Research Funding Cuts to Cost 1500 Jobs

The decision of the federal government to cut $500 million from research funding would result to a cut of 1,500 jobs in research. This was the revelation of University of New South Wales vice chancellor Fred Hilmer.

According to the vice chancellor, the funding cuts would also mean a darker future for those who want to work in academics.

Hilmer, who also chairs the Group of Eight research intensive universities, said the cuts would also affect how the international researchers see Australia. He added that Australia is well respected when it comes to international research.

The cuts of the federal government mean that staffing, equipment and administration costs would be frozen at their current levels for the next four years. The freeze would save the government about $499 million.

The comments of Professor Hilmer, however, are not echoed by everyone in the higher education sector. Greg Craven said that Hilmer’s comments were embarrassing, adding that the university and the government have always worked hand in hand for any funding.

Craven is the Australian Catholic University vice-chancellor.

Finance Minister Penny Wong, meanwhile, said university funding and research spending have in fact increased by more than 40 percent since the year 2008.