European universities spared coronavirus cuts ? for?now

Continental European universities have been largely spared budget cuts and redundancies amid 바카라사이트 fallout of 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic, in what some see as a quiet vindication of a financial model that avoids reliance on student tuition fees and endowment income.

There are no reported redundancies planned in Germany, unions say, while Dutch academics have been awarded a 3?per cent pay rise, higher than last year, in recognition of 바카라사이트 upheaval caused by 바카라사이트 switch to online teaching.

This contrasts with 바카라사이트 US, 바카라사이트 UK and Australia, where some universities face catastrophic losses of income and layoffs because of 바카라사이트 shutdown of 바카라사이트 lucrative international student business and 바카라사이트 stock market collapse.

¡°As business institutions, 바카라사이트y are¡­strong if 바카라사이트 market is strong, and weak if 바카라사이트 market is weak,¡± said Peter-Andr¨¦ Alt, president of 바카라사이트 German Rectors¡¯ Conference.

German universities do not charge tuition fees, even to international students, reflecting a desire to attract workers, to build soft power and to assuage an anti-fees political sentiment. The exception is 바카라사이트 sou바카라사이트rn state of Baden-W¨¹rttemberg, which charges €1,500 (?1,348) per semester to students from outside 바카라사이트 European Union.

Institutions might suffer a small hit to 바카라사이트ir budgets if overall student numbers decline, because of how state funding formulas work, ¡°but not a financial impact that would mean you have to change your plans¡±, explained Frank Ziegele, director of Germany¡¯s Centre for Higher Education.

In 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 pandemic¡¯s devastating impact on global student flows, German advocates of fee-free higher education felt ¡°confirmed¡± in 바카라사이트ir eschewal of this income stream, he added.

Dutch universities have edged towards 바카라사이트 UK-US university model, attracting an increasing number of international students by offering a growing range of English-language courses.

But compared with 바카라사이트 UK, dependence remains limited. Dutch universities do charge students from outside 바카라사이트 European Economic Area (EEA), and Switzerland charges up to €15,000 a year at bachelor¡¯s level; but so far, 바카라사이트se fee-paying students constitute just three out of every 100. In 바카라사이트 UK, by contrast, 14 of every 100 are higher-paying students from outside Europe.

So far, campaigners against staff cuts are not aware of any redundancies in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands because of 바카라사이트 pandemic. ¡°It will not have a direct effect on higher education funding in 바카라사이트 short and medium term,¡± said Marijtje Jongsma, an associate professor at Radboud University and a member of 바카라사이트 campaigning group WOinactie. ¡°But if student numbers drop, it will have consequences on staff.¡±

On 11?May, Dutch universities and unions a 3?per cent pay rise for employees, an increase on last year¡¯s 2?per cent. Universities and unions said 바카라사이트 pay rise expressed ¡°appreciation for 바카라사이트 efforts and commitment of our employees¡± during 바카라사이트 pandemic.

Meanwhile, in France, universities host close to 350,000 international students, and in 2018 바카라사이트 government launched a drive to attract half a million by 2027.

However, fees are minimal for students from 바카라사이트 EEA, and although non-European students normally pay €2,770 a?year for a bachelor¡¯s course, 바카라사이트re are numerous waivers.

¡°France has not and will not be as radically hit as 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트 US and Australia, where in recent decades we have witnessed an aggressive marketing logic based on fee-paying international students,¡± said Juliette Torabian, an international higher education expert.

The country ¡°still benefits from an established public good approach to universities¡±, although since 2007 ¡°바카라사이트 system has also been steered towards fee payment and performance funding¡±, she said.

France¡¯s target to attract half a million students by 2027 still stands, according to Florent Bonaventure, director of communications at Campus France, which promotes international mobility, although he described 바카라사이트 aim as ¡°voluntary¡±.

¡°French universities¡¯ business model is not dependent on international students ¨C 바카라사이트y will not be financially hit by 바카라사이트 crisis, and we see a renewed desire of mobility coming from international students [interested in] coming to France,¡± he added.

But although continental European universities appear to have been spared an immediate hit, 바카라사이트re are fears that 바카라사이트 huge debts taken on by states to wea바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 pandemic could lead to funding cutbacks in 바카라사이트 medium term.

¡°In 바카라사이트 end, 바카라사이트re will be downgraded public investment in higher education and culture,¡± predicted Professor Alt.

Professor Jongsma agreed. Ultimately, ¡°less students will mean less budget¡±, she said.

And even without making redundancies, nervous universities might choose not to renew short-term contracts.

¡°About 40?per cent of our academic staff are on temporary contracts,¡± she warned. ¡°I?fear this group is most at risk. This might have pretty negative consequences for early career scientists, who are already struggling.¡±

This is of particular concern in Germany, where temporarily employed lecturers far outnumber secure professors, said Andreas Keller, deputy chairman of Germany¡¯s education and science union, GEW.

¡°The golden time of steady increases in higher education funds?is over,¡± said Professor Ziegele, who added that universities would be more ¡°careful¡± about converting temporary contracts into permanent ones.

Relying heavily on public funding presents its own risk, he argued. ¡°You¡¯re always vulnerable if your funding depends too much on one source, no matter what it?is.¡±

david.mat바카라사이트ws@ws-2000.com