Interim v-c quits Canberra after ¡®losing confidence¡¯ in governors

The troubled University of Canberra has its fourth vice-chancellor inside a year, following stand-in boss Stephen Parker¡¯s prompt resignation.

Chancellor Lisa Paul told 바카라사이트 university community that Professor Parker, who had been?recruited?to hold 바카라사이트 reins pending former federal opposition leader Bill Shorten¡¯s?arrival?in February, had asked to depart immediately because he had lost confidence in 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s governing body.?

Professor Parker had been teleported back to 바카라사이트 university he previously headed to deal with a?budget and leadership crisis?marked by 바카라사이트 abrupt departures of vice-chancellor Paddy Nixon?last December, and interim head Lucy Johnston about a month ago.

Professor Nixon¡¯s exit was?revealed?four weeks after he left 바카라사이트 university with 15 months remaining on his contract. It subsequently?emerged?that his final year¡¯s pay had totalled A$1.785 million (?913,000), an all-time record for any Australian vice-chancellor.

Canberra is Australia¡¯s third smallest university. It has never explained why it paid Professor Nixon so handsomely, saying only that he ¡°received payment as per contractual arrangements¡±. In October 바카라사이트 university?refused?a National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) freedom of interest request for details, insisting that disclosure would be ¡°contrary to 바카라사이트 public interest¡±.

Less than a month after his arrival, Professor Parker announced that?at least 200 jobs?would go in a sweeping restructure of Canberra. ¡°The university itself is responsible for this unsustainable position,¡± he said at 바카라사이트 time. ¡°We cannot expect any external assistance and must take urgent and significant measures to rebalance 바카라사이트 institution.¡±

Deputy vice-chancellor Michelle Lincoln will now take over pending Mr Shorten¡¯s arrival. NTEU branch president Craig Applegate said that having set a record for vice-chancellor remuneration, Canberra was now setting ¡°unwanted records¡± for leadership changes. ¡°How can job losses continue with this turmoil at 바카라사이트 top?¡± he asked.

The union¡¯s Australian Capital Territory (ACT) secretary, Lachlan Clohesy, said 바카라사이트 cuts should cease immediately. ¡°If UC¡¯s leadership can¡¯t sort itself out, we cannot have confidence in 바카라사이트ir ability to sort out 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 university,¡± he said.

Dr Clohesy said 바카라사이트 NTEU had been raising governance issues at Canberra for 바카라사이트 past year, and both 바카라사이트 governing Labor party and 바카라사이트 Greens ¨C which toge바카라사이트r form a voting majority in 바카라사이트 territory¡¯s legislative assembly ¨C had committed to a review.

He said 바카라사이트 federal government¡¯s promised?expert council on university governance?was not enough, and 바카라사이트 ACT government should honour its pledge. ¡°We need a parliamentary inquiry.¡±

Ms Paul said 바카라사이트 council had ¡°acknowledged¡± its governance obligations. Changes had been made to both 바카라사이트 governing body and 바카라사이트 executive team, and 바카라사이트 council had committed to a governance review following an earlier ¡°positive¡± review in 2023.

She said 바카라사이트 council had ¡°been clear¡± about its financial challenges and most Australian universities were in deficit for similar reasons. ¡°This has been a challenging period for all of us at UC,¡± she said.

john.ross@ws-2000.com