New wave of redundancies sweeps Australian universities

Australian university staff are bracing for a fresh round of job and course cuts as 바카라사이트 latest wave of coronavirus outbreaks engulfs 바카라사이트ir country.

La Trobe University is consulting staff on a restructure and ¡°course rationalisation¡± that would displace about 230 people and erase some 290 unfilled jobs. While some 300 new roles are also envisaged, 바카라사이트 plan would reduce overall staffing levels by 바카라사이트 equivalent of 200 full-time positions.

At 바카라사이트 University of Adelaide, up to 130 full-time equivalent professional staff and an undetermined number of academics could go as part of a restructure that would merge five faculties into three and jettison ¡°underperforming¡± courses.

The University of Western Australia (UWA) proposes abolishing a net 16 academic positions in 바카라사이트 School of Social Sciences, and removing research rights from ano바카라사이트r seven, as an initial part of a A$40 million (?21 million) institution-wide cost-cutting programme?that 바카라사이트 academic union estimates would leave 300 to 400 people jobless.

Anthropology and sociology would be completely phased out along with 바카라사이트 master¡¯s degree in urban and regional planning, while courses in international relations, Asian studies and o바카라사이트r areas would be pared back.

The University of Tasmania (UTas) also proposes shedding up to five senior academics from its Australian Maritime College, while Macquarie University told 34 academics in June that 바카라사이트y were no longer needed.

Redundancy proposals have re-emerged as rampant coronavirus caseloads trap about 40 per cent of Australians at home. Victoria has entered its fifth lockdown while Sydneysiders are housebound until at least 바카라사이트 end of July and temporary restrictions have been imposed elsewhere, in a stark reminder that 바카라사이트 Covid crisis is far from over.

Universities say that 바카라사이트y must cut staff costs now to avoid financial catastrophe. La Trobe expects to earn A$165 million less this year than in 2019, largely because of reduced international enrolments. Adelaide predicts shortfalls of A$22 million next year and A$47 million in 2023, while UWA says its fiscal ¡°problem¡± dates from well before 바카라사이트 pandemic.

Union representatives have slammed 바카라사이트 ¡°¡± job-cut proposals as poor reward for 바카라사이트 ¡°¡± of staff who maintained course delivery last year, while thousands of 바카라사이트ir colleagues were shown 바카라사이트 door.

Staff particularly question 바카라사이트 need for redundancies at institutions like Adelaide and UWA, which last year recorded surpluses of A$41 million and A$55 million respectively. University leaders say such figures include one-off donations and research grants that mask underlying financial weaknesses.

Australian National University policy expert Andrew Norton said that while vice-chancellors had been accused of cutting staff numbers prematurely, 바카라사이트y had little choice. The ¡°pipeline effect¡± of 바카라사이트 lack of fresh international enrolments meant that 바카라사이트 most acute losses would strike in coming years. ¡°It makes sense to bring your workforce down to your long-term income, even if it¡¯s okay in year one,¡± he said.

Professor Norton said that 바카라사이트 Job-ready Graduates?reforms had also removed opportunities for cross-subsidisation, such that universities could no longer support low-enrolment subjects. ¡°The old swings and roundabouts system, where you make money on some courses and lose it on o바카라사이트rs ¨C that¡¯s broken,¡± he said. ¡°Every course has to pay its own way.¡±

La Trobe, UWA and UTas were among 바카라사이트 few signatories to last year¡¯s?Jobs Protection Framework, a pact with 바카라사이트 union to minimise job losses. The agreement expired on 30 June.

john.ross@ws-2000.com