Frank Larkins (Uni Melbourne) has analysed ANU performance data across a decade of decline, 2014-23, HERE. It is a new contribution to his long-running series on Australian universities performance.
The analysis reveals the extent of the demise of ANU performance during this period, with diminishing domestic demand accompanied by a growth in staff numbers well above the sector average.
Key issues that arose over this period at ANU include:
Fewer students
- Domestic student enrolments at all public universities increased 4.5 per cent, numbers at ANU were down 10.7 per cent
- International enrolment growth meant ANU was able to post overall enrolment growth of 8 per cent, but this remained half of sector growth on average (16 %).
- Australian research postgraduates at ANU declined 21 per cent (9 per cent down nationally),
- Coursework Post graduate students at ANU fell by an extraordinary 61 per cent (up 8 per cent across the system)
More staff
- Full-time and Fractional Full Time numbers increased 22 per cent; more than twice national growth
- Research-only staff declined, 43 per cent, teaching and research numbers increased 60 per cent. There were 38 per cent more other staff. In contrast the 40-university average was a 10 per cent increase
- ANU’s staff cost was 55.8 per cent in 2024, marginally higher than 54.2 per cent average for the Big Five (Queensland, Sydney, NSW, Melbourne and Monash)
Money
- ANU’s 2024 income was $1.64bn, up 0.8 per cent in ’23. The average increase across the Five was 15 per cent
- ANU’s fees and charges (mainly from international students) was up 4 per cent in the year to 2024. The average increase at the Five was five-times that
- Other income at ANU for ’23-’24 was down 7 per cent, compared to 20 per cent average growth at the others
Professor Genevieve Bell started as VC in January 2024; inheriting a mess long in the making.