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The Australian National University is set to axe up to 40 jobs in a bid to save money, telling staff of its neuroscience division it will be closed this year. Staff at the Eccles Institute of Neuroscience were briefed about the decision on Wednesday afternoon and it follows the university’s move to cut almost 200 jobs in the wake of the coronavirus downturn. Australian universities have suffered in the past 12 months, with border closures leading to a major decrease in revenue due to a lack of international students. The ANU is expected to report a deficit of more than $200 million this year. The College of Science took a hit last year, with 103 jobs lost and among those facing redundancy were two academics who were recently awarded prestigious Australian Research Council discovery grants, throwing their research projects into doubt. The university flagged changes to the Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, the Research School of Biology, the Research School of Chemistry, the Research School of Earth Sciences and the Research School of Physics were outlined in a proposal last year. READ MORE: The hit to the neuroscience division is a fresh blow after the document last year said: “The proposed changes are business-driven and are designed to support ongoing sustainability of the college, to ensure that the college is meeting the future needs of our students, and to ensure that the college continues to contribute strongly to the university’s international standing.” The ANU’s Vice-Chancellor Brian Schmidt said in December the cuts were necessary to ensure the long-term viability of the university. He acknowledged that “everyone has made sacrifices” but the university was “not yet through the disruption”. “Staff generously deferred a pay rise, an act that saved $13.5 million and up to 90 positions,” Professor Schmidt said. “Staff have also made generous donations throughout 2020 to the ANU Staff Urgent Relief Fund – providing support to 68 staff totalling $116,000.” Students at the institute have described the decision by the university as “misguided”. “We, the students of the Eccles Institute, will be preparing a reasoned response during the current two week consultation period,” ANU PhD candidate Nathan Reynolds said on Twitter. “Part of this response will include outlining the impact of this proposal on the students of ANU.” Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
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The Australian National University is set to axe up to 40 jobs in a bid to save money, telling staff of its neuroscience division it will be closed this year.
Staff at the Eccles Institute of Neuroscience were briefed about the decision on Wednesday afternoon and it follows the university’s move to cut almost 200 jobs in the wake of the coronavirus downturn.
Australian universities have suffered in the past 12 months, with border closures leading to a major decrease in revenue due to a lack of international students.
The ANU is expected to report a deficit of more than $200 million this year.
The College of Science took a hit last year, with 103 jobs lost and among those facing redundancy were two academics who were recently awarded prestigious Australian Research Council discovery grants, throwing their research projects into doubt.
The university flagged changes to the Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, the Research School of Biology, the Research School of Chemistry, the Research School of Earth Sciences and the Research School of Physics were outlined in a proposal last year.
The hit to the neuroscience division is a fresh blow after the document last year said: “The proposed changes are business-driven and are designed to support ongoing sustainability of the college, to ensure that the college is meeting the future needs of our students, and to ensure that the college continues to contribute strongly to the university’s international standing.”
The ANU’s Vice-Chancellor Brian Schmidt said in December the cuts were necessary to ensure the long-term viability of the university.
He acknowledged that “everyone has made sacrifices” but the university was “not yet through the disruption”.
“Staff generously deferred a pay rise, an act that saved $13.5 million and up to 90 positions,” Professor Schmidt said.
“Staff have also made generous donations throughout 2020 to the ANU Staff Urgent Relief Fund – providing support to 68 staff totalling $116,000.”
***prepared by the students of the EIN.***
We have just learned that as part of the College of Health and Medicine managing change proposal, the Eccles Institute of Neuroscience (EIN) will be dissolved along with related neuroscience units, degrees, and specialisations. 1/4— Nathan Reynolds (@NathanReynolds5) March 17, 2021
Students at the institute have described the decision by the university as “misguided”.
“We, the students of the Eccles Institute, will be preparing a reasoned response during the current two week consultation period,” ANU PhD candidate Nathan Reynolds said on Twitter.
“Part of this response will include outlining the impact of this proposal on the students of ANU.”
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
The Australian National University is expected to scrap 40 jobs. Picture: Jamila Toderas
