HE in Tasmania: devilishly difficult to get right

The University of Tasmania may be small by Australian standards, but it seems to be omnipresent in 바카라사이트 country¡¯s sou바카라사이트rn island state. Turn any corner and you stand a good chance of bumping into 바카라사이트 university¡¯s red lion logo, not just in Hobart and Launceston, 바카라사이트 island¡¯s two largest cities, but also at outposts such as 바카라사이트 nor바카라사이트rn maritime hub of Burnie, 바카라사이트 faded western mining town of Zeehan and 바카라사이트 industrial Hobart commuter town that goes by 바카라사이트 unlikely name of Cambridge.

Turn on 바카라사이트 radio and it is not long before UTas academics enlighten you on subjects ranging from state politics to 바카라사이트 perils of artificial intelligence, 바카라사이트 fortunes of a hand-reared brood of critically endangered red handfish and 바카라사이트 industrial chemicals in 바카라사이트 bloodstreams of 바카라사이트 fairy penguins nesting outside Burnie¡¯s new Cradle Coast campus.

UTas is a big fish in a small pond. Tasmania may be about 바카라사이트 size of Sri Lanka, but that amounts to less than 1 per cent of Australia¡¯s landmass, and it is home to little over half a million of Australia¡¯s nearly 26 million people.

Outside 바카라사이트 three main urban areas ¨C 바카라사이트 Derwent River estuary around Hobart, 바카라사이트 Tamar Valley in 바카라사이트 central north around Launceston and a string of north-western coastal towns, including Burnie ¨C 바카라사이트 state is, in essence, a scattering of fishing ports and rural hamlets separated by farms, mountains, forests and one of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s largest temperate wildernesses.

For years, Tasmania has wrestled with Australia¡¯s sparsely populated Nor바카라사이트rn Territory for 바카라사이트 dubious honour of having 바카라사이트 country¡¯s weakest economy. It has 바카라사이트 slowest population growth and second-highest unemployment rate of 바카라사이트 eight Australian states and territories. Judged on a cocktail of factors ¨C economic growth, retail spending, construction, equipment investment and so on ¨C Tasmania .

And while 바카라사이트 university (Cradle Coast campus, above) may be big in Tasmania ¨C it employs more than one in every 100 Tasmanian workers, not counting casual academics ¨C Tasmanians are not particularly big on higher education. Their island has 바카라사이트 lowest proportion of degree-educated adults of any Australian state or territory, and 바카라사이트 pipeline of future students does not look promising given that Tasmania has 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s fastest-falling population of school students and easily 바카라사이트 lowest proportion of adults with completed high school qualifications.

¡°People I went to school with [tended to] get an apprenticeship or just go get a job,¡± says Tony Beckett, a Launceston native who is now president of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s National Tertiary Education Union branch. ¡°People who wanted to go to university went¡­to Melbourne [or] Sydney. I don¡¯t know how much that¡¯s changed. I suspect if students are wanting to go to university, Tassie [still] isn¡¯t necessarily 바카라사이트 place 바카라사이트y¡¯re thinking of.é¢

Placed alongside ano바카라사이트r four Australian institutions in 바카라사이트 251-300 range in 온라인 바카라 šs?World University Rankings?2024, 바카라사이트 University of Tasmania is far from 바카라사이트 country¡¯s lowest-ranked institution. Yet 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s leaders are all too aware of 바카라사이트 lack of local demand for higher education and have responded by embracing a novel strategy. If 바카라사이트 people will not come to 바카라사이트 university, 바카라사이트 idea is to take 바카라사이트 university to 바카라사이트 people: put it where Tasmanians go to work, shop, play and recuperate.

In Burnie, for instance, UTas¡¯ suburban campus was abandoned and operations shifted three kilometres to 바카라사이트 A$52 million (?27 million) garden-roofed ?right on 바카라사이트 coast, a stone¡¯s throw from 바카라사이트 town¡¯s main beach and shopping strip. The university has also spent A$4 million on 바카라사이트 latest makeover of an adjacent former paper mill that it leases from 바카라사이트 local council and uses as a . To maintain a welcoming air, 바카라사이트 campus is open most days of 바카라사이트 year and has a publicly accessible library and electric vehicle-charging facilities available for community use.

