The current changes being proposed by Vice Chancellor Professor Tyrone Carlin at Southern Cross University could significantly impact the quality of the educational experience of students, the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) said today.
NTEU Branch President Brad Shipway said that it is extremely important that the University spend sufficient time during the consultation and implementation stages to get the best possible outcomes.
“The proposed job cuts would remove a large cohort of skilled academic staff, some of whom are world renowned, along with invaluable general/professional staff who play a key role in supporting students during their courses.”
“The proposed changes indicate that the interactive contact time for students will almost be halved,” Dr Shipway said. “Students will experience a significant increase in the amount of self-directed learning with online materials. The University needs to be upfront with students about how much in-class instruction time students are likely to lose.”
“Students will be expected to spend 50 hours per week on their studies, but this doesn’t account for the reality that 60% of SCU students need to hold down a part-time job to support themselves.”
“Management are rushing these changes through without carefully listening to the concerns of staff and students.”
“We are calling on management to slow down the process, and spend more time engaging with staff and students to make sure they get the changes right.”
