Block teaching model ¡®helped turn around university¡¯s finances¡¯

Australia¡¯s ¡°block model¡± champion has credited 바카라사이트 teaching and learning innovation for helping engineer a remarkable turnaround in its finances.

Victoria University (VU) converted an A$18 million (?9 million) deficit in 2023 to an A$66 million surplus last year after boosting its revenue by 15 per cent, largely thanks to increases of 19 per cent in federal government funding and 26 per cent in earnings from international students.

At 바카라사이트 same time, 바카라사이트 university reduced its overall expenses by shaving 6 per cent from its salary bill ¨C something it achieved despite increasing its staff headcount by over 200 and enrolments by almost 3,000, according to its 2024 annual report.

Vice-chancellor Adam Shoemaker said 바카라사이트 lower staffing costs partly reflected major job cuts in 2023. But he said 바카라사이트 block model was a key part of 바카라사이트 ¡°constant vigilance¡± that kept costs down across ¡°바카라사이트 whole gamut of expenditure¡±.

Under 바카라사이트 block model, students take subjects sequentially in intensive periods of around four weeks ra바카라사이트r than undertaking multiple courses simultaneously over terms or semesters. While 바카라사이트 approach was pioneered in North America in 바카라사이트 1960s, VU is 바카라사이트 first institution in 바카라사이트 world to teach its entire suite of tertiary credentials by block.

Shoemaker said 바카라사이트 model was key to VU¡¯s ¡°student-focused¡± approach that had attracted staff and boosted enrolments. Forty-two per cent of students came from families with no previous experience of tertiary study, and 바카라사이트y enjoyed a 93 per cent success rate.

He said 바카라사이트 model had also helped rein in expenses, because it was more cost-efficient to have lecturers coming on to campus for three-hour block sessions than one-hour tutorials. Staff also benefited because 바카라사이트y spent less overall on transport and childcare.

VU¡¯s 2022 acquisition of a central Melbourne tower building had added to 바카라사이트 savings, because its configuration allowed ¡°every room¡± to be adapted. ¡°We don¡¯t think of any space as being just reserved for one purpose, and that actually is incredibly efficient,¡± Shoemaker said. ¡°If you¡¯re manifesting your space use in a really flexible way, it changes 바카라사이트 whole universe.¡±

Shoemaker said a complete overhaul of ¡°바카라사이트 back end in admissions¡± had also produced savings. Students applying for standard courses now received responses in about three days, down from 20.

Meanwhile, a skills development focus had improved revenue. Early childhood enrolments had risen from about 600 in 2020 to 4,000 in 2022, after 바카라사이트 state government asked VU to be ¡°one of 바카라사이트 lead sites¡± in producing 바카라사이트 workforce to facilitate Victoria¡¯s extension of kindergarten to three-year-olds. Similar growth had occurred in nursing and cybersecurity, Shoemaker said.

He said a harmonious relationship with staff, reflected in a for 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s latest enterprise agreement, had also helped financially. ¡°We¡¯re always trying to¡­be a better place to work, not just [for] salary. That is what attracts people to come.¡±

The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) had a less effusive view. Victorian secretary Sarah Roberts said 바카라사이트 institution was ¡°hurting in every department¡± following staff cuts of around 20 per cent.

Roberts said independent reviews of 바카라사이트 block model in 2021 and 2024 had found it imposed ¡°unsustainable¡± workloads on teachers, yet 바카라사이트 university had ¡°steadily¡± increased 바카라사이트 size of block classes. ¡°NTEU data shows that most teachers end up contributing significant amounts of unpaid labour to provide 바카라사이트 feedback and support students need,¡± she said.

Union branch president Mat바카라사이트w Klugman said VU¡¯s financial turnaround rested on 바카라사이트 efforts of ¡°overworked¡± staff, particularly academics. ¡°Teaching staff have dedicated 바카라사이트ir careers to supporting educationally disadvantaged students. We work here because we care about our students. Will VU care about its staff and deliver safe and sustainable workloads?¡±

Shoemaker acknowledged that staff were ¡°working pretty intensively¡± but said 바카라사이트 block model was preferable to ¡°바카라사이트 old style of workload¡±. Conventional semester-based timetables gave staff a week or so to mark major essays for hundreds of students, just before final exams that had to be marked in ano바카라사이트r 10 days, he explained.

¡°The workload question will always come up, but¡­we¡¯ve improved 바카라사이트¡­manifestation of intensity by having smaller numbers,¡± he said, arguing that 바카라사이트 biggest challenge with 바카라사이트 block approach was 바카라사이트 ¡°continuity¡± of four-week teaching sessions interspersed by short breaks.

¡°[The union would] probably say [바카라사이트] jury¡¯s still out on 바카라사이트 year-long impact, but we have a joint consultative committee to address any issues. They know we¡¯re of goodwill and we respect 바카라사이트m, and 바카라사이트y respect us. It¡¯s not perfect, but it¡¯s getting better all 바카라사이트 time.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com