The Australian | 11 June 2014
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The University of Tasmania is bracing for extremely challenging times, as it reappoints vice–chancellor Peter Rathjen for a further 3 year term.
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Professor Rathjen said the Federal Government’s move to deregulate universities would make life extra difficult for 
UTAS, but he said the university would tackle deregulation from a position of strength.
We are going to cope with it well. We’ve got a strong base, the research is going well. There are a couple more really big announcements coming. But, more important than that, we’ve got a strong relationship with our student body …and a good relationship with the community, including politicians.
Prof Rathjen said the university’s position was unique in that to serve Tasmanians it needed to keep course fees low which, under deregulation, could force severe cutbacks.
In making the announcement, Chancellor Michael Field said:
Since arriving in 2011, Professor Rathjen has taken a fine vision for our university, crystallised it and been instrumental in driving it into reality. Now, with waves of change washing through our sector, it is to our great advantage to have an academic leader of international standing; someone with the strategic vision to see through the myriad issues domestically, nationally and globally.
