La Trobe University News | 21 October 2013
La Trobe University has put a positive spin on the task it faces to rein in its ballooning deficit, with vice-chancellor John Dewar declaring that La Trobe is set to undergo a ‘root and branch’ renewal to become a ‘university for the future’.
La Trobe is behind its growth target by about 1200 full-time students, amounting to a revenue shortfall of up to $25m by 2015 and an overall deficit of $65 m.
Under its strategic plan, Future Ready, covering the period 2013-2017, La Trobe aims to be one of the top three universities in Victoria, one of the top dozen nationally and one of the top 300 internationally. It also plans to grow from 26,000 to 33,000 students (EFTSL).
The university has identified 20 projects that fall into three broad themes:
- Academic organisation – finding the best structural organisation of faculties, school and departments
- Academic productivity – ensuring the quality and efficiency of teaching and research
- Support service delivery – simplifying and standardising internal administrative functions that best support students and staff
Importantly, La Trobe says it will maintain its strong regional presence as Victoria’s largest provider of university education in regional Victoria, with campuses in Albury-Wodonga, Bendigo, Shepparton and Mildura.
This will involve revitalising research output, boosting teaching quality and modernising its internal structures.
In announcing the plan, vice-chancellor John Dewar said La Trobe University had built a strong tradition over almost 50 years for bold thinking with a social conscience, which it now needs to build on.
I want to ensure that La Trobe makes an even stronger intellectual, social and economic contribution to communities and that it continues to be a great place to study, teach and undertake research
In addition, the high education sector and funding environment is rapidly changing, including federal funding cuts and increased competition for student enrolments. We recognise at La Trobe that we need to change with the times and that time is now.
The university has identified 20 projects that fall into three broad themes:
- Academic organisation – finding the best structural organisation of faculties, school and departments
- Academic productivity – ensuring the quality and efficiency of teaching and research
- Support service delivery – simplifying and standardising internal administrative functions that best support students and staff
He said there would be change within the university that was driven by strategy and focused on delivering the best quality research and teaching for students and staff.
There was no mention of staff cuts and course rationalisation, although inevitably that’s what the plan must involve.
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