DEAKIN SAYS UNIS LEFT BEHIND
DEAKIN University has expressed disappointment the federal budget has not built on previous government investment for some university-delivered short courses.
It comes as universities received little extra assistance in the 2021 budget after last year’s budget included a record $1bn bonus investment in research.
Deakin vice-chancellor Iain Martin said he hopes the government reconsiders the course investment, acknowledging that innovative and industry-linked short courses have been meeting “significant latent demand”.
“Universities, alongside VET and TAFE providers, are critical in supporting the government’s aim of boosting skills and creating jobs,” Professor Martin said.
“More than 50 per cent of new jobs will require a higher education qualification.”
Research funding will be cut from $2.97bn this year — which included a one-off $1bn bonus — back to the usual $2bn in 2021-22.
But universities will pocket $30,000 for every PhD student who undertakes an industry placement in the first 18 months of study, to strengthen ties with industry.
The Australian Technology Network of Universities said the government had “missed an opportunity” to put universities at the centre of its approach to drive our economic recovery.
But ATN welcomed the government signalling in the budget that international students could start returning as early as this year following ongoing COVID-19 travel bans.
ATN executive director Luke Sheehy said international education provided flow-on benefits throughout the economy.
“ATN universities know that once Australia’s borders are opened the long hard road to recovery for our sector has only just commenced,” Mr Sheehy said.