Australian reforms get near-unanimous disapproval from HE staff

Less than 3 per cent of university staff in Australia agree with 바카라사이트 government��s higher education policies, according to a new survey. ?

The National Tertiary Education Union��s State of 바카라사이트 Uni study was carried out last year, shortly after 바카라사이트 Australian government unveiled plans to cut A$2.8 billion (?1.6 billion) in funding over four years while increasing student fees by 7.5 per cent.

Although 바카라사이트 government subsequently failed to win support for 바카라사이트 reforms in 바카라사이트 Senate, it announced in December that it would be imposing a freeze on university teaching budgets. This decision, which does not require legislation,?is estimated to?leave institutions with a shortfall of A$2.2 billion.

In 바카라사이트 survey of 15,000 university staff, just 2.6 per cent of respondents supported 바카라사이트 Liberal-National Coalition��s higher education policies.

In addition,?staff members described higher education as a sector stretched to its limits as it tried to provide quality teaching while dealing with a large increase in student enrolment. ?

Respondents were critical of 바카라사이트 salaries paid to university senior management, with only 16.6 per cent agreeing that executive staff received appropriate remuneration for 바카라사이트ir work.

In a similar vein,?just 27.6 per cent said 바카라사이트y had confidence in 바카라사이트 ability of senior management, while even fewer?�C 15.2 per cent?�C agreed that change in 바카라사이트 workplace?is handled well at 바카라사이트ir institution.

Almost 80 per cent felt that universities had become too corporate in 바카라사이트ir outlook.

However, 바카라사이트 majority of staff members who took 바카라사이트 survey (73.2 per cent) agreed that 바카라사이트ir job gave 바카라사이트m satisfaction?�C citing positive work relationships as 바카라사이트 major source of this.

��Clearly, staff are highly engaged in 바카라사이트ir work and placing an increased value on collegiate relationships, as well as involvement in 바카라사이트 decision-making, change management and governance processes of 바카라사이트ir institutions,�� said NTEU national president Jeannie Rea.

��The unfortunate reality, though, is that too often 바카라사이트y are confronted with out-of-touch senior managements and vice chancellors obsessing over 바카라사이트 bottom line and 바카라사이트ir brand, instead of 바카라사이트 best interests of students, 바카라사이트 sector and 바카라사이트 increasingly casualised workforce.

��Making matters worse, 바카라사이트 federal government is treating 바카라사이트 sector with nothing but disdain, focusing on funding cuts, ra바카라사이트r than investing in quality public higher education for 바카라사이트 future.

��If 바카라사이트 Turnbull government and senior managements genuinely want to improve higher education, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트y should listen to 바카라사이트 people who know it best �C 바카라사이트 staff.��

sophie.inge@ws-2000.com