Disadvantaged students 'set up to fail' without support

Liberal senator Sarah Henderson says more assistance is needed throughout high school to boost university attendance rates.

In her first major speech since coming into the portfolio, following the resignation of Alan Tudge, Senator Henderson said without support, disadvantaged students could be left with university debts and no degree.

"Without first setting up Australian students with a functional education journey from the early years to schooling, university access based on disadvantage indicators will set students up to fail," she told the Universities Australia conference in Canberra on Thursday.

"Students who gain entry to university through a disadvantage indicator and of lower academic preparedness must be adequately supported by government and universities to reach their full potential."

Boosting attendance rates is one key focus of an accord with the university sector, which will be finalised later this year.

Education Minister Jason Clare said it was critical to expand university access.

"If you are a child from a poor family you are less likely to go to preschool, you are less likely to finish high school and you are less likely to get a university degree," he said.

"I want us to fix that."

While the coalition has welcomed the accord and reforms to the sector, Senator Henderson said any changes would take time.

"The proposal is to stall for another two years before the government presents a plan, let alone takes any action," she said.

Senator Henderson said boosting student retention rates could be undertaken before the accord was finalised.

"School students have a right to know, for instance, whether the course in which they are enrolled or will be enrolled in will be taught online, face-to-face, or a mixture of both," she said.

"The mode of course delivery has a profound impact on the student experience."

Students should also be able to obtain refunds when courses are substandard, Senator Henderson said.

"There must be far greater transparency and accountability when universities fail to deliver," she said.

Business Council of Australia president Tim Reed later told the conference industry would play a pivotal role in determining what skills university courses would need to focus on in the future.

He said it would be even more important as a growing number of people change careers.

"The need for continued upskilling and reskilling is greater now than it has been at any point in time, and that is only going to increase," he told the conference.

"(Reskilling) is a real challenge for businesses, as an increasing part of the community don't have basic skills in numeracy, literacy and digital skills, and the role that business plays at that point in time is to try and not exclude people from careers because of that."

Australian Associated Press