A report in The Australian newspaper today - "Regions rolling in new students" - details the strong enrolment growth at regional higher education campuses in the past year.

Mr Crean said a strong higher education sector was vital to regional development and the long-term sustainability of the regions.

"Regional universities have strong relationships with their local communities and are vital partners in navigating the economic transition underway in our regions," Mr Crean said.

"We know that young people who study in the regions tend to stay in the regions - and education providers are responding to local challenges by providing local solutions.

"For example, Charles Sturt University opened dental clinics in regional centres to train up students to deliver a much-needed service in the community.

"In Wagga Wagga, the Federal Government partnered with CSU to build an underground plant and soil laboratory - a rhizolysimeter - to study and respond to agriculture challenges in the region.

"Universities are embedding localism by offering education options that connect with the skills needs of the community - and regional students are answering the call."

Minister for Tertiary Education, Senator Chris Evans, said an additional 100,000 Australian students are attending university this year - with total Commonwealth-supported student places up by more than 22% since 2007.

"After a decade of decline under the Howard Government, the number of regional students attending university is once again on the increase, at campuses in Geelong and Bendigo in Victoria, to Cairns in Queensland and Rockingham in Western Australia," Senator Evans said.

Senator Evans said the Gillard Government had also invested strongly in regional universities and trade training centres through:

Increasing the total regional loading for universities by $109.9 million over four years to $249.4 million to help overcome the higher costs of running regional campuses;
Committing $265 million to provide around 20,500 students in regional areas greater access to Youth Allowance to make it easier for them to go to university;
Introducing a demand driven funding system for undergraduate places;
Increasing overall funding for undergraduate places by almost $4 billion over six years from 2010; and
Announcing a $176 million investment in building trade training centres, as part of the Government's $2.5 billion trade training package.