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Unis erecting ‘Taj Mahals’, ‘prepared to let standards slip’: Grattan debate
Despite having worked at several of them, Judith Sloan is sceptical of universities. The conservative economist and contributing economics editor at The Australian recently told an audience that she "doesn't trust" universities, and thinks "they’re prepared to let standards slip to put bums on seats".
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This is such a complex issue. I have been in the University sector for some 30 years as a humble lecturer at a regional campus. When I heard about Vice Chancellors getting million dollar salaries, I was utterly shocked and dismayed. I can recall a time when Universities were about good public service and turning out people with high quality education in both the arts and the sciences.
Even though I tend not to support conservative economic theories, I actually agree with Judith Sloan. It is the VET system that needs real support not the Universities.
I am so lucky that I have had a decent job in this sector for so long, but I am glad that I soon will be retiring. Its full of overpaid puffed up managers that have lost the plot and the core focus is just making money, standards have definitely slipped just to get more students in the city campuses.
The regional campuses are being killed off by the removal of the caps.