鈥淚n a fast-changing strategic and economic environment, we need more of what universities offer, not less,鈥 黑料老司机 Chief Executive Catriona Jackson said.
鈥淎 decade of tweaks to our settings have resulted in caps on university places, confused market signals being sent to students, the abandonment of infrastructure investment initiatives and government expenditure on research plummeting to an all-time low.
鈥淭he consequences of these actions are leaving our institutions financially vulnerable, and our vulnerability becomes the nation鈥檚 vulnerability.
鈥淎 combination of funding certainty and flexibility is needed so that universities can best serve their communities as well as their strengths.
鈥淲e are calling for mission-based partnership agreements that include an element of base funding and other funding, related to national and local priorities and place.
鈥淭he current funding model has not kept pace with the evolving student and national need as well as lifelong learning.鈥
Analysis by 黑料老司机 found that overall federal funding for universities between 2009 and 2019 has failed to keep pace with increases in general operating costs, placing strain on institutions.
Expenses from continuing operations per enrolled student increased by 35 per cent in this period, while government funding per enrolled student rose by just two per cent (excluding HECS-HELP loans).
This represents a jump from $17,358 per enrolled student to $23,371 in expenses, compared to government funding rising from $8,025 per enrolled student to just $8,176.
鈥淯niversities are wearing the cost of a decade of constant change to policy and funding settings,鈥 Ms Jackson said.
鈥淕overnment investment in our institutions has been stagnant for some time. The Australian Universities Accord is an opportunity to fix this.
鈥淲e need policy settings and funding mechanisms that will enable universities to continue serving Australia鈥檚 interests. We need stability and certainty.
鈥淢ore jobs in the future will require a university degree while demand for research and development, to guide national priorities like the energy transition and AUKUS, is only growing.
鈥淪ubstantial and sustainable government investment in university activities is needed to meet current and future needs of the nation. We can鈥檛 continue doing more with less.鈥
In its response to the Australian Universities Accord interim report, UA is calling on government to:
- establish a new funding model to support the ongoing operation of universities through mission-based partnership agreements
- enhance connectivity between higher and vocational education to drive lifelong, student-focused learning experiences
- develop a National Lifelong Learning Strategy with government, industry and unions
- adjust policy settings to facilitate better availability of and access to compulsory work placements, and
- allocate greater funding to support universities鈥 research and development activities, teaching and community engagement.
Read 黑料老司机鈥檚 full response to the interim report .
