VICTORIA University will dump TAFE courses, including some at its Werribee campus, as it scrambles to deal with a $32million funding black hole.
More than $100million was cut from fee subsidies for courses in the 2012-13 state budget, forcing TAFE providers to hit students with big fee increases or to axe courses and jobs.
The changes will severely impact Victoria University, the biggest education provider in the western suburbs.
VU will drop animal studies and events and tourism, which are run at Werribee, as well as boat building, while courses in sports and fitness, hospitality, business and financial services will be slashed.
The university will also cut 50 jobs in the technical trades and workforce development faculties.
Deputy vice-chancellor Professor Anne Jones said difficult decisions had been made to ensure VU’s viability.
She said VU had been taken by surprise by the size of the government’s cuts. “We will work hard to minimise the impact on our students and are committed to giving existing students the opportunity to complete their course,” she said.
Students who enrol this month are guaranteed 2012 fees until the end of the year. But from next month, diploma fees will increase substantially and other fees will also rise.
Community development teacher Margarita Windisch said the job cuts and loss of courses were devastating for staff and students.
“This is the biggest attack we have seen in the sector in the history of Victoria,” she said. “It’s quite clear their aim is to privatise the whole education sector.”
Higher Education and Skills Minister Peter Hall, said the government’s changes would lead to more people receiving training. “The simple fact is the Victorian Coalition government is making a record ongoing investment in vocational training while introducing essential reforms designed to save the system from collapse,” he said.
