The University of Wollongong is expecting a $24m shortfall in the next six to 12 months, due to the proposed cap on international students.The University of Wollongong is expecting a $24m shortfall in the next six to 12 months, due to the proposed cap on international students.The draft bill, introduced to parliament last month, would give the education minister powers to set a maximum number of new international student enrolments.
The national president of the National Tertiary Education Union , Dr Alison Barnes, said she was “deeply concerned” university managements might be weaponising the commonwealth’s migration policy as an “excuse to threaten staff and students with decisions that damage universities”. Guardian Australia understands La Trobe’s newly sworn vice-chancellor, Theo Farrell, is informing faculties of a significant deficit due to the international student cap – requiring “course optimisation” including cuts to courses, subjects and staff.
A spokesperson for La Trobe said the university was taking a “holistic review” of courses and subjects and may close some with “little or no student demand”.