Proposed higher education reforms would stifle CQU’s self-determination and prevent the University from providing adequate services and responding appropriately to the needs of its communities, said CQU Vice Chancellor and President John Rickard in an interview by ABC’s Four Corners.

“We need to sustain a level of funding to all universities that enables them to develop and nurture [activities] within their own organization.... I think a healthy environment is where independent autonomous universities should be able to choose their place,” explained Professor Rickard.

Education Minister Dr Brendan Nelson has proposed that some universities in Australia be designated as “teaching-only” institutions, which would direct millions of dollars in funding for research and related activities away from universities such as CQU to older, more established institutions.

Professor Rickard called on the federal government to identify areas of current research excellence, no matter where they are located, and fund those areas based on standard criteria rather than direct money to pre-determined universities because of their size, history and accumulated wealth.

“The issue ought to be how best to direct scarce resources... It’s particularly important for a youthful uni like CQU that has research excellence in very selective areas,” said the Vice Chancellor.

CQU DVC Academic and Research Jim Mienczakowski was interviewed also.

The program, scheduled to go to air Monday 27 June at 830pm, covers the depth of the national university crisis, focusing on changes that universities are making, and will have to make, due to reforms and competition within the international education market.