in advance. This spelled the end.’
‘I'm very proud to have been part of a college where educational outcomes were right at the top of the list of what's important, followed by educational outcomes and educational outcomes,’ said freelance trainer John Maizels. ‘I am saddened that the system didn't recognise that, and sadder yet that the industry thinks so little of qualifications that you had to fight for enrolments despite delivering a product of impeccable quality.’
Fast-and-Wide ran its own business analysis on the Navitas acuisition of SAE, with some interesting results...
More: www.juliusmedia.com
