Despite universities producing some of the nation’s most essential and respected workers — doctors, vets, engineers, politicians (!) — the sector has been ignored in the budget once more. Something is going wrong.
For a sector that produces all of Australia’s doctors, nurses, engineers, lawyers, physiotherapists, psychologists, vets, accountants, diplomats, teachers, economists and politicians, you’d think the social and economic value of universities would be universally appreciated and their funding assured.
And yet every budget the university sector, represented by Universities Australia, leaves the field disappointed, not only failing to claw back its recent losses, but exiting with some fresh new insult: in the latest budget, a 9% funding cut.
After a horrendous year for the sector as overseas students were kept at bay by COVID-19, universities weren’t offered more government assistance, but more austerity.
Want to read more about Universities Australia’s failings?
Already a subscriber? Log in to keep reading.
Or, register your email address for a FREE 21-day trial.
