Stop the South-West brain drain
24 October 2001
Staff at Edith Cowan University (Bunbury) have expressed their concern about a regional brain drain, as some local students may have to leave the area because of cuts to Federal university funding.
From next year, courses in Marketing and Psychology will no longer be available at ECU Bunbury for new students as a result of the Federal Government's failure to provide adequate funding for universities. These units will be phased out, meaning that current students will have a limited time-frame in which to complete courses.
Bunbury student Adrian Barrett will be forced to head to Perth next year to study as a result of the options necessary to complete his course being limited at ECU's Bunbury campus. It's not a choice that he wants to make.
`I would much prefer to finish my studies here, where I'm close to friends and family, than be forced to relocate to Perth to finish a course I've already started,' he said. `I'm also forced to quit my job, and sell my car in order to afford the costs of relocation and studying in Perth.'
ECU NTEU Branch representative Dr Lorna Kaino said that ECU did a great job in meeting the needs of South-West people, but its capacity to do so is suffering because of funding shortfalls.
`South-West people want their children to be able to study here, and the South-West needs the capacity to educate its own professionals. More than 600 students leave the region every year to study. We can't afford to lose our talent like this.'
Dr Kaino said that she hoped all parties would increase their funding commitment to universities in the run-up to the Federal Election.
`Every dollar that the Government invests in education means more jobs in the community,' she said. `The Howard Government's track record on this score is appalling. ECU Bunbury needs to be recognized as a regional university campus, and receive funding according to the community's needs.'ion, NTU Campus.