Courses should come before iPads

By Carmel Shute (NTEU National Office). Courses should come before iPads, says the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU).
NTEU NSW Division Secretary, Genevieve Kelly, said today that the University of Western Sydney should be keeping language courses in Arabic, Italian and Spanish instead of offering free iPads to students and staff, at an estimated cost of at least $3 million.
“Giving every student and staff member a fourth-generation iPad comes at an unacceptable price. The UWS is taking a sledgehammer to courses and staff. Technology, however trendy, is nothing without content.
“UWS has just summarily abolished courses in Arabic, Italian and Spanish, cutting 4 full-time positions, and numerous casual jobs,” she said.
“These cuts to these community language courses come at the same time as Peter Garrett, the Federal Education Minister, is calling for more language study. UWS is in the heart of multicultural Sydney but appears to be contemptuous of the community it allegedly serves.
“While we’ve managed to whittle back cuts to jobs in humanities, commerce and arts from 25 to around 10-15, the number of jobs going in the School of Business has shot from 29 to 32. UWS was set to cut 10 staff in economics but, despite now committing to retaining eight out of its 24 economics units, it plans to cut 13 fulltime positions, three more than originally proposed. The only way this makes sense is if UWS intends to work staff as hard as Christmas elves, but right through the year.”
The abolition of Arabic, Italian and Spanish language courses disadvantages hundreds of students, including several doing their masters and doctorates.