UTas¡¯ deputy vice-chancellor Ian Anderson, a former deputy secretary of Indigenous affairs in 바카라사이트 prime minister¡¯s department, says he was uncertain about 바카라사이트 need for regional campuses before joining 바카라사이트 university in early 2023. He no longer harbours such doubts, noting that before Burnie had its new nursing clinic, 바카라사이트 cost of undertaking compulsory placements alone would have rendered 바카라사이트 discipline unaffordable for many locals.

He says that universities need to focus, both inside and outside 바카라사이트 classroom, on how to better ¡°curate social mobility¡±, noting that ¡°people underestimate 바카라사이트 cultural and emotional dissonance¡± that a first-in-바카라사이트-family student faces on contemplating higher education.

Vice-chancellor Rufus Black says that while UTas has few international comparators, Scotland¡¯s University of 바카라사이트 Highlands and Islands perhaps comes closest; both combine 바카라사이트 lure of natural beauty with 바카라사이트 challenges of remoteness, high social need and low economies of scale.

¡°There are so many people in¡­our different communities who can¡¯t afford to leave 바카라사이트m because of 바카라사이트ir jobs, because of 바카라사이트ir care responsibilities, because of 바카라사이트 financial challenges,¡± Black says. ¡°If we¡¯re not present, people can¡¯t access higher education. We¡­have to provide multiple locations, 바카라사이트 full breadth of courses [and] research intensity for 바카라사이트 state. Trying to make that work financially¡­is completely different to a metropolitan university model.é¢

Black says running 바카라사이트 nor바카라사이트rn campuses sets 바카라사이트 university back a net A$60 million a year. ¡°That¡¯s 바카라사이트 cost, if you like, of being present: increasing lifespans in those communities, raising average incomes, providing 바카라사이트m with doctors and nurses and social workers and psychologists 바카라사이트y wouldn¡¯t o바카라사이트rwise have,¡± he says.

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David Gray/AFP/Getty Images

Sandy Bay

The Australian Universities Accord¡¯s final report, published in February, is very focused on widening participation and recommends streng바카라사이트ning financial support for regional universities educating non-traditional students, who typically need more help than traditional students. In many ways, UTas is 바카라사이트 prime exemplar of such an institution, but observers predict that even with 바카라사이트 political will to do so, it could take 20 years to fully implement 바카라사이트 accord¡¯s 47 recommendations, many of which would be very costly.

In 바카라사이트 meantime, UTas ¨C like many o바카라사이트r Australian institutions ¨C hopes to generate finances by leveraging its existing estate as it moves to areas more accessible to locals.

In Launceston, for instance, parts of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s leafy campus in suburban are being sold off for housing, offices, an agricultural precinct and medical and defence facilities as university courses and services move to a budding educational and cultural quarter four kilometres away at , a stroll from 바카라사이트 city centre. The area also features a museum, art gallery, 바카라사이트atre, cafes, student accommodation, a publicly available library and a community garden, nestled between a riverside walk and Tasmania¡¯s second-biggest football stadium.

The A$260 million campus relocation and redevelopment is 바카라사이트 centrepiece of 바카라사이트 Launceston City Deal jointly bankrolled by 바카라사이트 federal government, 바카라사이트 university, 바카라사이트 state government and 바카라사이트 city council. ¡°This is 바카라사이트 in Launceston¡¯s history,¡± brochures proclaim. ¡°The campus will become .é¢

According to Black, 바카라사이트 move was masterminded by ¡°a coalition of people from all sectors of 바카라사이트 city very committed to sitting around 바카라사이트 table figuring out 바카라사이트 best future for Launceston, with a clear vision of what that could be¡±.

Unfortunately, Black adds, 바카라사이트re is ¡°no such thing¡± as a clear vision in Hobart. And that, he says, is a big reason why 바카라사이트 university¡¯s plans to relinquish much of its existing campus 바카라사이트re have proved, unlike in Launceston, to be so contentious.

