Latest news with #universityfunding
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong public universities agree to return more funding if asked
Hong Kong's eight public universities have promised to return more recurrent funding allocated to them if asked by the government within the next three academic years and to follow Beijing's guidance. In new documents signed with their funding body, the universities also agreed that the government had the right to reduce the amount of their regular allocation if they failed to meet their commitments or had any major deficiency in institutional governance. The University Grants Committee (UGC), a government advisory body that allocates funding for higher education institutions, uploaded the university accountability agreements it signed with each institution in June. In an unprecedented move in February, the government revealed in its budget that the eight public universities would be asked to return HK$4 billion (US$509.6 million) from their reserves that they had saved from previous government funding. Earlier, university chiefs had indicated a willingness to do so. The budget also stated that authorities would only offer the eight public universities HK$68.1 billion in the coming three school years, falling short of the HK$70.9 billion proposed by the UGC, resulting in a 4 per cent average reduction rate. The new clauses specified that the government would not only be allowed to claw back the money, but also exert fuller control of the funding granted to the universities.
ABC News
21-07-2025
- Business
- ABC News
University of Technology Sydney spends $140,000 on five executives for US alumni trip, some in business class, leaked documents show
As the cash-strapped University of Technology Sydney (UTS) prepares to sack 10 per cent of its staff, five senior executives have spent more than $140,000 on flights, accommodation and food during a trip to the USA in May, leaked documents have revealed. The documents show three of the executives flew business class with flight costs, including US domestic flights, ranging from $21,000 to $23,000 each. They include Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Parfitt, who is leading a cost-cutting drive called Operational Sustainability Initiative (OSI), which aims to save the university $100 million annually, as well as two senior deans. The cost breakdowns were released under freedom of information laws and then leaked to ABC News ahead of their public release. The accommodation bill for these staff totalled between $3,000 and $5,000 each. The university would not say how long the trip was, but the two main alumni events in Los Angeles and New York were two days apart. In a statement, a UTS spokesperson said alumni events were "important" and involvement of senior leaders was decided "depending on need". "The 2025 visit and functions were particularly important to nurture during a time of flux in US policies towards funding and collaboration with the higher education sector," the spokesperson said. Earlier this month, ABC News reported a union survey had revealed one third of UTS staff were suffering psychological distress, as the university prepared to axe 400 staff. OSI is being led by consultants KPMG at a cost of $5 million, which the university said was "standard practice". The leaked documents show two other executives were flown to the United States, one on economy at a cost of $7,200 and another on premium economy at a cost of $13,995. The trip was to host three alumni events including one held at sunset on the 71st floor of the Los Angeles Intercontinental and the second at New York City's historic Penn Club on "clubhouse row". A selection from the menu at Intercontinental included Humboldt fog goat cheese, bacon-wrapped sea scallops and Emmolo Sauvignon Blanc, with the total for the alumni reception hosting 30 people, and leadership dinner of 11 people, costing $13,728. The total cost of the alumni reception at the Penn Club of 44 people, and leadership lunch of 15 people, cost $12,288, and included items like blackened shrimp and seared fillet of Beef Forestiere. As well as alumni engagement, the documents said the vice-chancellor and his team engaged in "thought leadership sessions", and 12 one-on-one meetings with alumni and donors. The total cost of the food, accommodation, flights, catering, transport and food for the five staff totalled $140,119.09 according to the leaked documents. "These visits provide valuable opportunities to deepen relationships with alumni, engage with donors and partners, explore new avenues for collaboration and identify investment and partnership opportunities," the UTS spokesperson said. "They also help extend philanthropic support, benefiting both our students and the university." National Tertiary Education Union National President Dr Alison Barnes told ABC News the spending was "deeply shocking". "It's deeply shocking at a time when a university is crushing the livelihoods of a significant proportion of staff," Dr Barnes said. University governance was thrust into the spotlight earlier this year when a senate inquiry was launched to investigate transparency, accountability and effectiveness across the sector. There have also been revelations of wage theft at some institutions, with universities forced to repay hundreds of millions of dollars. It is not yet known if Senate hearings will resume later this year in the new parliament but an interim report alleged "systemic … non-compliance with workplace laws". Labor Senator Tony Sheldon, who chaired the inquiry, said the revelations about UTS came as the institution was "spending millions" on accountants to slash jobs and cut courses. "It's vital for university administrations to be thoughtful about their decisions, particularly if, like UTS, they are proposing to cut hundreds of jobs," Mr Sheldon said. "Staff are living with uncertainty, and students are being told to expect less." The university sector is currently seeking greater government funding for teaching and research with significant job losses looming at several universities. "There is no doubt that Australian universities need greater funding but when you see university executives taking business class flights, it cuts against those arguments for greater funding," Dr Barnes said. "Universities really need that cash but they need it to be spent on teaching, on learning, and student development." Australian vice-chancellors are also some of the best remunerated in the world with the average annual salary across Australia's 38 public universities now exceeding $1 million.
