iscover
Today (Wednesday, 17 September), the University of Technology Sydney has released its proposed changes to address its financial troubles.
UTS has released details of its proposed restructure for staff consultation, which includes the amalgamation of its existing law and business faculties, discontinuing 167 courses, and a reduction of approximately 134 full-time equivalent academic positions, and a decrease in its casual workforce.
Speaking about the proposal, UTS vice-chancellor Professor Andrew Parfitt said: “UTS is focused on achieving a sustainable future where students can continue to get the quality of education they expect, and we can continue to deliver research outcomes for the communities that benefit from our work.”
“Our commitment to public education and focus on the student experience is paramount.”
Parfitt continued: “With policy constraints limiting both domestic and international student revenue growth, our main source of operating revenue, we have been faced with difficult choices to reduce our costs.”
Under the proposed changes, UTS would continue to offer over 400 courses and 2,300 subjects, the university said, and any discontinuation of courses would apply from 2026, with no new students being admitted to discontinued courses. Current students will be able to complete their coursework.
The combined savings of the proposed restructure, the university said, will be $80 million, with an additional $20 million found through other cost measures, such as limited executive and senior staff remuneration and reduced travel costs.
“I do not underestimate or take lightly the anxiety and concern staff may be experiencing, and I deeply regret the need for job losses. During this time of proposed change across UTS, we are keenly aware of the potential impacts on the health, wellbeing, and safety of our staff,” Parfitt said.
“In order to alleviate uncertainty and stress right across our community, we are taking every measure we can to limit impacts and ensure opportunities for engagement, consultation and feedback.”
No final decisions will be made, the university said, until after the completion of the consultation process.
The news follows a prohibition notice issued to the university by SafeWork NSW, earlier this month, over alleged risks to psychological safety due to UTS’ plans to axe up to hundreds of jobs, as well as several courses.
The notice followed reported emails being sent out to up to 800 staff members, advising them they could be in line to lose their roles under proposed restructures to address the university’s financial troubles.
As reported by The Australian Financial Review, the workplace regulator then approved the university’s continuation of its consultation process.
Reported scrapping of education, public health schools
It has also been widely reported that, as part of its restructure, UTS is planning to shut down its schools of education and public health.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, dozens of staff members were called to a meeting earlier this week and advised that these schools would close, and many of their jobs would disappear under the restructure proposal, which will be subject to a consultation period of at least four weeks.
“Unfortunately, with the proposed changes from the disestablishment of school, should these changes go ahead, it’s been identified that your positions will no longer be required in the future,” a member of management told staff, SMH reported.
National Tertiary Education Union national president Dr Alison Barnes said: “I can’t remember seeing cuts of this scale with almost a third of all teaching being slashed, and in critical disciplines like education and public health.
“This devastating plan is a disaster for the community and represents a direct attack on the core mission of UTS.”
Dr Sarah Kaine, chair of the NSW Legislative Council Inquiry into the University Sector, condemned the proposed closure of these schools, describing the move as “a direct threat to the public mission of higher education in NSW”.
“These are not just academic disciplines – they are pillars of our public infrastructure,” Kaine said. “To dismantle them in the middle of a teacher shortage crisis and ongoing public health challenges, particularly in Indigenous communities, is indefensible.”
Kaine continued: “Universities are not corporations. They are civic institutions with a duty to serve the public good.”
“The NSW government may not control day-to-day operations, but it is responsible for ensuring that our universities remain accessible, ethical, and aligned with community needs.”
Greens deputy leader and spokesperson for higher education, Senator Mehreen Faruqi, said: “It is a disgrace that UTS management [doesn’t] have a problem with forking out millions of dollars on private consultants and hundreds of thousands to attend extravagant alumni events abroad, yet have no qualms about slashing disciplines like education, international relations, and public health.
“This decision flies in the face of all that universities should stand for – public institutions for public good. UTS management should hang their heads in shame for moving ahead with this disastrous plan.”
Jerome Doraisamy is the managing editor of Momentum Media’s professional services suite, encompassing Lawyers Weekly, HR Leader, Accountants Daily, and Accounting Times. He has worked as a journalist and podcast host at Momentum Media since February 2018. Jerome is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in NSW, and a board director of the Minds Count Foundation.