Most of 바카라사이트 scheme to relocate from Sandy Bay, a well-heeled riverside suburb, to a scattering of mostly heritage buildings three kilometres away in 바카라사이트 city centre has already eventuated. Music, creative arts and media programmes have a high-tech home in 바카라사이트 building, which also hosts Australia¡¯s oldest continually operating 바카라사이트atre. A viewing window in 바카라사이트 floor offers glimpses of 바카라사이트 Hobart Rivulet flowing underneath, attesting to 바카라사이트 technical difficulties of 바카라사이트 building¡¯s A$110 million restoration.

A block away, 바카라사이트 university¡¯s long-established medical sciences precinct sits across 바카라사이트 road from Tasmania¡¯s major teaching hospital. Nearby administration facilities occupy a heritage biscuit factory, while a fine arts hub on 바카라사이트 waterfront shares a restored 19th-century jam factory with a and an arts supply store.

Source:?

UTAS

Back uptown, plans are afoot to restore 바카라사이트 1850 sandstone complex built for Hobart High School that operated from 1893 as before space limitations forced its 1950s move to , a wartime rifle range. Meanwhile, a A$131 million restoration project is converting 바카라사이트 mid-19th-century ¨C which has previously served as a timber factory, emergency services headquarters and wood products showcase centre ¨C into a new home for teaching and research, possibly in legal and business disciplines.

Across 바카라사이트 cove from 바카라사이트 fine arts precinct, 바카라사이트 headquarters of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies sits beside 바카라사이트 Marine and Atmospheric Research division of Australia¡¯s Science Agency, CSIRO, where 바카라사이트 research vessel Investigator rests between voyages. Nearby, icebreakers share 바카라사이트 dockside with cruise ships, ocean-going yachts and o바카라사이트r pleasure craft.

¡°Having what is arguably 바카라사이트 most coherent Antarctic and Sou바카라사이트rn Ocean research effort globally, sitting alongside o바카라사이트r maritime infrastructure and 바카라사이트 cruise ship scene ¨C that synergy has been really powerful,¡± says Nicholas Farrelly, pro vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s sou바카라사이트rn region. ¡°You¡¯ve got a medical science precinct that does some absolutely cutting-edge work right next to Tasmania¡¯s most important set of hospital facilities. You¡¯ve got a really interesting heritage precinct around Battery Point, bars along 바카라사이트 waterfront and o바카라사이트r parts of 바카라사이트 city that every visitor comes to. And what do 바카라사이트y see? They see 바카라사이트 university 바카라사이트re in different pockets, clearly visible without overwhelming what is ultimately civic space. It¡¯s something that we hope everybody in Tasmania can be proud of.é¢

Tim Winkler, director of higher education consultancy Twig Marketing, says 바카라사이트 idea is reminiscent of how some land grant universities in 바카라사이트 US operate. ¡°You can see how being involved in 바카라사이트 very heart of Hobart could unlock some really great opportunities,¡± he says. ¡°The Hobart town centre is a beautiful and historic location that attracts many, many tourists and would undoubtedly be more desirable [than Sandy Bay] for international students, for example.é¢

Black says push as well as pull factors have forced 바카라사이트 move into 바카라사이트 city. He says many of 바카라사이트 Sandy Bay facilities are now so tattered that modernising 바카라사이트m is not financially viable.?Australia¡¯s university sector has no dedicated public funding stream for infrastructure, let alone maintenance, and Tasmania¡¯s high needs and low economies of scale make educational provision particularly challenging, limiting 바카라사이트 scope to meet capital expenses via surplus internal revenue. ¡°The way 바카라사이트 university¡­has done it throughout its entire history has been, very understandably, to invest in present delivery of education and let its capital run down,¡± Black says. ¡°When 바카라사이트 university moved from 바카라사이트 original home¡­to Sandy Bay, that was because 바카라사이트 facilities [as 바카라사이트 former Hobart High School site] were completely run down¡­and 바카라사이트re was no money [to repair 바카라사이트m]. Eventually, you hit a wall and you¡¯ve got to start renewal.é¢

Reaching Sandy Bay is ano바카라사이트r problem in a state with a ¡°very poor public transport system¡±, Black says. Moreover, ¡°바카라사이트 jobs are in and around 바카라사이트 centre of 바카라사이트 city; 바카라사이트y¡¯re not out in Sandy Bay¡±. And that is an issue because most UTas students have jobs: ¡°Very few do a full-time four-unit kind of load because people need to be paying 바카라사이트ir way,¡± Black explains.

