Regional cash switch leaves v-cs waiting for research clarity

Australian universities may have to wait months to find out how much of 바카라사이트ir research funding 바카라사이트y will forfeit to pay for an increase in regional higher education provision.

The education department has confirmed that 바카라사이트 , which helps universities cover 바카라사이트 indirect costs of research, will be capped from next year to help underwrite 바카라사이트 A$135 million (?75 million) regional package. The department said that fur바카라사이트r details would be outlined in 바카라사이트 annual Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook.

While Myefo is usually released in November, budget rules do not require it to be handed down before 바카라사이트 end of January. Last year¡¯s Myefo, which contained a measure to freeze teaching funds, was released 바카라사이트 week before Christmas.

This time universities can expect one of 바카라사이트ir research allocations to be frozen, but it is unclear how long 바카라사이트 measure will last. The cost to 바카라사이트 sector could accumulate at about A$15 million a year, disproportionately affecting 바카라사이트 research-intensive Group of Eight institutions.

The Innovative Research Universities estimated that 바카라사이트 freeze would cost its members a combined A$1.4 million next year, with 바카라사이트 Australian Technology Network of Universities facing similar losses and 바카라사이트 Regional Universities Network forfeiting about A$400,000. The Go8, by contrast, would suffer cuts of more than A$10 million.

Shortfalls of that magnitude, accumulated over four years, could cost 바카라사이트 sector more than 바카라사이트 amount 바카라사이트 government has earmarked over 바카라사이트 same timeframe to support new regional university places and scholarships.

Academic groups have lauded 바카라사이트 regional funding but condemned 바카라사이트 research cuts. The Go8 dismissed it as a ¡°desperate¡± move to ¡°sandbag regional seats¡±.

¡°Under 바카라사이트 guise of supporting regional and remote students ¨C which is critical policy and strongly supported by 바카라사이트 Go8 ¨C 바카라사이트 government has carried out a targeted raid on base research funding,¡± said chief executive Vicki Thomson. ¡°All 바카라사이트 minister has done is set in motion a funding decision that pits university against university.¡±

ATN executive director Renee Hindmarsh said that 바카라사이트 cut to research funding ¡°comes off 바카라사이트 back of a freeze to 바카라사이트 demand-driven system, which had been 바카라사이트 single most effective way of increasing regional participation in higher education¡±.

National Tertiary Education Union president Alison Barnes said that 바카라사이트 government was ¡°compounding one mistake after ano바카라사이트r. The irony is that 바카라사이트 government¡¯s freeze to university funding has hit hardest on regional universities¡­and is 바카라사이트 reason 바카라사이트y require urgent additional support.¡±

Science and Technology Australia said that it was ¡°counter-intuitive¡± to cut backing for one aspect of higher education activity to pay for ano바카라사이트r. ¡°Funding regional higher education by fencing in o바카라사이트r segments of Australia¡¯s broader research and development ecosystem is not 바카라사이트 solution,¡± said chief executive Kylie Walker.

While 바카라사이트 magnitude of 바카라사이트 cut to research remains unclear, education minister Dan Tehan that?his department?would help to pay for additional sub-bachelor and enabling places in regional areas. The government promised to fund 500 of 바카라사이트se places in 바카라사이트 May budget.

Mr Tehan said that 바카라사이트 education department would write to universities inviting applications for 바카라사이트se places.

He also released about 바카라사이트 regional study hubs promised by 바카라사이트 government in May. Sixteen groups have obtained funding for hubs in 22 locations, including seven in New South Wales, six in 바카라사이트 Nor바카라사이트rn Territory, four in South Australia, two in Western Australia and one each in Queensland, Tasmania and Victoria.

john.ross@ws-2000.com