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USyd members show support for the campaign online . Photo : Supplied
‘ Unnecessary and unfair ’
USyd medical science academics protest job plan .
University of Sydney academics have
launched a campaign against their employer ’ s decision to cut jobs in medical science fields .
The cohort believes USyd is making almost two dozen of its medical science academics redundant “ under false pretences ”.
The Defend Medical Science Education campaign held that the university ’ s plan would see all academics in physiology and pathology sacked and asked to reapply for fewer positions .
“ It ’ s unnecessary and unfair on both staff and students ,” the group ’ s Facebook page read .
Dr Meloni Muir , a senior lecturer in physiology , said : “ With medical science jobs on the chopping block , medical science research is also on the chopping block .
“ It is unconscionable to cut medical science research while we struggle through the COVID-19 pandemic . Research that impacts upon people ’ s health is paramount at this time and for the future .”
A USyd spokesperson said the plans predate the current pandemic and were the result of a long period of consultation with staff about future teaching needs .
“ They will allow us to focus on new teaching areas in medical science critical for the future health workforce , including digital health , bioinformatics and infectious disease .
“ We also discovered that some teaching was being duplicated across various schools . To stop that from continuing a small number of specialist medical science teaching staff currently working in the nursing and dental school will have the option of joining the School of Medical Sciences .”
On claims that research will be negatively impacted by the changes , the university said it expects the move will enhance research activity .
The spokesperson did not confirm the number of staff who will lose their job but expects it to be in line with the revised plan to declare 18.5 FTE redundant out of a total 107 FTE that are funded using income the faculty receives for teaching .
“ We are committed to being completely transparent with our staff about what is being planned and will continue to consult them during this process ,” the university said .
Professor of endocrine physiology Rebecca Mason said : “ We oppose this poorly developed change plan as it will severely impact the future of Medical Science education at the University of Sydney . Doctors who haven ’ t properly learnt how the body works are not good for your health .” ■
Teaching on the up
Change in public perception may counter teacher shortage .
The University of the Sunshine Coast
( USC ) is expecting a record number of students from its postgraduate education program to graduate over the next two years as Australia braces for a looming shortage of teachers .
Dr Susan Simon , USC ’ s Deputy Head of Education , said that enrolments in postgraduate education programs at the university in semester two this year had almost doubled compared with the same time last year .
“ Normally we would have had 50 , but this semester we have 90 people commencing in the Master of Teaching programs , which often appeal to non-school leavers with degrees who are considering a change of career ,” Simon said .
“ They can range from doctors , scientists , accountants , or people from the arts sector – anyone passionate about sharing their knowledge with future generations , or even to find more secure employment .” USC has also seen an increase in enrolments in its undergraduate education degrees in primary and secondary education since last year , with 208 enrolments in semester two 2020 compared with 153 at the same time last year .
Simon noted that the national shortage of schoolteachers has been forecast to impact a wide range of subject areas and year levels . She also said there would be a “ particular need ” to ensure adequate teacher numbers in remote and regional parts of Queensland .
“ Population growth in areas such as we are experiencing here on the Sunshine Coast , for example , means that we are going to need more teachers ,” she said .
In a 2019 article for the Sydney Morning Herald , Dr Tania Aspland , president of the Australian Council of Deans of Education , said : “ The profession is in crisis in terms of its status and not encouraging people to enter teaching .”
Department of Education and Training figures helped to support Aspland ’ s claims at the time , with teaching degree applications falling by 8.8 per cent between 2017 and 2018 and the number of offers made falling by 11.4 per cent .
Like others in the sector , the university ’ s deputy head of education stated that the pandemic lockdown has increased the public ’ s appreciation of the profession .
“ We have close relationships with teachers and school principals across the region and since lockdown they have noticed an increased admiration for the complexity of the profession and what it requires ,” she said . ■
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