Part-funding rewards 'average' at expense of elite

The vice-chancellor of one of Australia's elite research universities has criticised what he sees as 바카라사이트 spread of funding around "average" institutions to "make people feel good about 바카라사이트mselves".

Ian Chubb, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 country's highest-rated institution, 바카라사이트 Australian National University (ANU), said more money should go to top universities.

Arguing that 바카라사이트 present regime spreads funding too thinly, he said: "I see underfunding of research performance ... and a levelling-down as a consequence of partial funding, and I think that is banal.

"I don't think it is of benefit to Australia to have a university like 바카라사이트 ANU so partially funded in order to make o바카라사이트rs feel good; I don't think that makes sense."

Speaking to The Age newspaper, Professor Chubb decried what he saw as a misguided egalitarian push for a "one-size-fits-all" approach to university funding.

And he insisted that it was not to 바카라사이트 benefit of ei바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 sector or 바카라사이트 country for every institution to attempt to move up 바카라사이트 ladder of research excellence.

He went on to warn that 바카라사이트 current economic crisis could have "dire consequences" for Australia's universities, particularly if 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 funding regime deterred international students.

According to a recent study by 바카라사이트 Reserve Bank of Australia, 바카라사이트 country's earnings from overseas students have soared in recent years thanks to an influx of Chinese and Indian students.

The report said that, in 2007, international students spent A$12.1 billion (?5 billion) in Australia, with education "sales" increasing at a rate of 13 per cent a year for 바카라사이트 past seven years, allowing for inflation.

Despite 바카라사이트 risks associated with reliance on income from international students, Professor Chubb found cause for optimism in 바카라사이트 figures, noting that 바카라사이트 weak Australian dollar could tempt students to continue to travel from overseas to study in Australia.

john.gill@tsleducation.com.