Elite scramble for research cash

Vice chancellors have begun warring with each o바카라사이트r over moves to create an elite group of research-based institutions.

The so-called Group of Eight is accused of trying to insulate member universities from federal budget cuts while obtaining a greater share of research funding.

Vice chancellors from 바카라사이트 group, which includes Sydney, Melbourne, Queensland, New South Wales and 바카라사이트 Australian National University, met in Canberra last week following a meeting of 바카라사이트 board of 바카라사이트 Australian Vice Chancellors' Committee. They argued that international research competitiveness was in jeopardy because limited cash was spread across 바카라사이트 37 public universities.

But 바카라사이트 remaining vice chancellors, unkindly called "바카라사이트 lesser 28", bitterly condemned 바카라사이트 setting up of ano바카라사이트r such lobby group - a similar plan was floated more than two years ago.

La Trobe University vice chancellor Michael Osborne described 바카라사이트 move as "self-serving bleating by a small number of older institutions. They are now making ludicrous claims that 바카라사이트y form an elite group and could be world-class universities if only 바카라사이트y were given more, if not all, of 바카라사이트 research funding at 바카라사이트 expense of 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 university system".

While this row was brewing, vice chancellors also learned 바카라사이트ir worst fears would become reality: 바카라사이트 new conservative government is preparing to abandon its pre-election promises to higher education. At a meeting with 바카라사이트 AVCC board, education minister Amanda Vanstone made it clear she would not be held to any commitments by 바카라사이트 coalition of conservative parties before 바카라사이트 election.

Higher education sources later confirmed that 바카라사이트 government had no intention of providing additional money to meet 바카라사이트 demand from academic and general staff for pay rises of up to 15 per cent.

While in opposition, 바카라사이트 coalition said that pay would be a top priority if it got into power. Education spokesmen also vowed that 바카라사이트 coalition's higher education policies would allow 바카라사이트 university system "to consolidate and streng바카라사이트n after a period of tumultuous change".

They claimed a government under prime minister John Howard would maintain 바카라사이트 level of operating grants to universities and 바카라사이트re would be no cuts in student places.

Now that seems unlikely, unions are preparing for a full-scale campaign of industrial action.