TOUGH TIMES AT UNI
PANDEMIC PAIN: Border closures deal blow to Deakin
DEAKIN University is bracing for another tough year as it deals with the fallout of coronavirus, particularly declining enrolments from international students.
The Geelong-based institution slashed 276 full-time jobs last year, and expects its operating income and deficit position will continue to decline this year.
Although it says further job cuts are not presently being discussed with staff, the uni has conceded its operations may never return to their pre-pandemic level.
The pandemic last year forced Deakin to reduce its workforce by 6.5 per cent, and it now boasts 4259 (full-time equivalent) staff.
It has not divulged how many of the redundancies were at its Waurn Ponds and Geelong waterfront campuses.
DEAKIN University is bracing for another tough year as it deals with the fallout of coronavirus, particularly declining enrolments from international students.
The Geelong-based institution slashed 276 full-time jobs last year, and expects its operating income and deficit position will continue to decline this year.
Although it says further job cuts are not presently being discussed with staff, the uni has conceded its operations may never return to their prepandemic level.
Its annual report suggests sound financial management and a decisive response to the pandemic shielded it from further damage, and it has enough reserves to cover expected revenue losses in the near future.
The pandemic last year forced Deakin to reduce its workforce by 6.5 per cent, and it now boasts 4259 (full-time equivalent) staff.
It has not divulged how many of the redundancies were at its Waurn Ponds and Geelong waterfront campuses.
“Deakin has not had any further discussions with staff regarding future staffing levels,” a spokesman said.
“Deakin’s leadership is intent on making sure the university is well prepared for the future.
“In 2020, Deakin planned for and acted appropriately to ensure its short to mediumterm financial and operational sustainability. Now, as always, we are going through a process of assessing and reassessing all our activities so that we can deliver the greatest impact for our communities.
“We continue to undertake our financial planning and make decisions on the assumption that our operations will not be returning to a prepandemic state for many years to come, if at all.”
The annual report shows Deakin’s net operating position was a net surplus of $17.2m for 2020, after an 8 per cent revenue decline, driven largely by the pandemic, which drove down international student enrolments and income from investments.
Before the pandemic forced borders to close, growth in student numbers — especially full-fee-paying international students — contributed to significant annual increases in university operating income.
Deakin records show it has 14,901 international students from 136 countries on its books, including India (35 per cent) and China (25 per cent).
The university predicts its financial outcomes beyond 2021 will be shaped by the rate of international students returning to Australia and the ability for it to attract enrolments from abroad.
The report noted that the 2021 outlook for new international students was “very conservative”, with no international students commencing in trimester one and a “small commencing cohort” in trimester three.
It predicts 2022 will “build on the assumptions of 2021” that revenue will continue to decline and the operating result staying in deficit.
Deakin vice-chancellor Iain Martin last year labelled 2020 a “time of great challenge, disruption, stress and uncertainty”.
DEAKIN’S LEADERSHIP IS INTENT ON MAKING SURE THE UNIVERSITY IS WELL PREPARED FOR THE FUTURE.”
DEAKIN SPOKESMAN