Coordination has never been an Aussie forte.
Gonski study is being seriously considered to lift Aussie students' academic competency in math and science may only cover part of the problem.
The longstanding and lingering reluctance to fund education up to tertiary level, sharpen competitiveness with world institutions and provide good learning experience is likely to falter. Blaming it on purely economic factors shows the lack of vision in sustaining Australia as a destination for international students. The education sector has served us well in the past decade and should not be allowed to slack without taking proactive steps to live up to the challenges. Indeed, the importance of investing in tertiary education could not be emphasised more.
Within a week, I heard two pieces of negative news from students and staff who are directly impacted from staff cuts.
Some segments of students with needs deemed dispensable would be slashed ruthlessly no doubt. With worse times ahead, a strong Australian dollar and effects of past stringent student visa policies, universities seek short term measures.
Decisions are purely made on monetary considerations rather than performance criteria and feedback from consumers.
There is fine line between downsizing justified by efficiency and dump sizing which compromises on quality of service. After all, education is a service, and not all solutions could be found in technology.
Heartaches but no sweat for most who are able to find alternative employment or start a business. However, in the current gloomy job market, losing a job is easy but replacing one isn't.
What about those whose career, passion and lives who have been closely tied to university education, with skills that are not so easily transferable across industries and countries?
U Syd will cut hundreds of academic and general staff in tandem with anticipated reduction in student enrolments, and in order to free up money for IT and maintenance.
http://theconversation.edu.au/sydney-uni-to-cut-academic-and-general-staff-but-boost-it-4404
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