Deakin change a threat to jobs

Resources to move

ACADEMICS say a broad push is under way at Deakin to transfer more resources from Waurn Ponds to Burwood, with job losses to take place.

Proposed cuts to the arts faculty flagged this week would result in consolidating five majors into two, impacting more than 70 students.

Sources have told the Geelong Advertiser that Deakin has taken the “Warrnambool option” with the faculty, taking resources from the regional campuses in order to invest more in Burwood.

Deakin vice-chancellor Jane den Hollander flagged closure of the Warrnambool campus last year but reversed the decision after an 11th-hour financial intervention from the Federal Government.

The Burwood campus has grown from 24,201 students in 2013 to 28,286 last year, according to the university’s annual report, while the Waurn Ponds campus has gone from 6085 to 7313.

“There’s a broader push from Deakin management to concentrate more resources in Burwood at the expense of Waurn Ponds,” sources told the Geelong Advertiser.

“It’s been a broad trend for a number of years now, there’s a view from management that they can get more from their dollar out of Burwood than Geelong or Warrnambool.”

Deakin’s School of Humanities and Social Sciences head Matthew Clarke said a “rebalancing” would take place, affecting six positions.

“In response to the changing demands of our modern students, Deakin is proposing to offer two new courses at its Waurn Ponds campus — Global Studies and Social Studies,” Professor Clarke said. “These courses would replace those currently being taught — sociology, international relations and politics.

“While consultation with our staff has only just commenced, if this rebalancing proceeds, up to six positions are likely to be affected. Importantly, two positions will be created to teach these emerging areas of student demand, and one existing role may be considered for redeployment at our Burwood campus.”

If the changes take place, it would the first time in three decades politics and sociology have not been taught at the Waurn Ponds campus.

A National Tertiary Education Union spokesman said negotiations with Deakin management were continuing.

“The union is concerned these job losses may be the consequence of proposed Federal Government funding cuts,” the spokesman said.