ONE-OFF INITIATIVES WELCOME BUT BUDGET MISSES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR LONG TERM INVESTMENT IN UNIS
May 8, 2006
The one-off funding initiatives for universities in tomorrow night’s budget, while welcome, appear to be at the expense of a more systematic and longer- term investment strategy for higher education, the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) said on Monday.
“NTEU welcomes the significant one-off funding initiatives for universities and our research community announced so far for tomorrow night’s budget,” said NTEU President, Dr Carolyn Allport.
“We are concerned that this budget completely misses the opportunity to use our healthy surplus in a more systematic and sustainable manner to address critical skills shortages in a number of professions, and better assist our national innovation system and universities.”
“Among the measures expected to be announced tomorrow night which NTEU supports are $400 million in funding over four years to the National Health and Medical Research Council, and a series of one-off capital expenditure projects to universities.”
“Doubling the number of education scholarships we offer to the Asia-Pacific region and the $1.5 million in extra funding to scientists undertaking collaborative research with China, represent much needed increases in our higher education engagement with Asia.”
“NTEU has previously welcomed the decision, announced by the Prime Minister at the Council of Australian Governments meeting in February, to spend $250 million over four years for extra university places for 250 doctors and nurses by 2009.”
“Many of these initiatives appear to be narrowly targeted, however, and it is unclear from what has been announced so far whether they will enable universities to keep pace with the high compliance costs arising from the large number of higher education changes being undertaken by the Federal Government.”
“For example, while the budget includes $70 million in funding to help universities cope with the introduction of voluntary student unionism, this will come nowhere near covering the financial shortfall created by forbidding universities from charging students a universal services and amenities fee.”
“Although the provision of high quality student services is expensive, these are essential to the international competitiveness of our universities.”
“NTEU will also be keenly watching whether the budget provides essential funds to assist universities with the introduction of the Government’s research assessment exercise,” said Dr Allport.
“Without this funding, universities are uncertain whether the financial benefits of the scheme will be offset by the high compliance costs of taking part in it.”
Information and Comment:
Dr Carolyn Allport, NTEU President: (03) 9254
1910
Andrew Nette, NTEU
Policy and Research Coordinator: (03) 9254 1910