The Guardian
10-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Australia news live: Home values at record high in almost 45% of suburbs; Jillian Segal quizzed on antisemitism measures
Update: Date: 2025-07-10T20:45:45.000Z Title: Content: Segal was also asked about new federal government powers proposed in the plan to cancel the funding of universities if they promoted or failed to act against antisemitism. Segal said 'the most important thing is that universities cooperate in a whole-of-sector initiative, which they are doing'. They are very positive about doing this, OK? And all it says is that that's what we will work on together. But if universities do not do that, then we also have to look at using funding ... Many people have communicated to me that they do not want their own money - money that comes to the government from their taxes - being used to fund hate. Update: Date: 2025-07-10T20:45:45.000Z Title: Jillian Segal quizzed on media's 'false or distorted narratives' Content: The government's special envoy for antisemitism, Jillian Segal, didn't list any failures of public broadcasters that would require her intervention, after calling for a role monitoring the ABC and the SBS in her plan to combat antisemitism. Appearing on ABC's 7.30 on Thursday evening, Segal was asked by the presenter, Sarah Ferguson, about her comments about monitoring 'false or distorted narratives' in the media. What false or distorted narratives do you have in mind? She replied she didn't have 'anything particular' in mind. [The] ABC and SBS are very important elements in our society - public broadcasters that many people watch and that are seen as important and trusted sources of news. And I think that they are important elements of communication that need to be looked at and encouraged to look at multiple sources of truth rather than one particular view. Pressed on what 'false and distorted narratives' public broadcasters had peddled, Segal said 'there have been lots of complaints that have been made to the ABC about particular programs or particular issues where they've only shown one side, let's say, of the debate in the Middle East, and not the other side of the debate'. A spokesperson for the ABC told Guardian Australia it had a 'strong and transparent system of self-regulation' and 'a transparent complaint system available to audiences through an independent ombudsman.' Update: Date: 2025-07-10T20:45:45.000Z Title: Content: An Australian-born former councillor for Ashfield has been picked by Donald Trump as the new US ambassador to Malaysia. In a post to X, Nick Adams thanked the US president for the 'honor of a lifetime' adding that 'In your America, all dreams come true'. It will be my honor to represent the United States of America in Malaysia. To the esteemed Members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I look forward to a confirmation process that is at the heart of the Constitution that has given me the freedom to pursue the American Dream. Thank you again to our Greatest President Ever! God Bless the United States of America! Adams, who has described himself as an 'alpha male', was cast into the US spotlight after Trump tweeted that his book, 'Green Card Warrior: My Quest for Legal Immigration in an Illegals' System,' was a 'must read.' Adams, who became a US citizen in 2021, was threatened with suspension from the Liberal party after an interaction with a journalist in 2009, but he later reportedly said he had quit the party. Update: Date: 2025-07-10T20:45:45.000Z Title: Welcome Content: Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I'm Martin Farrer bringing you some of the top overnight stories and then it'll be Jordyn Beazley to pick up the slack. The antisemitism envoy, Jillian Segal, faced tough questions about her recommendations for action to tackle the problem when she appeared on the ABC's 7.30 last night. She was pressed about her claim that the media was guilty of 'distorted narratives' and about her suggestion that some universities could see their funding cancelled if they were seen to fail to tackle antisemitism on campuses. More coming up. In another sign that house prices are recovering quickly, new figures released this morning show that the value of homes in almost half of all Australian suburbs are at all-time highs. A report from scientists at James Cook University this morning says that sharks are spending longer than ever off the coast of some popular Australian beaches as waters warm up, increasing the chance of encounters with humans. We have more details soon.
