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University dropouts will be awarded a formal qualification for the first time, as a quarter of Australian students fail to finish their degrees.

Swinburne University is launching the nation’s first Undergraduate Certificate of Higher Education Studies for students who pass at least six months of study.

Also this week, David Gonski says he does not believe the university public square has degraded and that students were never that good at debate.

Reflecting on 20 years as ­chancellor of the University of NSW, Mr Gonski, who will step down from the role at the end of 2025, also said he wished he was better able to help improve the public standing of universities.

Elsewhere, a Senate report into governance at Australian universities warns of "declining education quality", flagging cheating and pressures to pass failing students.

Read those stories and more below, and let me know what you think at joanna.panagopoulos@news.com.au