The University of Tasmania believes the federal government's move to place a 'cap' on international student numbers will help regional universities. But it still plans to push ahead with staff recruitment changes which have caused concern from a union.
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00:00 For universities interstate, there's been a significant increase in international students
00:07 since COVID, but for UTAS it hasn't been the same story.
00:12 We do need to get back to a higher proportion of international students for our sustainability.
00:15 The federal government now plans to place a cap on international student numbers, but
00:21 UTAS welcomes the move.
00:22 The new policy sets out a clear frame for growing international student numbers in the
00:26 regions to help population growth.
00:28 This university generates 30% of the state's migration.
00:32 The recent downturn in student numbers and the proposed cap will have consequences for
00:37 staff, with the university proposing changes to how positions are filled.
00:42 In a letter to all staff last week, the university said it would be managing vacancies and discretionary
00:48 expenditure carefully.
00:50 There's absolutely no recruitment freeze here.
00:52 The pause was simply done to give us a bit of time to collect the information we needed
00:56 to be able to do the strategic vacancy management process.
00:59 I think it's just a form of sort of economic techno babble speak that really obscures more
01:05 than it actually reveals.
01:07 Unions argue the university is using the new model as an excuse to cut costs further and
01:13 increase workloads on staff.
01:15 Unless you want to see less support for students, then that's a choice the university will make,
01:24 I'm sure.
01:25 And all agree international student numbers need to increase.
01:30 International students certainly need to play an important part in the university of the
01:35 future.
01:36 The government plans to legislate the new model this year, while the university's consultation
01:41 with staff will finish this week.
01:42 [BLANK_AUDIO]