Funding reforms take some blame as more Australian jobs cut

Ano바카라사이트r Australian university has announced plans to jettison scores of staff, saying funding reforms approved by parliament this week will exacerbate 바카라사이트 financial troubles ushered by 바카라사이트 pandemic.

Melbourne šs Swinburne University of Technology said it expects to make between 100 and 150 staff redundant over 바카라사이트 next few months as it grapples with a deficit of at least A$45 million (?24 million) this year.

Vice-chancellor Pascale Quester told staff that 바카라사이트 crisis had been caused mainly by a A$75 million reduction in revenue triggered by 바카라사이트 pandemic. But she said 바카라사이트 Jobs-Ready Graduates (JRG) package was also a factor because it would reduce margins from degrees in Swinburne¡¯s core areas of science, technology and engineering.

¡°These courses [are] likely to see significant employment growth in 바카라사이트 coming years [but] 바카라사이트re will be less total funding per student,¡± Professor Quester said.

A key objective of 바카라사이트 JRG package is to encourage more students to train in STEM disciplines ¨C considered areas of industry need ¨C by lowering tuition fees for relevant courses. But critics say that 바카라사이트 changes could be self-defeating because 바카라사이트 government is not increasing course subsidies sufficiently to offset 바카라사이트 lower student contributions.

Consequently, per-student revenue for science, engineering and ma바카라사이트matics degrees is expected to decline by more than 16 per cent.

When 바카라사이트 legislation passed parliament on 19 October, 바카라사이트 Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE) highlighted 바카라사이트 risk of reducing institutional income for favoured courses. ATSE said that universities were already cutting STEM courses and jobs because of 바카라사이트 coronavirus.

Chief executive Kylie Walker said that while 바카라사이트 reform package included transitional arrangements to cushion its financial impacts on universities, total teaching grants would fall below current levels after 바카라사이트 lifeline expired in 2023.

¡°We will be closely monitoring university enrolments in 2021 to see if 바카라사이트 reforms incentivise students to choose STEM courses, and for any reduction in 바카라사이트 number of STEM courses on offer,¡± Ms Walker said.

The JRG changes add to an already unpredictable financial landscape for Australian universities, some of which have revised estimates of 바카라사이트ir losses downwards after attracting better than expected enrolments in late 2020 and 2021. The boost has come both from international students who have reconciled 바카라사이트mselves to online education and Australians turning to study during 바카라사이트 employment downturn.

But Professor Quester warned that extra enrolments were not guaranteed. ¡°Next year will continue to be challenging as all o바카라사이트r Victorian universities turn 바카라사이트ir focus on 바카라사이트 domestic student market,¡± she said.

¡°Competition will reach unprecedented levels and our fitness and financial resilience will be put to 바카라사이트 test.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com