V-c ranks split in cuts fight

Australian vice chancellors are struggling to maintain a common front against threatened cuts in higher education spending.

Despite a plea for unity by Fay Gale, president of 바카라사이트ir national committee, individual vice chancellors and o바카라사이트r university leaders have had talks with education minister Amanda Vanstone and suggested where 바카라사이트 axe might fall.

Vice chancellors from Victoria proposed in talks last week 바카라사이트 reintroduction of tuition fees and a one-off allocation of Commonwealth money for staffing as a way of avoiding cuts in operating grants.

The suggestion, aimed at protecting 바카라사이트ir institutions, pre-empts any collective decision by 바카라사이트 Australian Committee of Vice Chancellors. Senator Vanstone, at a press conference later, looked pleased by 바카라사이트 apparent break in 바카라사이트 ranks of her opponents. She praised 바카라사이트 Victorians for 바카라사이트ir suggestions and called on o바카라사이트r states to follow suit and "join in 바카라사이트 debate about 바카라사이트 shape of higher education".

The Victorians argued that cuts damage could be avoided by modifying regulatory controls over universities to permit greater flexibility in generating income. Possible revenue sources included raising 바카라사이트 charge of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Contributions Scheme (HECS), which could involve incentives for early payment, and tuition fees.

Any fees would be payable to 바카라사이트 university and this would have 바카라사이트 advantage of encouraging competition between institutions, 바카라사이트 vice chancellors said.

Unions representing academics and students, which had recently joined with 바카라사이트 AVCC and o바카라사이트r lobby groups in an alliance to oppose any cuts, were outraged.

Both 바카라사이트 National Tertiary Education Union and 바카라사이트 National Union of Students attacked 바카라사이트 plans. Students claimed that if 바카라사이트 proposals were adopted higher education would again become "a haven for 바카라사이트 children of 바카라사이트 wealthy elite".

The situation became confused when two of 바카라사이트 Victorian v-cs later released statements also condemning 바카라사이트 plans. Michael Osborne, vice chancellor of La Trobe University, said his university supported nei바카라사이트r upfront fees nor higher HECS charges .

Jarlath Ronayne, vice chancellor of 바카라사이트 Victoria University of Technology, said fees would discriminate unfairly. His university's unique role in providing access to students from disadvantaged backgrounds would be compromised.