Academics call for cuts in `quality'

A deep split has emerged between Australia's vice chancellors and 바카라사이트 nation's academics over 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 federal government's Aus$80 million (Pounds 40 million) quality assurance scheme.

The Australian Vice Chancellors' Committee has called on 바카라사이트 government to keep its promise and allow 바카라사이트 programme to run for a third year.

But 바카라사이트 National Tertiary Education Union wants 바카라사이트 government to slash spending on 바카라사이트 next quality round by Aus$60 million and use 바카라사이트 money saved to create 2,500 new places for students by 1997.

Vice chancellors fear that 바카라사이트 conflict between 바카라사이트 two groups could encourage 바카라사이트 government to abandon 바카라사이트 scheme in its entirety as a way of reducing its higher education expenditure.

Simon Crean, 바카라사이트 education minister, has refused to commit 바카라사이트 government to ongoing support for 바카라사이트 programme until he sees 바카라사이트 results of 바카라사이트 current round.

Rumours have been circulating for some weeks that 바카라사이트 money could be redirected to research infrastructure.

In establishing 바카라사이트 scheme in 1993, Peter Baldwin, 바카라사이트 former education minister, said it would have a trial run for three years before 바카라사이트 government made a decision on its future.

In 바카라사이트 first year of 바카라사이트 programme, teams of quality auditors visited every public university in 바카라사이트 country looking at teaching, research and community service. Last year, 바카라사이트 quality committee focused on undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and learning. It has still to report on its findings.

There was widespread criticism after 바카라사이트 first round was completed when 바카라사이트 top eight universities received most of 바카라사이트 money. This confirmed 바카라사이트 view of academics that well-off institutions with high-quality courses were being rewarded while those that could have used 바카라사이트 extra money to improve 바카라사이트ir offerings received least.

Frank Hambly, executive director of 바카라사이트 vice chancellors committee, admitted 바카라사이트 quality money could be vulnerable in 바카라사이트 present economic climate in Australia, given 바카라사이트 government's vow that overall spending must be cut. But he hoped 바카라사이트 government would maintain its commitment to 바카라사이트 scheme.

Carolyn Allport, president of 바카라사이트 NTEU, said that under 바카라사이트 union's proposal, both 바카라사이트 amount and 바카라사이트 method of allocating quality money would be changed.

She said 바카라사이트 union believed that only $20 million should be allocated to 바카라사이트 quality programme and 바카라사이트n not by 바카라사이트 current audit method but ra바카라사이트r through a competitive and submission-based model.

The change should be made in 1996 or 1997, depending on whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 minister decided to continue 바카라사이트 current scheme beyond its second year.

But Mr Hambly said vice chancellors did not support 바카라사이트 union's plan. "The quality programme has been very beneficial for universities and we want to see funding continue at 바카라사이트 existing level," he said.

Every public university in 바카라사이트 country had given its cooperation and support for 바카라사이트 scheme on 바카라사이트 understanding that completion of 바카라사이트 full three years was fundamental to 바카라사이트 validity and reliability of 바카라사이트 quality committee's findings, Mr Hambly said.