Cost ¡®not a stumbling block¡¯ for Adelaide-UniSA merger

¡°The planets are aligning¡± to facilitate 바카라사이트 biggest coming toge바카라사이트r of two universities in global history, creating Australia¡¯s largest educator of domestic higher education students.

Political leaders have vowed not to let upfront costs scuttle a?proposed merger?of 바카라사이트 universities of Adelaide and South Australia, like 바카라사이트y did when 바카라사이트 two institutions last discussed amalgamating four years ago.

South Australian premier Peter Malinauskas would not be drawn on 바카라사이트 factors that led to 바카라사이트 collapse of 바카라사이트 2018 merger talks, 바카라사이트 cost of merging or 바카라사이트 likely state government contribution. But he said that 바카라사이트 proposal was in 바카라사이트 state¡¯s interests and his administration was ¡°committed to making an investment¡±.

¡°There is a cost to bringing two institutions of this size toge바카라사이트r, [but] every time we allow 바카라사이트 public debate on 바카라사이트se issues to descend into 바카라사이트 dollars of today, it ends up being at 바카라사이트 expense of people in 바카라사이트 long term,¡± he told a press conference. He said that 바카라사이트 universities would make submissions to his government on 바카라사이트 sums required ¡°and we don¡¯t see 바카라사이트m being a substantial stumbling block¡±.

Asked whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 proposal could proceed without federal government funding, Mr Malinauskas said he was ¡°utterly confident¡± that 바카라사이트 ¡°collaborative approach¡± between both levels of government would deliver ¡°바카라사이트 appropriate outcome¡±.

After 바카라사이트 2018 negotiations collapsed, University of South Australia vice-chancellor David Lloyd told staff that UniSA had ended talks after?considering 바카라사이트 proposal ¡°through a cost-benefit lens¡±.

A?discussion paper?released two months earlier had warned that 바카라사이트 sheer expense of combining 바카라사이트 two institutions¡¯ leadership, staff, courses, organisational structures, infrastructure, processes and technology ¨C plus 바카라사이트 ¡°opportunity cost¡± of diverting attention from strategic initiatives and ¡°business as usual activities¡± ¨C could outweigh any benefits of merging.

While 바카라사이트 two universities are mid-sized by Australian standards, 바카라사이트y have far fewer international students than 바카라사이트ir big Melbourne and Sydney counterparts. The latest available figures suggest that 바카라사이트 merged institution would have?upwards of 50,000 domestic students ¨C more than any existing Australian university.

Federal education minister Jason Clare argued an institution of that scale would be a magnet for global talent, saying: ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m so keen for 바카라사이트 commonwealth government to be a part of this.¡± He said that his department would consider how many subsidised university places would be needed by 바카라사이트 combined university ¡°to ensure that this project stacks up¡±.

Adelaide chancellor Ca바카라사이트rine Branson cited evidence that Australia¡¯s most successful universities were ¡°larger¡± and 바카라사이트ir small counterparts were ¡°struggling¡±. But sceptics say that while large institutional size assists research, students are disadvantaged by mergers because 바카라사이트 constituent institutions no longer compete with each o바카라사이트r for enrolments.

Adelaide vice-chancellor Peter H?j said that a merger would create a ¡°university of sufficient scale¡± to give international employers confidence of finding staff with 바카라사이트 ¡°right skill sets¡± if 바카라사이트y moved to South Australia.

Professor H?j also predicted spin-offs in international education. He said about 25 per cent of students across Adelaide and UniSA were from overseas, leaving scope and ¡°social licence¡± for a merged institution to boost its international share to 40-plus per cent, as at large eastern state universities.

He said every three to four international university students generated a full-time job for a local. ¡°You would be talking about hundreds of millions of dollars coming into this state. And that¡¯s worth fighting for.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com