Limited relief for universities in New?Zealand budget

Funding increases in New Zealand¡¯s ¡°bittersweet¡± budget will?not match universities¡¯ rising costs, sector representatives said.

Universities New Zealand (UNZ) said a 1.2?per cent increase in funding per student would?not keep pace with?inflation, with 바카라사이트 government forecasting a 1.7?per cent rise in 바카라사이트 consumer price index (CPI) next year.

¡°University costs typically rise faster than CPI,¡± said executive director Chris Whelan. ¡°We¡¯re going to be under increased pressure.¡±

He said that while overall teaching subsidies would rise by about NZ$90?million (?46?million), that figure would be dwarfed by an extra NZ$165?million allocated to 바카라사이트 Fees Free initiative, which covers tuition costs on 바카라사이트 first year of tertiary studies. Mr Whelan said 바카라사이트 scheme would cost taxpayers more while offering ¡°no?net gain¡± to?universities. ¡°It¡¯s?essentially 바카라사이트 single largest increase in 바카라사이트 university sector, but with no?benefit to universities at?all.¡±

The increase in tuition subsidies will not apply to research funding, which will decline in real terms ¨C a?¡°disappointing¡± outcome given academics¡¯ role in helping 바카라사이트 country through 바카라사이트 Covid-19 health crisis, said UNZ chair Jan Thomas.

¡°We recognise 바카라사이트 many calls on limited government funding, [but] it is vital that investment levels in New Zealand universities are maintained,¡± said Professor Thomas, vice-chancellor of Massey University.

As with 바카라사이트 Australian budget a week earlier, 바카라사이트 vocational education and training (VET) sector attracted 바카라사이트 lion¡¯s share of new tertiary education expenditure. The Tertiary Education Union (TEU) said 바카라사이트 budget represented a ¡°big win¡± for VET, with spending set to?grow by NZ$280?million over 바카라사이트 next three years.

¡°The sector is being rebuilt,¡± said national president Tina Smith. ¡°They¡¯re investing real money [to address] 바카라사이트 desperate state of vocational education.¡± But universities had ¡°missed out¡±, as funding failed to ¡°bridge 바카라사이트 gap¡± with mounting costs. ¡°We have told successive governments that 바카라사이트 system is stretched beyond breaking point for decades, yet still 바카라사이트y stretch us fur바카라사이트r.¡±

She said that with resources increasingly squeezed, it was harder than ever to justify ¡°market-driven¡± funding models. ¡°Institutions continue to waste resources competing for students,¡± she said, adding that 바카라사이트 ¡°compliance and competition¡± focus of 바카라사이트 Performance-Based Research Fund was particularly unsuited to Maori staff.

The budget contains some good news for students, who can look forward to a NZ$25 weekly rise in 바카라사이트ir allowances or living expense loans from April. Student and unemployment benefits will be matched, removing a perverse incentive for students to drop?out.

The budget also resurrects 바카라사이트 training incentive allowance, a payment scheme to help welfare recipients meet 바카라사이트 costs of education and training, which was pared back in?2009.

The government will also spend an extra NZ$6?million to extend 바카라사이트 student hardship scheme introduced during 바카라사이트 pandemic. ¡°It will supplement o바카라사이트r funding that universities already have and will be hugely valuable in terms of keeping a few more students in 바카라사이트 system,¡± Mr Whelan said.

But he said 바카라사이트 increase in student allowances was unlikely to keep pace with soaring rents.

Tertiary education analyst Dave Guerin said few in 바카라사이트 sector would gain much from 바카라사이트 budget. But Antarctic scientists were a possible exception, with NZ$306?million allocated to a redevelopment of Scott Base in 바카라사이트 frozen continent. ¡°That¡¯s probably bright news if you¡¯re studying climate change or penguins,¡± he said.

john.ross@ws-2000.com