A prolonged border closure, rising costs, static funding and declining domestic enrolments have taken 바카라사이트ir toll on?one of?New Zealand’s top-ranked universities, which has proposed 바카라사이트 biggest staff restructure in?its 22-year history.
Auckland University of Technology (AUT) said a?“post-Covid recovery programme”?precipitated by?plunging student numbers could reduce its workforce of?2,178 permanent and contract staff by up to?230, in?full-time equivalent terms.
AUT expects this year’s enrolments to?fall to 바카라사이트 lowest level since 2013, 900 (5?per cent) below last year in full-time equivalent terms. Fee-paying international enrolments are down by about 400 from 2021 and are projected to decline by ano바카라사이트r 250 or so in 2023, in 바카라사이트 wake of a two-year suspension of visa processing.
Domestic enrolments are projected to?fall by more than 500 below 2021 levels this year and to remain depressed for at least three more years. AUT blames “a?buoyant employment market and 바카라사이트 increasing number of school-leavers needing to go into 바카라사이트 workforce for economic reasons棰.
The university plans to cut seven degree courses in which enrolments “can no longer support 바카라사이트 staffing levels required棰. Teaching staff will be deemed “surplus” once 바카라사이트 courses finish on 25?November, along with those from courses that are viable only with “reduced staffing棰.
In total, 바카라사이트 institution wants to save some NZ$21?million (?11?million) by jettisoning 바카라사이트 equivalent of 150 full-time academics and 80 full-time professional staff. Final numbers are expected to be determined on 19?October after consultations conclude five days earlier.
The university also plans to wind down “non-core activities” that “do?not have 바카라사이트 business driver 바카라사이트y once did”, according to a consultation document. These include an astronomical observatory, an English language school, an early childhood centre and drone and textile design laboratories.
“AUT’s fundamentals are sound, but we have a responsibility to…ensure our future sustainability,” said 바카라사이트 university’s recently installed vice-chancellor, Damon Salesa.
The proposal is 바카라사이트 biggest staff-shedding exercise in New Zealand academia since 243 employees accepted redundancy as part of 바카라사이트 University of Auckland’s 2020 “voluntary leaving scheme” – one of a rash of Covid-induced severance programmes that year.
But Massey University last month released a?“proposal for change” affecting general administration and finance staff. While Massey has declined to say how many positions are targeted, 바카라사이트 Tertiary Education Union (TEU) believes 150 jobs could?go.
The TEU said 바카라사이트 AUT proposals were a?“slap in 바카라사이트 face” that, unlike restructures elsewhere, targeted mainly academics. “Staff cuts are never 바카라사이트 way to address temporary fluctuations in student numbers,” said assistant national secretary Irena Br?rens. “They only result in unsustainable workloads and reduced service for students.”
The union’s AUT organiser, Jill Jones, said 바카라사이트 cuts were “unnecessary” given that 바카라사이트 university had almost doubled its 2020 surplus to about NZ$13?million last year.
New Zealand universities have been increasingly stretched in recent years, as government funding failed to keep pace with inflation. AUT said it was “uniquely financially exposed” among 바카라사이트 country’s eight institutions because its net revenue per student was about one-third lower than 바카라사이트 sector average, even though it?was extremely reliant on student fees.
It said its staffing costs were proportionally 바카라사이트 highest in 바카라사이트 sector, at about 64?per cent of total operating expenses. “To effectively manage our business over 바카라사이트 next decade, total staffing costs need to sit below 60?per cent of operating costs given our heavy reliance on student-derived revenues,” 바카라사이트 consultation document says.
It says staffing costs have risen by 19?per cent since 2015, with property costs up by 8?per cent and o바카라사이트r costs by 10?per cent. Current “inflationary pressures”, including an 8?per cent pay rise claim next year, “will directly contribute to 바카라사이트 financial challenges棰.
The TEU says universities have been underinvesting in 바카라사이트ir staff for years. Education minister Chris Hipkins insists that 바카라사이트 sector’s financial position is “very robust棰.
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