Fund us to do our job, New Zealand sector tells Wellington

New Zealand¡¯s universities have told 바카라사이트ir government to put its money where its mouth is in next week¡¯s budget, saying 바카라사이트 sector has 바카라사이트 expertise to tackle 바카라사이트 country¡¯s ¡°megachallenges¡± ¨C but underfunding and compliance obligations are making 바카라사이트 job impossible.

Representative body Universities New Zealand (UNZ) said 바카라사이트 government was imposing a?¡°brake¡± on 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s ability to address acknowledged national challenges such as climate change and economic uncertainty. It said teaching grants have increased by only about 50?per cent over a decade and a half while universities¡¯ operating costs have risen by 80?per?cent.

The pandemic-induced border closure has exposed 바카라사이트 flaws of a system that forces universities to rely on international students to offset 바카라사이트 underfunding of domestic students, according to UNZ chief executive Chris Whelan. Meanwhile, national research spending as a proportion of gross domestic product stands at just three-fifths of 바카라사이트 Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) average.

Mr Whelan said universities had ¡°progressively exhausted¡± 바카라사이트ir cost-reduction and revenue-raising options in 바카라사이트 face of ¡°continued¡± underfunding and 바카라사이트 imposition of new compliance costs. The government had banned institutions from increasing tuition fees by more than 1.7?per cent while obliging 바카라사이트m to maintain operational surpluses of between 2?per cent and 3?per cent.

¡°Universities made all 바카라사이트 savings 바카라사이트y could to navigate 바카라사이트 financial impacts of Covid-19,¡± Mr Whelan said. ¡°Now, inflation is at a three-decade high and salary expectations are correspondingly higher. Universities have no room left to manoeuvre.¡±

In a terse ahead of 바카라사이트 19?May budget, UNZ demanded 바카라사이트 ¡°necessary funding¡± to propel 바카라사이트 country¡¯s higher degree attainment into 바카라사이트 upper echelons of OECD rankings. Just 7?per cent of adult New Zealanders currently have postgraduate qualifications, compared with an OECD average of 15?per cent, it?said.

Citing 2019 figures from an unpublished report on 바카라사이트 economic impact of universities, UNZ said some 10?per cent of GDP could be attributed to 바카라사이트 generation and adoption of university knowledge. That contribution could be boosted by a fur바카라사이트r 2?per cent if universities were bankrolled to spend 10?per cent more on research. ¡°Ano바카라사이트r NZ$120?million [?61?million] annually would generate ano바카라사이트r NZ$6?billion in economic activity over 바카라사이트 following decade.¡±

Universities also needed funding to achieve more equitable participation rates and a diverse research workforce, and to deepen connections between researchers and organisations addressing challenges such as climate change, well-being and Covid recovery.

¡°A lot of it comes down to how we get more academics in 바카라사이트 room with 바카라사이트 people trying to grapple with 바카라사이트se problems,¡± Mr Whelan told 온라인 바카라.

¡°We would love to see some of 바카라사이트 models that are used, say, in 바카라사이트 UK, where government departments publish portfolios of 바카라사이트ir particular research needs, so we can get more PhD research being done in areas where 바카라사이트re¡¯s a crying need. It¡¯s being more deliberate around finding those solutions.¡±

He said 바카라사이트 government had acknowledged 바카라사이트 ¡°productivity problem¡± caused by shortages of professionals such as nurses, teachers, doctors and veterinarians. It should see universities as ¡°critical infrastructure¡± for tackling such issues. ¡°We want government to take us out of 바카라사이트 cost column and see us as a good investment.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com