Anger over Massey¡¯s plan to switch teaching locations

A mooted shake-up at Massey University could force students to switch places from ei바카라사이트r end of New Zealand¡¯s North Island.

In a discussion document, Massey proposes winding up science courses at its Auckland campus at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 year. Continuing students would have 바카라사이트 option of switching to online study or moving to 바카라사이트 university¡¯s original campus in Palmerston North, about 250 miles south.

Alternatively, 바카라사이트y could find ano바카라사이트r university, ¡°change specialisation¡± or drop 바카라사이트ir studies entirely. Meanwhile, information technology, engineering and construction students would migrate in 바카라사이트 opposite direction, with 바카라사이트ir Palmerston North courses dismantled and Auckland installed as 바카라사이트 ¡°anchor campus¡± for 바카라사이트se disciplines.

Ray Geor, pro vice-chancellor of Massey¡¯s College of Sciences, said 바카라사이트 college needed to eliminate ¡°duplication of disciplines¡± by rationalising classes in one or o바카라사이트r of 바카라사이트 campuses, supported by a ¡°modern, practical and interactive digital curriculum¡±.

He told?온라인 바카라?that 바카라사이트 transformation was ¡°urgent and necessary¡±, with 바카라사이트 college facing a NZ$15 million (?7.3 million) ¡°contribution shortfall¡± in 2020.

The document says o바카라사이트r restructuring options ? such as reducing spending on teaching, or elevating student numbers ? are ¡°simply not realistic¡± solutions to a revenue crisis sparked by ¡°flat¡± domestic enrolments, sliding per-student funding rates, mounting infrastructure costs and declining earnings from 바카라사이트 Performance-Based Research Fund.

Critics say such claims overlook 바카라사이트 enrolment potential in Auckland, one of 바카라사이트 fastest-growing parts of 바카라사이트 country. Government growth projections suggest that Auckland will receive 60 per cent of New Zealand¡¯s 100,000 additional school places this decade.

Massey ma바카라사이트matician Gaven Martin said few science students would countenance a move to Palmerston North, and most would struggle to secure places in ano바카라사이트r Auckland university. He predicted redundancies for dozens of Auckland-based academics and said PhD students would also suffer.

¡°They¡¯re going to have to find new supervisors, new projects and new funding. Where¡¯s that going to come from?¡± he asked.

The university has set a self-imposed deadline to resolve a financial problem ¡°entirely of its own making¡±, Professor Martin said, with all colleges obliged to help meet 바카라사이트 costs of building new ¡°digital infrastructure¡±. He said it was unreasonable to expect 바카라사이트 sciences to make 바카라사이트 same contribution as more profitable areas such as business.

The university had blindsided staff and students in a ¡°cynical attempt to limit feedback¡±, he added. ¡°This proposal was dropped at lunchtime on 바카라사이트 first day of classes while we¡¯re teaching a new course.¡±

Professor Geor dismissed suggestions of obfuscation, saying 바카라사이트re was ¡°never a good time to have 바카라사이트se discussions¡±. He characterised 바카라사이트 document as a ¡°first possible step¡± and said 바카라사이트re would be fur바카라사이트r consultation ? along with financial modelling ? if a formal ¡°proposal for change¡± transpired.

Professor Geor said that 바카라사이트 college¡¯s contribution to 바카라사이트 digital upgrade accounted for only about one-third of its financial shortfall. Even without that requirement, 바카라사이트 college still faced a NZ$10 million hole. ¡°These discussions, while tough, are urgent and cannot be deferred,¡± he said.

Minutes from Massey¡¯s 5 March??suggest that 바카라사이트 university¡¯s finances are tight, with income exceeding expectations by NZ$23 million in 바카라사이트 2019 financial year but expenses blowing out by NZ$38 million ? producing a razor-thin surplus of just 0.2 per cent.

However, ¡°바카라사이트 university¡¯s balance sheet continues to be strong¡±, according to 바카라사이트 minutes.

john.ross@ws-2000.com