Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff said that the Federal reforms could force the University of Tasmania to cut courses in science, engineering and agriculture, reduce its research focus, or ‘‘limit campus locations’’.
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This comes after Vice Chancellor Peter Rathjen last week could not guarantee that the Northern campus would not close.
Mr Rockliff made the comments in a written submission to a national inquiry into the Higher Education and Research Reform Amendment Bill being examined by a Senate committee which will table its report this month.
It alludes to the tough business decisions that the state’s third largest employer will need to make if the Bill passes in its current form, weighing up the importance of offering accessible and attractive higher education to Tasmanians, against its research aims.
Mr Rockliff said the university already subsidised its campuses in Launceston and Burnie to maintain services in those areas.
Professor Rathjen told a business conference in Melbourne last month that the university dished out $50 million to maintain regional campuses and $70 million to research. The university expects a $30 million loss in revenue as a result of the reforms.
‘‘The economic realities of Tasmania mean that the university’s ability to recoup these costs through fee increases or specialisations are extremely limited,’’ Mr Rockliff said.
‘‘This is evidenced in the school sector where recent analysis shows that over half of the 6500 kindergarten students in Tasmania in 2013 were in the two most disadvantaged quintiles,’’ he said.
‘‘Any of these changes could likely drive students away from the state.’’
Mr Rockliff said education, health, aquaculture and agriculture remain key focus areas for university research.
A spokesman for Mr Rockliff said any plan to relocate the university’s North campus from Newnham to Inveresk was a matter for the university.