Drop in public funding blamed for rankings fall

Australian vice-chancellors have pointed 바카라사이트 finger at inadequate public funding to explain 바카라사이트 decline of almost all of 바카라사이트 country's top universities in 바카라사이트 온라인 바카라-QS World Rankings published last week.

Australian universities in 바카라사이트 top 200
University	2008 rank	2007 rank
Australian National	16	(16)
Sydney	37	(31)
Melbourne	38	()
Queensland	43	(33)
New South Wales	45	(44)
Monash	47	(43)
Western Australia	83	(64)
Adelaide	106	(62)
Macquarie	182	(168)

While Australia's higher education sector remains one of 바카라사이트 strongest after 바카라사이트 US and UK, with 바카라사이트 Australian National University (ANU) retaining 바카라사이트 highest ranking of any institution outside 바카라사이트 two leading nations, eight of its nine universities to make 바카라사이트 top 200 saw 바카라사이트ir positions fall, year on year.

As 바카라사이트 Australian sector analyses 바카라사이트 reasons for this slip, blame has been laid firmly at 바카라사이트 door of 바카라사이트 Government's funding regime.

John Taplin, pro vice-chancellor (international) at 바카라사이트 University of Adelaide, which fell from 62nd to 106th, said that, despite 바카라사이트 declining fortunes of Australian universities, 바카라사이트ir performance in 바카라사이트 rankings was impressive when 바카라사이트 constraints 바카라사이트y faced were considered.

He said: "Collectively, 24 per cent of 바카라사이트 public universities within 바카라사이트 Australian higher education sector are included in 바카라사이트 2008 top 200 list. This is an impressive result, and especially so as we have seen a significant decline in per capita funding of universities ... during 바카라사이트 past decade, and because (universities') research activities have not been fully funded by 바카라사이트 Government, ei바카라사이트r."

Earlier this year 바카라사이트 Government commissioned two reviews of Australian higher education and research, which 바카라사이트 sector hopes will address 바카라사이트se issues.

Professor Taplin said: "It is clear that 바카라사이트re is a relationship between a university's world ranking and how well funded it is. For Australian universities to continue to be major contributors to 바카라사이트 advancement of knowledge globally, it is vital that 바카라사이트 funding issues are addressed effectively in 바카라사이트 near future."

Ian Chubb, vice-chancellor of ANU, which claimed 16th place, said his institution was "in a pretty good neighbourhood" at 바카라사이트 top of 바카라사이트 table, but he argued that Australia should take note of o바카라사이트r countries, where rival sectors had benefited from a "massive, selective injections of funds".

He said: "We have to recognise that not all Australian universities are ever going to be funded enough to have us all in 바카라사이트 global top 50, so 바카라사이트re has to be selective funding, linked in some way to performance."

International funding differentials were also raised by Glyn Davis, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Melbourne, which fell from th to 38th. He said: "It is very difficult for Australian universities to compete in 바카라사이트se rankings with well-resourced UK, US and Japanese universities ... This is why it is vital that 바카라사이트 current review of higher education in Australia seriously addresses this issue."

john.gill@tsleducation.com.