Pandemic hits Australian varsities

– Australian universities could lose up to $11 billion (about R187 billion) as an indefinite coronavirus border closure locks out the foreign students who keep the sector afloat, the industry said yesterday.

Lobby group Universities Australia said the revenue shortfall would have a lasting impact on not only higher education staffing and facilities but also undermine the sector’s world-class research and innovation.

Education is Australia’s third-largest export – behind only iron ore and coal – with more than 500 000 international students enrolled last year, bringing about Aus$32 billion (about R373 billion) into the economy.

Universities Australia said its modelling showed the sector could expect coronavirus-linked revenue losses of up to Aus$4.8 billion in 2020, growing to Aus$16 billion through to 2023.

“Not only does that revenue support the staff and facilities to educate the next generation of skilled workers, it also pays for much of the research and innovation that keeps Australia internationally competitive,” the group’s

CEO Catriona Jackson said.

Universities are pushing hard for a cash injection after being ruled ineligible for government wage subsidies during the pandemic, putting more than 20 000 academic and support staff jobs at risk.

Australia’s schools were almost halfway through their first semester when Prime Minister Scott Morrison controversially told struggling international students to “go home” on 3 April as the country began locking down businesses to curb the spread of Covid-19.