Public universities in Australia are in a dire state. This week, two reports outlined that 1 in 5 academics have been made redundant over the past year and that the government’s changes to funding student places, last year’s Job-Ready Graduates program, doesn’t cover the cost of cuts made in years prior. International students were the third largest export in Australia prior to COVID-19, and universities have become heavily reliant on their fees to cover teaching and research costs. But with borders closed and no additional government support forthcoming, can these institutions continue to meet demand as the financial support runs dry?
Guests:
Alison Barnes, NTEU national president
Mark Warburton, honorary senior fellow at the Melbourne Centre for the Study of Higher Education
Roy Green, emeritus professor at UTS