Reviews of New Zealand higher education and science are welcome news but light on detail, sector representatives said.
The two evaluations will be headed by Sir Peter Gluckman, former chief science adviser to 바카라사이트 prime minister, who has been enlisted to spur productivity and economic growth.
Innovation minister Judith Collins??a “science system advisory group” would explore 바카라사이트 “well-documented issues” facing New Zealand science. “There is a proven link between science and innovation and economic productivity, so it is critical 바카라사이트 sector is operating efficiently,” Ms Collins said.
Tertiary education minister Penny Simmonds said 바카라사이트 “university advisory group” would consider issues including equity, international education and 바카라사이트 Performance-Based Research Fund. She said universities were “a key contributor to New Zealand’s…ability to grow and innovate and to achieve better social outcomes”.
The two groups will operate separately. “Having 바카라사이트 same chair, however, will ensure that any changes made can benefit both…sectors,” Ms Collins said. “We will bring about 바카라사이트 changes needed to ensure 바카라사이트 science and higher education systems are well-placed to deliver maximum benefit.”
This is no small task, after 바카라사이트 National Party-led government?abandoned?a well-advanced science reform process known as 바카라사이트 Future Pathways programme and cancelled NZ$451 million (?214 million) of science infrastructure spending commitments.
Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 combination of flat funding, rising costs and Covid-induced losses of international education revenue has left some universities?reeling. A funding review promised by 바카라사이트 former Labour government has also been shelved.
University of Canterbury vice-chancellor Cheryl de la Rey, who chairs 바카라사이트 Universities New Zealand committee, said 바카라사이트 reviews were “urgently needed”.
“Our universities are in serious financial difficulty, and we…risk seeing a real decline in 바카라사이트 quality and range of both our teaching and our research,” she said.
Universities New Zealand said research funding had not increased at all since 2018. Overall sector funding had increased by just 8 per cent since 2019, amid inflation that had raised costs by 21 per cent.
“Our universities and 바카라사이트ir role in 바카라사이트 wider science system are 바카라사이트 key to navigating many of 바카라사이트 challenges New Zealand will face in 바카라사이트 coming decades,” said chief executive Chris Whelan. “This work offers a chance to explore how universities can deliver much greater value with different funding settings and investment levels.”
He said 바카라사이트 two groups’ work would be effective if it satisfied four “key principles”: protecting universities’ core mission, providing financial sustainability, preserving core capability and producing simplicity, predictability and stability.
The Tertiary Education Union said 바카라사이트 announcements were “light on details and heavy on ideology”.
“We don’t yet know what 바카라사이트 terms of reference are, who will make up 바카라사이트 advisory groups or who will have input,” said national secretary Sandra Grey. “But we do know that economic performance is 바카라사이트 overwhelming priority.
“Any review of higher education must feature staff and student voices at its heart. There is no science sector or tertiary education system without us.”
She said higher education could not achieve better social outcomes if it was merely deemed “a business and a tool to lift economic growth. You have to invest in education as a public good, which means investing in staff and students.”
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