The University of Canberra is facing a financial crisis after it revealed a deficit blowout to $36 million this year.
Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Stephen Parker, recently told staff and the media that at least 200 jobs will be axed in an effort to cut $50 million from expenditure by 2025. Some of the job cuts will be achieved by not filling vacancies or from expiring contracts, but there will also be redundancies.
While UC students received an email reassuring them that “high-quality teaching and research” will be unaffected, and the student experience and delivery of courses and units will be “safeguarded” throughout the process, many are still concerned about how these job cuts will impact them.
The Owl’s Tia Priest-Willimott was joined in the studio by Professor Parker for this special edition of The Owl News. They discussed how the university found itself in this position, what they’re planning to do about it, and how cuts will impact courses, events on campus, and pre-existing student costs like accommodation and parking.