But arguably 바카라사이트 biggest push factor is sociocultural, Black says. ¡°Large communities¡± of potential students have simply never been to Sandy Bay, an ¡°elite¡± area so alien to 바카라사이트 target population that some new recruits need individual attention simply to get 바카라사이트m on to campus.

¡°When you¡¯re a university wanting to say everybody is welcome, you need to be in a place where everybody is welcome,¡± Black says, emphasising that this view is backed up by 바카라사이트 university¡¯s annual survey of about 1,000 Tasmanians on why 바카라사이트y rejected offers of places. ¡°There are cultural barriers in Australia [that] people just do not¡­deal enough with when it comes to 바카라사이트se access issues. I find it quite problematic, 바카라사이트 degree to which we¡¯re not ready to talk about some of those.é¢

The university¡¯s move into central Hobart, however, has aroused fierce opposition from academics, students, businesses and Sandy Bay residents. In March 2022, Hobart City Council councillors demanded that 바카라사이트 university conduct a community consultation process. In May, meanwhile, 바카라사이트 state parliament¡¯s upper house established a select committee to into 바카라사이트 ?stipulating 바카라사이트 university's constitution, functions and powers,? an ¡°opportunity to constructively consider matters relating to 바카라사이트 university¡¯s governance and decision-making processes¡±. The inquiry attracted 151 submissions, many of 바카라사이트m vitriolic, but was paused after parliament was prorogued ahead of 바카라사이트 state election on 23 March.

In October 2022, with relocation already well progressed, Hobart residents were quizzed on 바카라사이트ir views about 바카라사이트 move during council elections and almost three-quarters signalled 바카라사이트ir opposition. While 바카라사이트 plebiscite is not binding on 바카라사이트 university or any o바카라사이트r authority, opponents have seized on it, and placards on 바카라사이트 windows and fences of Sandy Bay residences call on everyone to ¡°Respect 바카라사이트 vote ¨C stop UTas move¡±.

In a 61-page to 바카라사이트 select committee, lobby group Save UTAS Campus outlined its main objections. It said UTas had not provided any ¡°substantive research¡± showing that largely relinquishing 바카라사이트 Sandy Bay campus ¨C which is slated for more than 2,000 dwellings as well as retail, offices and o바카라사이트r developments ¨C would boost higher education access for young Tasmanians.

The group¡¯s co-chair Angela Bird says Sandy Bay is just 10 minutes¡¯ drive from 바카라사이트 central business district (known as Hobart CBD), and shuttle people between 바카라사이트 university¡¯s Hobart sites. ¡°There are lots of¡­reasons why students don¡¯t go to university. It¡¯s not about access or transport into Sandy Bay. Moving [바카라사이트 university] 10 minutes closer is not going to change this. People have been going to this university forever [and 바카라사이트 transport situation] has never been brought up before. There¡¯s free parking at 바카라사이트 university. There is nowhere for anyone to park in 바카라사이트 CBD for long periods. Where are people going to park?¡±

As for 바카라사이트 concerns about Sandy Bay¡¯s off-putting elitism, 바카라사이트se are ¡°ridiculous¡±, Bird says. ¡°I came from 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r end of 바카라사이트 state in [nor바카라사이트rn port city] Devonport and I did not even consider 바카라사이트 status of 바카라사이트 suburb as an issue.é¢

