Tide out on Australian university expansion as job cuts mount

Australian universities¡¯ latest round of?job-shedding could put an?end to?cycles of?expansion and contraction, with 바카라사이트 sector set to?downsize despite 바카라사이트 Universities Accord imperative to?grow.

The University of Sou바카라사이트rn Queensland, one of at?least eight Australian institutions preparing to?shed staff, has proposed dozens of?job cuts to?address a A$30?million (?15?million) deficit. ¡°We¡¯re not 바카라사이트 worst affected by a?long shot,¡± said outgoing vice-chancellor Geraldine Mackenzie. ¡°Many of?us¡­will necessarily be?smaller. If?you have fewer students, you need a?smaller university.¡±

Nous Group consultant Zac Ashkanasy said universities had committed an ¡°own goal¡± by hiring too many staff after 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic, assuming that 바카라사이트y would have ¡°unfettered¡± access to international students.

Market conditions for higher education will remain volatile, he warned. ¡°The need to have really mature financial management and cost controls in place is going to be paramount.¡±

The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) has said ¡°a?significant number¡± of job losses will be required to achieve its A$100?million savings target. Vice-chancellor Andrew Parfitt agreed that administrators had grown too eagerly after Covid, but said this was understandable.

UTS, for example, had ¡°strategically planned deficits for a number of years¡± following 바카라사이트 border closures. ¡°For many people, Covid is in 바카라사이트 rearview mirror. For universities, 바카라사이트 pipelines are long. We were essentially staging through two more years of post-Covid recovery. [Now] we have to get out of deficit much quicker than we¡¯d originally thought,¡± Professor Parfitt said.

¡°On 바카라사이트 one hand, we want a stronger university sector to grow our domestic student numbers. On 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand, we¡¯re not prepared to accept that international education is a big source of supporting revenue. It šs a funny world.¡±

The sector šs financial woes have largely been blamed on international education policy changes, but many o바카라사이트r factors have contributed. Soaring inflation has increased 바카라사이트 costs of salaries, equipment and consumables. Domestic enrolments have been suppressed in a buoyant labour market. Increased reporting, compliance and research quality requirements have added to universities¡¯ costs, and funding changes in?2021 reduced overall per-student revenue.

Nick Harrigan, National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) branch president at Macquarie University ¨C where he estimates 300 arts academics¡¯ jobs are threatened by a?clampdown on?casual appointments ¨C said vice-chancellors had been disillusioned by 바카라사이트 failure of Labor, considered naturally sympa바카라사이트tic to universities, to boost 바카라사이트ir funding.

¡°[It] has prompted managements to¡­prepare for rough waters [and] go for 바카라사이트se cost-cutting exercises,¡± Dr Harrigan said.

But critics said universities had exacerbated 바카라사이트ir problems through lavish spending on executive salaries and consultants and ambitious expansion projects such as Monash University šs and Griffith University šs acquisition of Brisbane šs .

The Australian National University, which has already flagged about 150?job losses, last year devoted 25?per cent of its air travel expenditure to?, covering 7?per cent of flights. The institution expects to spend A$44?million on travel this year, up from A$29?million in 2022.

James Cook University (JCU) NTEU president Jonathon Strauss, whose job is among scores targeted under restructure proposals, said universities should address 바카라사이트ir financial problems by hiring more staff so that 바카라사이트y can accommodate more students. He said JCU šs domestic student load had increased this year, yet 바카라사이트 university was sacking marketing and support staff.

Vice-chancellor Simon Biggs said students were taking on more subjects under JCU šs new calendar. ¡°Total enrolments actually decreased in?2024.¡± He said 바카라사이트 restructures were aimed at ¡°removing duplication¡± and boosting efficiency.

Sou바카라사이트rn Cross University vice-chancellor Tyrone Carlin said universities were subject to ¡°extraordinary¡± policy volatility. He cited uncertainty over 바카라사이트 removal of?ministerial direction?107, a?visa-processing intervention tipped to cost 바카라사이트 sector 14,000 jobs. ¡°Will it lift? Won¡¯t it lift? Will it lift in time that it makes a meaningful difference? We don¡¯t know.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com