The Guardian
10-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Australian envoy's antisemitism plan criticised as ‘Trumpian' over concerns changes could be used to silence dissent
The antisemitism envoy's recommendations to remove funding from universities, charities and cultural bodies if they promote or fail to act against antisemitism have sparked concerns among academics and peak bodies that funding could be weaponised to censor opinion and silence dissent. Jillian Segal's 20-page plan, released on Thursday, made a series of sweeping recommendations, including launching a 'university report card' and withholding government funding from universities, cultural institutions and festivals that 'facilitate, enable or fail to act against antisemitism' – a move she later clarified was a 'last resort'. The powers would also allow public grants provided to university centres, academics or researchers to be terminated 'where the recipient engages in antisemitic or otherwise discriminatory or hateful speech or actions'. Peak Jewish groups backed the envoy's plan. The Executive Council of Australian Jewry 'strongly endorsed' the 'urgently needed' measures. The federal government has not committed to the plan in full, with the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, saying he 'wouldn't like to put a deadline on something' when asked by the media on Thursday if institutions could have funding withdrawn within the year. The Jewish Council of Australia's executive officer, Max Kaiser, said if the government did so it would function as a tactic that 'echoes the authoritarian playbook used by figures like Donald Trump – using funding as a weapon to enforce ideological conformity'. The Trump administration has successfully cut billions in funding to several universities – including Columbia, on the grounds it tolerated antisemitism during pro-Palestinian protests on campus – and warned dozens more that it is investigating them. 'Tying public funding to vague and politically loaded criteria and definitions is not only undemocratic, it's deeply dangerous,' Kaiser said. 'Threatening to impose surveillance, censorship or punitive funding measures fundamentally undermines the autonomy of universities, cultural organisations and charities. 'These are the very institutions that nurture critical thinking, creativity and democratic engagement – and they must remain free from political pressure and ideological control.' Universities Australia's CEO, Luke Sheehy, said the peak body had been 'working constructively' with the special envoy and welcomed the 'significant body of work', and would liaise with members to consider the recommendations. 'Academic freedom and freedom of expression are core to the university mission, but they must be exercised with responsibility and never as a cover for hate or harassment,' he said. The Group of Eight, representing Australia's research-intensive sandstone universities, said its members were 'determined to take all necessary actions to both respond to and prevent antisemitism on campus'. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email But the president of the National Union of Students (NUS), Ashlyn Horton, described the plan as 'Trumpian', and a 'serious overreach' that undermined the independence of higher education institutions. 'It's authoritarian, not anti-racist,' she said. Dr Jordana Silverstein, a cultural historian at the University of Melbourne, said the plan was a 'clear attack' on university education and research, including the Australian Research Council (ARC), while Daniel Angus, a professor of digital communication at Queensland University of Technology, said the report set a 'dangerous precedent' by 'threatening academic independence and informed and open debate'. Angus, who has researched hate speech and misinformation for decades, said antisemitism must be taken seriously but that the strategy released on Thursday 'risks collapsing legitimate political critique, especially that of the state of Israel, into hate speech'. Segal's plan appeared to take aim at the media and the ABC, and said the envoy would 'monitor media organisations to … avoid accepting false or distorted narratives'. 'Publicly funded media organisations should be required to uphold clear editorial standards that promote fair, responsible reporting to avoid perpetuating incorrect or distorted narratives or representations of Jews,' the plan said. A spokesperson for the ABC said it had a 'strong and transparent system of self-regulation' and 'a transparent complaint system available to audiences through an independent ombudsman.' The plan would also remove the deductible gift recipient status from any charitable institution that 'promotes speakers or engages in conduct that promotes antisemitism', and enable funding to be stopped for any cultural institution or festival that 'promotes, facilitates or does not deal effectively with hate or antisemitism'. The CEO of the Community Council for Australia (CCA), David Crosbie, said he had seen 'no evidence' that the legislative change was necessary or would add anything to existing charity provisions. Crosbie said it was difficult to think of any charity that could be seen to be pursuing its purpose by promoting antisemitism, or any form of racist or religious discrimination. 'Existing accountability and reporting requirements of charities are strong enough … to investigate and remove the charitable status of any charity involved in what would amount to promotion of unlawful and violent behaviour,' he said. 'I should also note that peaceful protest is at the heart of our democracy … We need to be careful that we are not silencing dissent for the sake of silencing dissent.' Prof Jo Caust, a principal fellow at the University of Melbourne's school of culture and communication, said it would be a 'disaster' for Australia to go down the path of the US on questions of censorship, adding that it all depended on how the plan was interpreted and actioned. 'It certainly will put pressure on cultural institutions in a way that may be very difficult for them to address,' she said. 'When there's not very clear guidelines of where the lines are, then the risk is self censorship … reconsidering certain artists or certain ideas. The most challenging thing is that it might make organisations much more risk averse.' A spokesperson for Creative Australia said it would 'work constructively with all government stakeholders', adding it was already a condition of its funding that recipients complied with all applicable anti-discrimination laws.
