University funding hike rejected

UNIVERSITIES have slammed a federal government decision not to increase their funding as a lost opportunity to boost productivity and economic growth.
Tertiary Education Minister Chris Evans responded today to the 2011 higher education base funding review by pointing to the “unprecedented investment” Labor had made in universities since 2007.
“Given the record investment in recurrent and capital funding for our universities made by this government, there will be no further general increase in base funding at this stage,” Senator Evans said in a statement.
He cited an Ernst & Young report which last year found that funding per student place had grown by 10 per cent with Labor's increased investment.
Universities Australia chief executive Belinda Robinson said the government's response was a “disappointing dismissal” of the report's call for increased funding. Read more...