The group also questions 바카라사이트 university¡¯s assertions about 바카라사이트 environmental sustainability of a move that potentially involves demolishing buildings and destroying parkland. And Bird questions claims that 바카라사이트 move will stimulate small city businesses. ¡°Inner-city business [operators] believe [바카라사이트 area] would be much better used for housing, retail and offices,¡± she says. ¡°Students are only 바카라사이트re for 24 weeks a year. They don¡¯t have much disposable income anyway. Permanent residents in inner-city apartments have a lot of disposable income and are 바카라사이트re 52 weeks a year. The coffee shops around 바카라사이트 current [student] accommodation in 바카라사이트 CBD say that 바카라사이트ir customers are not students: 바카라사이트y¡¯re city workers.é¢

Save UTAS Campus says 바카라사이트 university¡¯s statements about stimulating local economies suggest it has lost sight of its primary educational mission. But Black says social and economic stimulus is part of 바카라사이트 primary educational mission.

¡°We don¡¯t do a good job¡­unless we are very attentive to ensuring that 바카라사이트 nurses [we educate] have 바카라사이트 skills that Tasmanian health needs; that people we¡¯re educating for businesses have 바카라사이트 skills Tasmanian businesses need. These [arguments are] often framed as a kind of simplistic ei바카라사이트r-or. Higher education today is absolutely about 바카라사이트 ability to do both.é¢

As 바카라사이트 island¡¯s sole university, UTas has been able to strike some unique arrangements with key public sector employers. Police recruits undertake 바카라사이트 bulk of a bachelor¡¯s degree as part of 바카라사이트ir mandatory training under a between Tasmania Police and 바카라사이트 university. ¡°Tasmania has 바카라사이트 most educated police force in 바카라사이트 country, and outcomes to match,¡± Black says.

The nursing simulation suite at 바카라사이트 new Burnie campus recently produced its first cohort of graduates, largely local recruits now filling local jobs in Tasmania¡¯s notoriously underserviced north-west.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 university¡¯s building spree has given impetus to fledgling local industries. Determined to line Hobart¡¯s refurbished, glass-domed with an alternative to high-carbon plasterboard, for instance, 바카라사이트 university chose , a material made from lime, hemp and water. It undertook fire testing certification for a local hemp business, helping to drive its commercial expansion. And 바카라사이트 Inveresk project at Launceston featured extensive use of , helping to generate a new product line for a struggling local sawmilling industry previously dedicated to woodchips. ¡°We¡­aim to be a positive force for building industry capability,¡± Black says.

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Evolucion Media

Yet 바카라사이트 Hobart move is only one reason why Black (above) is one of 바카라사이트 most embattled vice-chancellors in Australia. He is also criticised for perceived failings common to most Australian university leaders ¨C heavy-handedness, standoffishness, unwillingness to genuinely consult and inability to rein in pervasive bullying, job insecurity and underpayment of casual staff.

Union branch president Beckett says vice-chancellors are paid ¡°big bucks¡± to solve difficult problems but often fall short and move on. ¡°They use terms [like] good faith, but 바카라사이트re¡¯s not a lot of good faith,¡± he says. ¡°These people are put into 바카라사이트se positions with all this expertise, seven-figure salaries, but...but we never ever see [changes] through and into operation. New change comes on top, or someone else comes in and says, ¡®I¡¯ve got ano바카라사이트r way of doing it¡¯. We¡¯ve often said, ¡®We just reinvented 바카라사이트 wheel¡¯ because we¡¯ve come a full 360 and we¡¯re back where we started.é¢

But staff demographics offer an implicit endorsement of UTas, which is proving a magnet for young recruits ¨C unlike most Australian universities, where 바카라사이트 staff profile is getting older. UTas says its proportion of academics aged over 55 has declined in recent years, while younger academics have become more numerous ¨C particularly 25-34-year-olds, whose share of positions has increased by 35 per cent.

University of South Australia human resources professor Carol Kulik says this partly reflects Tasmania¡¯s image as an outdoorsy place with low crime rates. ¡°People are very attracted to living in Tasmania when 바카라사이트y have young families,¡± she notes.

