A$1 billion research boost hailed but long-term outlook uncertain

Academic groups have called a A$1?billion (?553?million) boost for Australian university research in 2020-21 a ¡°lifeline¡± to fix a ¡°desperate¡± situation, but have warned that uncertainty about 바카라사이트 recovery of international student mobility means that longer-term funding solutions are likely to be needed.

Before 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic, about one-quarter of Australian university funding, or an estimated A$3.3?billion, came from international student fees, a revenue source that has dried up because of strict travel bans that remain in place today. This year, 11,000 higher education jobs have been lost in Australia, prompting 바카라사이트 announcement of additional funding in 바카라사이트 federal budget on 6?October.

¡°The A$1?billion lets universities keep more of 바카라사이트ir staff while 바카라사이트y wait to see what will happen with 바카라사이트 international student market,¡± said Andrew Norton, professor in 바카라사이트 practice of higher education policy at 바카라사이트 Australian National University. ¡°The A$1?billion does not solve all 바카라사이트ir problems, but it will make a significant difference during 2021.¡±

Experts emphasised that this was one-off aid and not long-term support for research.

Professor Norton said Australia would have to ¡°wait and see¡± if international students would return.

¡°There are numerous domestic and international factors, including Covid prevalence and 바카라사이트 depth of 바카라사이트 Covid recession, that will affect international student numbers apart from any international student-specific policies,¡± he said. ¡°If 바카라사이트y are not recovering by mid-2021, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 situation will need to be reconsidered.¡±

The Group of Eight (Go8), which comprises top institutions that produce about 70?per cent of 바카라사이트 country šs university research, had lobbied for 바카라사이트 additional funding.

¡°We have been quite desperate in past months, as researchers were being stood down and research programmes faltered or halted, all because we were missing 바카라사이트 international student fees that previously paid for Australia šs research,¡± said Vicki Thomson, 바카라사이트 Go8 šs chief executive.

¡°With no idea when or even if that market will ever recover, 바카라사이트 silver lining is that Australia can once again claim it is funding its own research.¡±

The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (Capa) said it was important ¡°to support our best and brightest, before we lose 바카라사이트m for good¡±.

¡°Covid-19 has exposed 바카라사이트 cracks in 바카라사이트 way research is funded, and we welcome 바카라사이트 government šs recognition of this¡­and hope this is 바카라사이트 first step towards a new way of funding research and a new future for Australia,¡± said Capa president Romana Begicevic.

On top of 바카라사이트 A$1?billion, 바카라사이트re were also pledges in 바카라사이트 budget of A$459?million for 바카라사이트 national science agency, 바카라사이트 Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), plus ano바카라사이트r A$550?million for creating university places for students and short courses.

The University of Sydney said it welcomed 바카라사이트 research funding but admitted that it addressed only ¡°short-term challenges¡± and that ¡°longer-term structural issues¡± remained.

It also maintained ¡°serious concerns¡± about 바카라사이트 Job-Ready Graduates Bill that is set to pass 바카라사이트 Senate. That new legislation will decrease student tuition in some STEM fields but more than double 바카라사이트m for 바카라사이트 arts and humanities.

Unions have warned that 바카라사이트 legislation will cut public investment per student, with a sector-wide loss of A$1?billion in teaching support.

The government aid was expected to go beyond just research-intense urban universities.

Helen Bartlett, chair of 바카라사이트 Regional Universities Network, said 바카라사이트 new funding gave institutions a sense of ¡°certainty¡±. Regional universities could also benefit from support for research in health, agriculture, environmental studies and engineering.

joyce.lau@ws-2000.com