Deakin U announces job cuts amongst several measures to address an annual revenue gap of up to $250m expected by 2029.
Acting Vice-Chancellor Susan Elliott told staff yesterday that the university executive proposes voluntary redundancies which will now go to staff for consultation.
The announcement comes five months after a comprehensive restructure was cancelled, with then Vice-Chancellor Iain Martin resigning and leaving the university on the same day.
Chancellor Claire Higgins and then-caretaker VC Mattthew Clark went on to announce that proposed job cuts were cancelled, assuring staff, “your positions continue as they are.” But they added, “our focus on research, teaching and student support will not change, nor will the financial realities facing the sector and the university. Change will still be needed in time.”
It appears that time is now. As well as staff savings, Professor Elliott signals structural change, with the university’s governing Council approving the first stage of a multi-year program, “to replace the core systems that support students and staff.” Staff briefings are imminent in work areas, including digital services, that were marked for extensive reorganisation and reduction in the previous plan.
A big reason for the unpopularity of the cancelled restructure was staff complaints that it was rushed and would make university operations worse. As it unravelled, senior academic leaders were in revolt, openly opposing it in staff meetings. The challenge for management now will be to convince staff that Higgins and Clark’s previous promise holds, that change must be “shaped with you.”
Yesterday’s announcement was hours ahead of the campus branch of the National Tertiary Education Union considering striking over the pace of negotiations for a new enterprise agreement. Members now have new issue to discuss.