VUWSA Statement - 25/5/2023

VUWSA are incredibly sad to hear about the proposed staff cuts at Te Herenga Waka-Victoria University of Wellington. These proposed cuts are the result of chronic government underfunding of tertiary education and damaging decisions made by previous University leadership. We have been assured that students will be able to finish their degrees. Additionally, decisions on what academic programmes and professional staffing will be cut have not been made yet, as they are still up for review.  

We understand that this is a difficult time for our staff and student community. We will be standing in solidarity alongside the Tertiary Education Union to fight for every job and programme, for the interlinked future of students, staff and universities. 

The bleeding out of the tertiary sector is not an inevitable fact, but a matter of political will. With enrolment drops across the motu and staff cuts happening at AUT, Otago University and now our own Te Herenga Waka-Victoria University of Wellington, the heart of the problem lies in successive government underfunding of university education.  

This year’s 5% increase to tuition subsidies is touted as the largest increase in 20 years. This is not a victory but highlights the failure of this and previous governments to fund universities in line with inflation. Per student funding has been dropping in real terms for years—in the last decade, it has fallen 20% in real terms compared to increases in the Consumer Price Index. At the same time, costs have continued to rise. 

If the Minister of Education intends to make up for the severe underfunding of universities by increasing tuition costs to students, VUWSA will resolutely oppose this outrageous proposition. This is no solution, when student debt sits at over $16 billion and students are struggling to afford or continue with study now more than ever.  

Better financial support for students to enter and stay in tertiary education, and funding for universities to keep their staff and maintain their infrastructure are inextricably linked issues. The Vice-Chancellor has inherited a tragedy not of his making. Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington is being forced to make decisions that impact the lives and careers of staff, and the quality of education for students. If we continue down this path of inadequate cost-of-living support for students and underfunding of universities, Aotearoa will reap the detrimental consequences to our culture, society and economy for many decades.  

The government holds the fate of tertiary education in its hands. In the coming weeks, we will be fighting alongside the Tertiary Education Union to push as hard as we can. At 12pm on Friday June 2nd, we are having a student-led event in the Hub at Kelburn Campus in support of our staff and to call upon the government to properly fund universities. 

If you are a student in need of support, please contact advocate@vuwsa.org.nz; if you are a Tertiary Education Union member, please contact nicki.wilford@teu.ac.nz.