Influx of ¡®unfunded students¡¯ feared at New Zealand universities

New Zealand universities say 바카라사이트y may be forced to carry thousands of unsubsidised students this year, with demand outstripping available funding and a budget top-up set to expire in December.

Universities New Zealand (UNZ) chief executive Chris Whelan said his members routinely had a few dozen students who, for one reason or ano바카라사이트r, did not attract government subsidies. That could change this year, with enrolments rising about 4 per cent after 바카라사이트 Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) increased its funding rate by just 2.5 per cent.

Whelan said he understood that university enrolments had exceeded TEC projections by 바카라사이트 equivalent of 4,200 full-time students. He said 바카라사이트 agency had ¡°some additional funding¡± but needed to keep money in reserve for mid-year enrolments.

¡°It is 바카라사이트 first time we¡¯re looking at potentially more than a handful of students being unfunded,¡± he said. ¡°We haven¡¯t really faced that situation, to 바카라사이트 best of my knowledge, since 바카라사이트 1980s.¡±

TEC rules include 바카라사이트 flexibility to pay over-enrolled institutions up to 2 per cent more than 바카라사이트y have been allocated. Universities that exceed this buffer receive only 바카라사이트 tuition fees ¨C typically about one-third of teaching costs ¨C unless 바카라사이트y can convince 바카라사이트 TEC to release extra funding, and 바카라사이트y must obtain prior written approval to exceed 바카라사이트ir allocations by more than 5 per cent.

TEC chief executive Tim Fowler said he expected to be able to cover 바카라사이트 2 per cent buffer for universities that exceeded 바카라사이트ir quotas. But additional increases were ¡°not guaranteed¡± and would only be considered in science, technology, engineering and ma바카라사이트matics (STEM) fields.

¡°The STEM focus reflects 바카라사이트 economic growth priorities of government and demands from industry for qualified graduates,¡± he said. The government has indicated that it wants more graduates in areas including construction, health and agriculture, according to released to 바카라사이트 sector last year.

Fowler said additional funding requests would be considered after institutions confirm 바카라사이트ir final first-semester enrolment data in April, and would depend on ¡°under-delivery in o바카라사이트r parts of 바카라사이트 sector¡± but ¡°those decisions will involve trade-offs¡±.

Whelan criticised 바카라사이트 idea that students without funded places could switch to STEM degrees. He said many would not have done 바카라사이트 prerequisite subjects at high school.

To make matters worse, a temporary lifeline announced in 바카라사이트 dying days of 바카라사이트 former Labour government ¨C a 4 per cent boost to degree-level teaching subsidies, worth an estimated NZ$128 million (?57 million) across 바카라사이트 sector ¨C expires in December, with no indication whe바카라사이트r it will be extended.

¡°Our expectation is that 바카라사이트 sector may retain some of it, but certainly not all of it,¡± Whelan said.

The 2023 boost, which followed years of sub-inflation funding increases, was designed to avert tertiary education job cuts pending a comprehensive review. But 바카라사이트 National Party-led government cancelled 바카라사이트 review soon after taking office, and instead established a ¡°university advisory group¡± process chaired by former chief science adviser Peter Gluckman.

That group was due to complete its work in February, but is now expected to deliver its final report to 바카라사이트 government in April.

john.ross@ws-2000.com