Obiter dicta by Professor Gavin Brown AO
Big Change
18 June 2004
During the first week of June there was a frenzy of negotiations involving ourselves, Charles Sturt University, UTS, the Australian Catholic University and the Department of Education, Science and Training to put together a joint proposal from the four universities to Dr Nelson.
This is a complex matrix of load transfer which sits in parallel to the current government allocation of new places. Indeed the initiative is only possible as a result of the federal government's reform package which encourages universities to focus on their individual strengths.
Only on Friday 4 June did a balanced package emerge. I took the proposal to Senate for approval on Monday the 7th and, on the morning of the same day, began, in strict confidence, the consultation process with the Unions. On the next day those parts of the proposal relating to Nursing were leaked to the Sydney Morning Herald.
It is frustrating that this occurred at almost exactly the same time as our letters arrived in the Minister's Office. The University was placed in the position of being accused of cutting back educational offerings; yet we had no opportunity of presenting the full picture. It is still difficult to say much, as I write this, because the Minister has, as yet, had very little time to consider what the partner universities have put forward.
If the plan is accepted then each of the universities will have an increased number of government subsidised places. In the case of the University of Sydney this is particularly important as we are experiencing enormous pressure of demand for our programs and the cut-offs for entry in both Arts and Science are being driven to unrealistically high levels. What is being considered would allow us to increase commencing places in Science, Arts and Liberal Studies by something approaching 250. This would incorporate an exciting new three year Liberal Arts and Sciences degree which would admit units from Law, Economics and, indeed, any discipline able to shape an appropriate offering.
We would also introduce more than 150 extra commencing places in Health Sciences, including a big expansion in Pharmacy, a new Oral Health program and a strengthening of postgraduate and specialised Nursing. There would be scope for additional places in Education, Business and Economics and the Visual Arts. All of this will make Sydney much more accessible in our fields of greatest strength and gives the lie to any suggestion that the whole scheme is a financial manoeuvre. The truth is that it is driven by our commitment to providing a quality education as widely as possible.
It is envisaged that there would be a much faster growth of places at Orange than has been possible through this university alone and that there would be ongoing research collaborations and also articulation arrangements to allow students to commence degrees in a rural environment but move to the city for subsequent years, if that is their choice. The total number of undergraduate nursing places available in metropolitan Sydney would increase and we seek to explore double degrees where the full range of our offerings could be combined with nurse training at our partner universities.
This could be very good news for many students in coming years but, like any big change, creates transitional problems for those directly affected. I have extended an assurance to all students currently enrolled at the University of Sydney that they will be able to complete University of Sydney degrees. Moreover we have begun consultations with staff, a process which will accelerate when we know what is approved by government, with a view to achieving responsible outcomes.