The University of Western Australia has thrown its weight cautiously behind the WA Government’s university merger plans, as the Government and its supporters appear bouyed by holding the public opinion high ground on the issue.
It will be hard for opponents to blast them off, what with the West Australian Government and Supporters (WAGS) pitching universities as a resource to increase opportunity and expand the economy.
Just a couple of days into the debate, victory seems likely, with Uni WA VC Amit Chakma backing the plan. “With 10 per cent share of population WA contributes 20 per cent to Australia’s GDP. A research university with scale would allow WA to help grow Australia’s economy,” he stated on X, late Monday.
The University followed up with a media release throwing the University's qualified support behind the merger – noting a compelling business case was required, but a merger could share prosperity across the State and unlocking greater achievements.
“A university with greater scale could strengthen regional campuses across the State, while opening the door to a greater presence in places such as Karratha and Geraldton,” Professor Chakma said.
The WAGS began as they meant to continue on the weekend, pitching the business case direct to voters via a friendly newspaper; fewer VCs and uni execs, more resource for research and students plus staff jobs protected for two years.
They extended the argument Monday with reasons it has to happen; UG attrition and falling enrolments is one. A stronger system to “help attract the best and brightest students from across Australia and internationally,” is another. Plus attracting more research funding.
Expect to hear the less talking, more shouting points, for the next few months.
Readers of the AFR did on Monday, when Fortescue Metals’ Mark Barnaba, who chairs the new merger review argued; “a combined institution would bring together greater research capability, academic breadth and international networks, creating a substantial opportunity to improve its global standing.”
So far, supporters of the status quo don’t have a response to any of that. Curtin’s Harlene Hayne says a merger(s) will cost a bomb and her university is doing fine. The National Tertiary Education Union’s Alison Barnes says, "the experience of university staff across Australia is that mergers all too often bring stress, higher workloads and other damaging impacts.” And the Curtun U Student Guild warns a merger would diminish diversity, “Curtin, UWA and Murdoch serve different communities, offer distinct courses and entry pathways, and provide students with different approaches to teaching and learning.”
The only issue where the WAGS are exposed is attracting more international students, which was a big reason when former State Chief Scientist Peter Klinken started the merger push in 2021. Certainly, it will be mentioned this time, just not loudly – One Nation popularity in WA will ensure that.
But overall, the case against mergers will read to government supporters like a desperate defence of a failed system by people invested in the status quo. Which is good for WAGS because it means they do not have to explain how the merger will deliver as promised.
All the WAGS have to do is sell is a hill-top blue-sky view of a merged future.