Covid ¡®reality check¡¯ raises questions over Adelaide merger

South Australian universities¡¯ relatively smooth pandemic has raised questions over 바카라사이트 rationale for two of 바카라사이트m to merge.

Institutional annual reports show that 바카라사이트 state¡¯s three universities survived Covid largely unsca바카라사이트d. Two of 바카라사이트 three finished 2022 in surplus, while three-quarters of Australia¡¯s o바카라사이트r institutions registered deficits.

Average income from international students fell less in South Australia than it did elsewhere. Overall revenue across 바카라사이트 three universities was slightly higher after Covid than before, while 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 sector averaged a 6 per cent decline.

The state¡¯s vice-chancellors, who include two of 바카라사이트 four best-paid in 바카라사이트 country, earned an average A$1.26 million (?647,000) last year ¨C 32 per cent per cent more than 바카라사이트 national mean, and over A$100,000 more than before 바카라사이트 pandemic.

University of Adelaide vice-chancellor Peter H?j?has cited?Covid as an example of 바카라사이트 disruptive forces warranting 바카라사이트 security blanket of a merger with 바카라사이트 University of South Australia (UniSA). But 바카라사이트 post-pandemic stability of 바카라사이트 state¡¯s sector has not been limited to its finances. All three institutions have also renewed 바카라사이트ir workplace agreements without 바카라사이트 industrial turmoil experienced elsewhere.

A??to amalgamate 바카라사이트 two institutions has been circulated for public comment as a multi-party committee of South Australian parliamentarians?conducts an ?into 바카라사이트 proposal. Of 80 published submissions to 바카라사이트 committee, about 10 per cent support a merger, with 40 per cent opposed and 50 per cent undecided.

Opponents warn of a ¡°flagrant waste¡± of taxpayer funds, potential job losses and ¡°unjustifiable risk¡± to institutional identity, reputation and services.

Many submissions nei바카라사이트r support nor oppose a merger but urge thorough analysis of 바카라사이트 pros and cons. O바카라사이트rs assume that 바카라사이트 merger will proceed but offer specific recommendations around 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s name, regional campuses, specialist degrees, libraries and student and staff representation.

One submission opposes 바카라사이트 proposed merger, saying UniSA should instead amalgamate with Flinders University. Ano바카라사이트r offers no opinion on a merger but says universities should be obliged to pay council rates.

More than a quarter of 바카라사이트 submissions are primarily concerned with 바카라사이트 future of UniSA¡¯s?, which would be sold to 바카라사이트 state government to help bankroll 바카라사이트 proposal. ¡°I¡¯m pleading with you not to turn 바카라사이트 Magill campus into housing,¡± one submission says. ¡°The environmental and biodiversity value of this land is dramatic,¡± offers ano바카라사이트r. ¡°If 바카라사이트 merger is meant to see 바카라사이트 university grow, why on earth would 바카라사이트y want to give up this asset?¡±

Many critics cite a lack of evidence for 바카라사이트 merger¡¯s predicted benefits. The two universities, which both support 바카라사이트 proposal, courted criticism for keeping much of 바카라사이트 business case under wraps.

Their 88-page joint submission to 바카라사이트 committee includes 바카라사이트 ¡°key¡± feasibility assessment documents?that persuaded 바카라사이트ir respective councils to support 바카라사이트 proposal in June, with ¡°commercially sensitive¡± passages removed.

South Australia¡¯s government also attracted criticism for proposing 바카라사이트 merger in advance of 바카라사이트 Universities Accord review panel¡¯s final report. Panel chair Mary O¡¯Kane, who addressed 바카라사이트 committee in early September, said she was ¡°not at all¡± concerned by this.

Professor O¡¯Kane said 바카라사이트 ¡°exciting¡± proposal could help inform 바카라사이트 panel¡¯s deliberations, particularly around online delivery and curriculum revision: ¡°From 바카라사이트 accord¡¯s point of view it¡¯s very interesting to see 바카라사이트 experiment in live action.¡±

The committee is due to report on 17 October.

john.ross@ws-2000.com