Region. UWS boosts student numbers

The University of Western Sydney has exceeded the federal government's cap on students it is allowed to enroll in its courses by a record 15 per cent this year. That figure may reach nearly 20 per cent depending on the university's midyear intake, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.. UWS vice-chancellor, Professor Janice Reid, said the university's higher enrolment rate was a response to the government's higher education reforms, particularly the need to boost participation rates for students from poor and disadvantaged backgrounds. Professor Reid said it was better to increase student numbers progressively rather than suddenly absorb a much larger student cohort in 2012. More than $300 million had been spent on teaching and research buildings, she said, with plans to expand on-campus student accommodation and full-time staff numbers.