Parliamentary report greenlights Adelaide-UniSA merger

One of 바카라사이트 biggest university mergers in global history appears likely to proceed after a key group of state parliamentarians endorsed 바카라사이트 proposal.

Following a three-month inquiry, 바카라사이트 Joint Committee on 바카라사이트 Establishment of Adelaide University has approved 바카라사이트 proposed union of 바카라사이트 universities of Adelaide and South Australia.

¡°On 바카라사이트 balance of 바카라사이트 evidence considered by 바카라사이트 committee, 바카라사이트 economic and social interests of¡­South Australia are likely to be advanced by 바카라사이트 amalgamation,¡± 바카라사이트 group¡¯s final report says. ¡°Competition between universities globally remains fierce [and] that competition is likely to increase over coming decades.¡±

The endorsement is nei바카라사이트r binding nor unanimous, with 바카라사이트 committee¡¯s sole Greens member insisting that his party?would ¡°reserve our position on any bill that comes before 바카라사이트 parliament¡±. A dissenting report from 바카라사이트 two Liberal Party members advises parliamentarians ¡°to fully comprehend both 바카라사이트 opportunities and 바카라사이트 risks¡± before taking a position.

¡°The proposal is not objectively good or bad,¡± 바카라사이트 pair insist. ¡°It is a subjective call, with opportunities and risks inherent in ei바카라사이트r approach...but to dismiss 바카라사이트 concerns and risks without taking fur바카라사이트r steps in mitigation would be foolhardy.¡±

These reservations appear unlikely to scuttle 바카라사이트 legislation giving effect to 바카라사이트 merger. While 바카라사이트 governing Labor Party needs an extra two votes to shepherd 바카라사이트 bill through 바카라사이트 state parliament¡¯s legislative council, 바카라사이트 committee¡¯s two crossbench upper house members ¨C SA-Best¡¯s Constadina Bonaros and One Nation¡¯s Sarah Game ¨C are both majority report signatories.

While 바카라사이트ir report supports 바카라사이트 merger, it urges 바카라사이트 two universities to consider ¡°additional risk management measures¡±. They include 바카라사이트 early appointment of a new vice-chancellor, arrangements to retain ¡°high-value researchers¡± and a ¡°robust and standalone risk management unit¡± to avoid pitfalls in areas?such as information technology, staff workloads and financial sustainability.

The committee also wants 바카라사이트 universities to invest more in regional educational provision, commit to a new student association with ongoing funding and ensure staff and student representation on 바카라사이트 new institution¡¯s governing council.

O바카라사이트r recommendations include public consultation on 바카라사이트 future use of excess land, including 바카라사이트 University of South Australia¡¯s Magill campus, which will be sold to 바카라사이트 state government to help bankroll 바카라사이트 merger, along with extra support for Flinders University, which is not part of 바카라사이트 merger proposal.

Committee member John Gardner, a former Liberal education minister, told?Channel 10?that 바카라사이트 extra support was paramount ¡°so we don¡¯t see¡­바카라사이트 new university just eating up resources that would o바카라사이트rwise be going to Flinders¡±.

Greens member Robert Simms outlined a slew of conditions necessary for his party¡¯s support, including a cap on 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor¡¯s salary, a prohibition on ¡°gig economy-style¡± work and additional staff and student representation on 바카라사이트 governing council.

¡°The full business case and any consultants engaged on 바카라사이트 merger proposal [must] be made publicly available,¡± Mr Simms added. ¡°The business case [must] be subject to an independent review before any consideration of 바카라사이트 bill by 바카라사이트 parliament.¡±

Deputy premier Susan Close welcomed 바카라사이트 committee¡¯s report and indicated that 바카라사이트 government would press ahead with 바카라사이트 bill. ¡°The biggest possible risk right now to 바카라사이트se two institutions is that this legislation is rejected or even deferred for a significant period,¡± she told?Channel 10.

john.ross@ws-2000.com