CNN
10-07-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Universities threatened with funding cuts under proposed plan to tackle antisemitism in Australia
Australian universities may lose funding if they're not judged to be doing enough to address anti-Jewish hate crimes, according to new measures proposed by the country's first antisemitism envoy. Jillian Segal was appointed to the role a year ago in response to a surge in reports of attacks against Jewish sites and property in Australia, following Israel's invasion of Gaza, and was tasked with combating antisemitism in the country. Standing alongside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese Thursday, Segal released a report nine months in the making proposing strong measures, including the university funding threats and the screening of visa applicants for extremist views. 'The plan is not about special treatment for one community; it is about restoring equal treatment,' Segal said. 'It's about ensuring that every Australian, regardless of their background or belief, can live, work, learn and prosper in this country.' Like in the United States, Australian campuses were once the hub of pro-Palestinian protests led by students who pitched tents demanding action to stop Israel's assault on Gaza. The campus protests dwindled after restrictions were tightened and some protesters were threatened with expulsion, a move condemned by the activists as an infringement on free speech. Segal's report said antisemitism had become 'ingrained and normalised' within academia and university courses, as well as on campuses, and recommended universities be made subject to annual report cards assessing their effectiveness in combating antisemitism. Universities Australia chief executive Luke Sheehy said the organization had been working 'constructively' with the special envoy and its members would 'consider the recommendations.' 'Academic freedom and freedom of expression are core to the university mission, but they must be exercised with responsibility and never as a cover for hate or harassment,' he said in a statement. Antisemitic attacks in Australia surged 300% in the year following Israel's invasion of Gaza in October 2023. In the past week alone, the door of a synagogue was set on fire in Melbourne, forcing 20 occupants to flee by a rear exit, as nearby protesters shouting 'Death to the IDF' – using the initials of the Israeli military – stormed an Israeli-owned restaurant. A man is facing arson charges over the synagogue attack, and three people were charged Tuesday with assault, affray, riotous behavior and criminal damage over the restaurant raid. The Executive Council of Australian Jewry, which Segal once led and is the umbrella organization for hundreds of Jewish community groups, said the report's release 'could not be more timely given the recent appalling events in Melbourne.' However, the Jewish Council of Australia, which opposes Israel's war in Gaza, voiced concerns about Segal's plan, saying it carried the overtones of US President Donald Trump's attempts to use funding as a means of control over institutions. In a statement, the council criticized the plan's 'emphasis on surveillance, censorship, and punitive control over the funding of cultural and educational institutions,' adding that they were 'measures straight out of Trump's authoritarian playbook.' Max Kaiser, the group's executive officer, said: 'Any response that treats antisemitism as exceptional, while ignoring Islamophobia, anti-Palestinian racism, and other forms of hate, is doomed to fail.' The envoy's 20-page plan includes sweeping recommendations covering schools, immigration, media, policing and public awareness campaigns. Segal wants Holocaust and antisemitism education baked into the national curriculum 'as a major case study of where unchecked antisemitism can lead,' according to the report. Arts organizations could be subject to the same restrictions as universities, with threats to pull public funding if they're found to have engaged in, or facilitated, antisemitism. 'While freedom of expression, particularly artistic expression, is vital to cultural richness and should be protected, funding provided by Australian taxpayers should not be used to promote division or spread false/ distorted narratives,' the report said. Under the recommendations, tougher immigration screening would weed out people with antisemitic views, and the Migration Act would enable authorities to cancel visas for antisemitic conduct. Media would be monitored to 'encourage accurate, fair and responsible reporting' and to 'avoid accepting false or distorted narratives,' the report added. During Thursday's press conference, Albanese pointed to an interview on the country's national broadcaster with a protester, saying the interviewee tried to justify the Melbourne restaurant attack. 'There is no justification for that whatsoever,' he said. 'The idea that somehow the cause of justice for Palestinians is advanced by behavior like that is not only delusional, it is destructive, and it is not consistent with how you are able to put forward your views respectfully in a democracy,' he said. Asked if the country had become less tolerant of different views and had, perhaps, lost the ability to have a debate, Albanese pointed to social media. 'I think there is an impact of social media, where algorithms work to reinforce people's views,' he said. 'They reinforce views, and they push people towards extremes, whether it be extreme left, extreme right. Australians want a country that is in the center.' His comments came as Grok, X's AI chatbot, was called out for spreading antisemitic tropes that the company said it was 'actively working to remove.' Albanese said, regarding antisemitic views, 'social media has a social responsibility, and they need to be held to account.' Asked whether anti-Israel protests were fueling the antisemitic attacks, the prime minister said people should be able to express their views without resorting to hate. 'In Israel itself, as a democracy, there is protest against actions of the government, and in a democracy, you should be able to express your view here in Australia about events overseas,' he said. 'Where the line has been crossed is in blaming and identifying people because they happen to be Jewish.'
