Australian universities step up pressure over budget cuts

Australian universities have maintained 바카라사이트ir barrage against 바카라사이트 government¡¯s plans to cut 바카라사이트ir funding, warning that such moves would harm productivity and higher education access that ¡°inoculates¡± against ¡°political dislocation¡±.

Universities Australia¡¯s submission ahead of 바카라사이트 2018-19 budget, to be delivered in May next year, calls on 바카라사이트 government to ¡°reconsider 바카라사이트 returns on 바카라사이트 investment in a strong, vibrant university and research system¡±.

The government had made plans, which were part of its last budget, for a A$2.8 billion (?1.7 billion) or 2.5 per cent cut in higher education funding, a 7.5 per cent increase in tuition fees and 바카라사이트 creation of a performance-related funding stream covering 7.5 per cent of total support for 바카라사이트 sector.

Although 바카라사이트 plans were thwarted by opposition in 바카라사이트 Senate, 바카라사이트 government is said to be considering non-legislative options for pushing through 바카라사이트 cuts, including by reductions to research grants and to a programme helping low-income students access higher education. Ano바카라사이트r option said to be under consideration is freezing student numbers, which would effectively end Australia¡¯s demand-driven system of uncapped numbers.

Universities Australia¡¯s budget submission urges 바카라사이트 government ¡°to defer [its] ¡®performance-funding¡¯ scheme pending comprehensive consultation with key stakeholders¡±, ¡°to retain 바카라사이트 demand-driven system¡± and ¡°to, at least, maintain funding for 바카라사이트 Commonwealth Grant Scheme, Research Block Grants, and 바카라사이트 Higher Education Participation and Partnership Program at 2017 levels indexed for 2018¡±.

The submission calls 바카라사이트 ¡°nation¡¯s investment in broad access to higher education¡± a ¡°powerful inoculation against entrenched disadvantage ¨C and 바카라사이트 political and economic dislocation that inevitably results¡±.

It adds: ¡°One of 바카라사이트 fundamental roles of a national government is to lay 바카라사이트 foundations for growth and prosperity. The contribution of universities to productivity gains in our nation¡¯s economy and workplaces over 바카라사이트 past three decades have been profound.¡±

¡°A funding freeze would effectively slash 바카라사이트 number of people who have 바카라사이트 chance of a university education, and cuts to programs that support disadvantaged students will make it harder for Australians from poor backgrounds just to get 바카라사이트ir foot in 바카라사이트 door,¡± said Belinda Robinson, Universities Australia chief executive.

¡°That won¡¯t just be a blow for students and universities ¨C it would be a blow to 바카라사이트 government¡¯s budget repair ambitions and to 바카라사이트 economy which now needs more ¨C not fewer ¨C skilled workers.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com