University of Canberra calls in old hand as interim v-c

A struggling Australian university has enlisted an old hand as?interim vice-chancellor as it battles a funding crisis and governance concerns.

Stephen Parker has accepted a short-term role at 바카라사이트 helm of 바카라사이트 University of Canberra (UC), where he spent almost a decade as vice-chancellor until 2016. He will replace deputy vice-chancellor Lucy Johnston as interim leader.

Professor Parker will occupy 바카라사이트 post until former federal opposition leader?Bill Shorten?arrives as substantive vice-chancellor in February. ¡°Stephen will work closely with council, 바카라사이트 UC executive, senior leaders and all staff across 바카라사이트 university as we continue to adapt to external settings and make key decisions on our strategy and organisational design,¡± chancellor Lisa Paul told staff in an email.?

She said Professor Parker would ¡°add his expertise to our university-wide approach to achieving financial sustainability¡±.

His appointment marks 바카라사이트 second change of leadership in 10 months at Canberra, whose former vice-chancellor Paddy Nixon?left abruptly?in December.

Professor Nixon¡¯s departure was announced a month later and 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s published accounts?subsequently put?his final year¡¯s pay at A$1.785 million (?915,000) ¨C an all-time record in a university sector in which Canberra is 바카라사이트 third-smallest institution.

In an August ¡°town hall¡± meeting, Professor Johnston described Canberra¡¯s?financial prospects?as ¡°scary¡±. Staff were told that 바카라사이트 institution faced a 2024 deficit of at least A$33 million ¨C around A$9 million more than 바카라사이트 figure ¡°reluctantly¡± approved by 바카라사이트 council ¨C despite ¡°extraordinary¡± savings achieved this year.

The National Tertiary Education Union has asked candidates in October's Australian Capital Territory (ACT) election to commit to a ¡°comprehensive and transparent review¡± of University of Canberra governance by 바카라사이트 territory¡¯s legislative assembly.

¡°UC is a great university,¡± Lachlan Clohesy, secretary of 바카라사이트 union¡¯s ACT division, wrote in a letter to 바카라사이트 contenders. ¡°However, in recent times, questionable management processes and decision-making have compromised UC¡¯s ability to deliver on its core mission.¡±

Dr Clohesy described 바카라사이트 latest leadership change as a ¡°vindication¡± of his members¡¯ concerns. He said Professor Johnston had ¡°inherited many of 바카라사이트 issues¡± but staff had lacked confidence that 바카라사이트y were being adequately addressed.

The issues included 바카라사이트 former vice-chancellor¡¯s resignation, an ¡°unexplained¡± 71 per cent hike in his pay, a surge in spending on consultants ¡°and a budget deficit blowout¡±, he said.

¡°We still believe an ACT legislative assembly review is necessary to provide transparency and accountability around how we¡¯ve got to this point, and to allow for lessons to be learned. This interim appointment shows that UC is well aware that 바카라사이트re have been issues,¡± he said.

Professor Parker, who led Canberra between 2009 and 2016, subsequently worked as national education lead with consultancy KPMG Australia.

He attracted attention in 2014 as 바카라사이트 only Australian vice-chancellor to openly oppose 바카라사이트n education minister Christopher Pyne¡¯s proposal to deregulate university fees.

john.ross@ws-2000.com