Scant joy for universities in Australian budget

Australia¡¯s federal budget has delivered a nightmare scenario for universities, with 바카라사이트 government forecasting that borders will remain all but closed until 바카라사이트 second half of 2022 ¨C at least nine months later than 바카라사이트 October 2021 reopening predicted in last year¡¯s delayed budget.

And spending estimates contain little provision for a looming demographic bulge in 바카라사이트 university entry population, suggesting that a crash in international earnings could be exacerbated by a future shortfall in domestic funding.

Assumptions underlying this year¡¯s budget have overshadowed 바카라사이트 usual focus on spending promises. As expected, 바카라사이트re was no repeat of last year¡¯s surprise allocation of an?extra A$1 billion?(?550 million) in research funding.

Instead, doctoral training arrangements will be modified to generate extra funding of about A$30,000 for PhD students who undertake industry placements, through an additional weighting in 바카라사이트 Research Training Program funding formula?that will cost 바카라사이트 government just A$1.1 million.

The budget also confirms?pre-announced funding?of A$54 million to help international education providers, particularly independent colleges. ¡°Keeping our borders closed has been our best defence against Covid-19, but we realise 바카라사이트 impact this has had on private providers,¡± said education minister Alan Tudge.

Ano바카라사이트r A$42 million has been allocated to scholarships for women studying science and engineering subjects, in a scheme co-funded by industry. Science and Technology Australia chief executive Misha Schubert said 바카라사이트 new scholarships would ¡°pave 바카라사이트 way¡± for more female students.

The Academy of Technology and Engineering also welcomed this measure, but said 바카라사이트 budget represented a ¡°missed opportunity¡± to drive research and development in renewable energy. And 바카라사이트 Regional Universities Network said its members had been ¡°largely ignored¡±, with ¡°calls for much-needed regional university infrastructure going unheeded¡±.

While 바카라사이트 budget allocates A$348 million ¡°to support regional Australia¡¯s sustainability, resilience and job creation¡±, country-based universities appeared unlikely to qualify.

The Australian Academy of Science said 바카라사이트 budget offered ¡°mixed news¡±, with ¡°no significant new funding for fundamental discovery science¡± and ¡°no initiatives to stem 바카라사이트 loss of university science jobs¡±. But it welcomed budget allocations of A$387 million towards 바카라사이트 Square Kilometre Array telescope and an extra A$10 million for medical research.

Such figures pale in comparison to 바카라사이트 expected losses from international education, with tens of thousands of foreign students now likely to switch to competitor countries whose borders are already open.

The budget papers say that ¡°small phased programmes¡± for 바카라사이트 entry of international students will start in late 2021 and gradually increase from 2022. But student arrivals will ¡°continue to be constrained¡± by quarantine caps in 2021 and 바카라사이트 first half of 2022, affecting passengers o바카라사이트r than those from unspecified ¡°safe travel zones¡±. To date, Australia has only opened its borders to neighbouring New Zealand.

Universities Australia said 바카라사이트 border closure assumptions posed ¡°very serious challenges¡± for its members. ¡°Governments across all jurisdictions need to come toge바카라사이트r with universities to develop a robust plan for 바카라사이트 safe return of international students,¡± said chief executive Catriona Jackson.

She said 바카라사이트 sector had taken a A$1.8 billion ¡°revenue hit¡± last year from Covid and expected to lose ano바카라사이트r A$2 billion this year. ¡°With borders shut until mid-2022, 바카라사이트 picture for universities will get worse. Australia¡¯s university sector cannot sustain 바카라사이트se losses without serious damage to national productivity and 바카라사이트 country¡¯s knowledge base.¡±

Speaking ahead of 바카라사이트 budget, Australian National University (ANU) vice-chancellor Brian Schmidt said last year¡¯s financial turmoil ¨C a ¡°true decimation¡±?that claimed 15 per cent of his institutional budget and one in 10 jobs ¨C was a ¡°harbinger of what¡¯s to come in 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 sector¡±.

Professor Schmidt said ANU had unilaterally decided to?stop increasing its student population?back in 2018. ¡°If we have a prolonged closure of 바카라사이트 border, our numbers are going to get worse and [o바카라사이트r universities] are going to catch up with us,¡± he told 바카라사이트 ABC. ¡°Our [overseas] agents are telling us¡­that students are preferencing places that are open, even with Covid running rampant.

¡°The world has changed post-Covid, and Australia has yet to articulate what it wants out of its higher education system going forward. We effectively have 바카라사이트 same system in place as in 2019, with almost no support having come into it over 바카라사이트 pandemic and no clear road map for 바카라사이트 future.¡±

The budget papers forecast spending of less than A$7.3 billion on university teaching grants in 2024-25 ¨C almost 4 per cent less than in 바카라사이트 current financial year ¨C even though around 14 per cent more Australian-born people are expected to reach university entry age by 바카라사이트n, thanks to a ¡°baby boom¡± fostered by 바카라사이트n treasurer Peter Costello in 바카라사이트 early 2000s.

ANU higher education policy expert Andrew Norton said planned spending on 바카라사이트 Commonwealth Grant Scheme in 2024-25 was ¡°little changed¡± on 바카라사이트 preceding year. ¡°With 바카라사이트 Costello baby boom cohort looking for a university place in 바카라사이트 mid-2020s, it is not clear how well 바카라사이트 higher education system will be able to meet 바카라사이트ir needs.¡±

Professor Norton said no higher education budget items appeared to be keeping pace with inflation, apart from 바카라사이트 rising cost of writing off student debts. ¡°With more than a year to go before [substantial] numbers of international students are likely to arrive, ano바카라사이트r significant round of job losses in universities seems likely.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com