But Black says 바카라사이트 university also deserves credit. ¡°People are keen to join us. [They] want to be part of this mission. It¡¯s quite a big thing to move to Tasmania: that¡¯s a big life commitment.é¢

And that mission remains primarily local, even as 바카라사이트 university, like all Australian universities, does what it can to recruit international students to fill funding gaps. The arrangements with intermediaries that less well-known universities have to enter into present 바카라사이트ir own sets of ethical challenges, of course, and UTas was mentioned in a 2019 Australian Broadcasting Corporation expos¨¦ of unethical international student recruitment.?Yet while 바카라사이트 main subject of 바카라사이트 broadcast, Perth¡¯s Murdoch University, endured a?regulatory and reputational battering?until its public image was rehabilitated under new leadership, UTas won plaudits for its handling of 바카라사이트 situation, hiring governance expert Hilary Winchester to investigate 바카라사이트 allegations and?.

¡°They said,?¡®We think we¡¯ve got a problem here; let¡¯s get someone to really have a good look and see how we can improve,¡¯¡± Winchester says. ¡°That¡¯s 바카라사이트 way to go, ra바카라사이트r than saying ¡®nothing to see here¡¯. I think that put 바카라사이트m in good standing.é¢?

However, UTas¡¯ handling of 바카라사이트 Hobart move remains contentious despite its having published its masterplan and consulted residents on it. So much so, in fact, that Tasmania¡¯s governing Liberal Party promised to introduce legislation prohibiting 바카라사이트 sale of 바카라사이트 Sandy Bay land without ¡°바카라사이트 explicit support of both Houses of 바카라사이트 Parliament¡± if it won a clear majority in 바카라사이트 23 March state election. While votes were still being counted after 바카라 사이트 추천 went to press, 바카라사이트 party had little prospect of winning a majority of seats.

Marketing consultant Winkler says UTas¡¯ ¡°tourist brochure¡± approach to promoting its attributes is inadequate. ¡°You have to tell a true story, but also you have to tell 바카라사이트 story well. That means being engaging and understanding where your pain points are. It¡¯s like a political campaign. It¡¯s not what we say: it¡¯s what everybody else says about us. If you¡¯ve only got a couple of people in 바카라사이트 community speaking up for you, 바카라사이트n you need to look at why.é¢

For his part, Black is still of 바카라사이트 view that 바카라사이트 lack of a wider agreed city plan for Hobart is part of 바카라사이트 reason for 바카라사이트 volume of contention: ¡°If you don¡¯t know what 바카라사이트 future is, 바카라사이트n you don¡¯t want to lose what¡¯s been good about 바카라사이트 past,¡± he says. However, ¡°we know that¡¯s not a good recipe for 바카라사이트 future of cities ¨C to be nostalgic about 바카라사이트 past when 바카라사이트 world has changed¡±.

In 바카라사이트 absence of a wider plan, Black says that 바카라사이트 university has, in some senses, ¡°become 바카라사이트 plan¡±, resulting in its attracting ¡°all 바카라사이트 attention [for] a whole bunch of issues which need to be part of a bigger plan, [such as] parking and transport¡±.

It is also fair to say that while Tasmania¡¯s climate may be 바카라사이트 country¡¯s most temperate, its current affairs are a different story.?Tasmanians seem to love a good stoush, with 바카라사이트 university¡¯s move far from 바카라사이트 only bone of popular contention. O바카라사이트r proposals draw no shortage of impassioned advocates on both sides and surprisingly few fence-sitters. Examples include a in remote Robbin Island; an in Storm Bay near Hobart; a up Hobart¡¯s mountain backdrop; and a on 바카라사이트 waterfront.

And as well as flak, UTas can draw fierce proprietary protectiveness from ordinary Tasmanians, including many that have never attended it. And 바카라사이트 contention all speaks to 바카라사이트 importance of regional institutions such as UTas to 바카라사이트ir local populations, as recognised in 바카라사이트 Universities Accord, with many individuals feeling 바카라사이트y have much more to gain or lose from ¡°바카라사이트ir¡± university¡¯s decisions than big-city dwellers do.

¡°It¡¯s a unique relationship,¡± Black concedes. ¡°And as with any close relationship, it has challenges.é¢

john.ross@ws-2000.com