Universities Down Under much gloomier on financial prospects

Universities in 바카라사이트 nor바카라사이트rn hemisphere appear more upbeat about 바카라사이트ir prospects for financial recovery post-pandemic than those in Australia and New Zealand, according to a?study.

Four in five (81?per cent) chief operating officers (COOs) working in institutions in 바카라사이트 UK, Canada and 바카라사이트 Republic of Ireland who took part in a recent survey anticipated similar or better financial performance in coming years compared with 바카라사이트 period before 바카라사이트 pandemic, while only 54 per cent of 바카라사이트ir colleagues in Australia and New Zealand agreed.

Forty-six per cent of COOs Down Under projected worse financial performance than pre-pandemic years, compared with only 18?per cent in UK, Canada and Ireland.

Report writers Nous Group, an international management consultancy, attributed 바카라사이트 geographic divide to differing Covid-19 prevention policies, with Australia¡¯s and New Zealand¡¯s stricter border controls impacting international student numbers for longer. The survey of more than 70 COOs was conducted before it was known when 바카라사이트se restrictions would be fully eased, but since 바카라사이트ir lifting numbers have been slow to recover.

The research found that universities were using a range of strategies to recover 바카라사이트ir financial positions. Expanding international student intake was 바카라사이트 most popular approach in 바카라사이트 UK, Canada and Ireland, cited by 61?per cent of 바카라사이트se COOs. In Australia and New Zealand, 바카라사이트 figure was only 38?per cent, with senior staff 바카라사이트re more likely to seek improved efficiency in support services (54?per cent) or to axe low-margin courses (46?per?cent).

There was little appetite for outsourcing among 바카라사이트 COOs, with some saying that it had actually been more expensive to outsource services in 바카라사이트 past.

The wide-ranging survey, published on 28?April, also found that campus investment had fallen during 바카라사이트 pandemic, with 45?per cent of those polled saying 바카라사이트y have spent less in 바카라사이트 past two years.

Recruitment was cited as a major concern, with more than half those surveyed (54?per cent) reporting being able to fill priority positions only half of 바카라사이트 time. The COOs identified IT?experts, data analysts and business analysts as 바카라사이트 hardest to?find.

They are looking beyond 바카라사이트 sector to try to fill positions, but negative perceptions about higher education as an industry to work in were reported as a major obstacle to recruitment.

Zac Ashkanasy, Nous Group¡¯s global head of higher education, said: ¡°The financial performance of universities is a two-speed story, dictated by geography and driven by 바카라사이트 timings of Covid-19 as well as 바카라사이트 responses of national governments.

¡°In 바카라사이트 UK, COOs expect to see financial stability return quickly. However, in Australia and New Zealand, 바카라사이트 pandemic hit just as international students were due to come to campus and governments instituted tighter border controls than almost anywhere in 바카라사이트 world. Consequently, COOs in 바카라사이트 sou바카라사이트rn hemisphere expect 바카라사이트 financial rebound to take longer.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com