21 July 1998 Tertiary funding cuts 'very disappointing' – Lincoln Vice-Chancellor

The latest cut to the funding for tertiary education is very disappointing according to the Vice-Chancellor of Lincoln University, Dr Frank Wood.

"It is disappointing that only months after the Government announced increases to funding this is reversed and we are facing a significant reduction in per student funding," he says.

The Government had announced that it would increase per student funding and fund all enrolments (called the Universal Tertiary Tuition Allowance) rather than place a cap on the numbers who could attend. However, the announcement to cut $62.5 million comes as a result of the down-turn in economic conditions caused by the Asian economic crisis.

The announcement has confirmed that the Government will continue with plans to un-cap student enrolments but has cancelled the funding for this growth.

"What this means is that funding per student will be cut by at least a 3.5% and this places pressure on the University and will have an inevitable impact on student fees," says Dr Wood.

"Lincoln University has just received a very favourable New Zealand Academic Audit Unit report which commended our repositioning and the quality of our qualifications but noted the effects of resource constraints. Funding cuts may slow the University's rate of progress.

"It is difficult to assess what the implications for overall student participation might be and what the flow on effects are for industry and employers who require more graduates to sustain and increase their international competitiveness," he says.

Dr Frank Wood, Vice-Chancellor, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand