THE University of Ballarat is set for another round of staff redundancies and course closures following TAFE funding cuts.
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A document sent to staff this afternoon names 15 courses slated to be cut from the beginning of 2014.
Current students would be given an opportunity to finish their studies under the plan.
The TAFE restructure Phase 3 Consultation Paper also announces more staff redundancies.
"As a result of the further proposed VET program closures and the decline in VET student enrolments, it will be necessary to initiate further staff redundancies," it says.
State government funding cuts to TAFE institutes in 2011 and 2012 were blamed for the closures in the document.
The list of 15 courses is below.
In a media statement, University of Ballarat vice-chancellor Professor David Battersby said the university had been impacted by changes to the state's TAFE system over the past 18 months.
"By the end of 2013, there will have been a reduction in TAFE funding at UB by about $20 million and this is why our TAFE programs have to be under constant review to ensure their financial viability," he said.
"In 2011, there were 11,996 students enrolled in TAFE programs at UB and these numbers had declined to 10,741 by the end of 2012.
"By the end of 2013, there will have been a reduction in TAFE funding at UB by about $20 million"
"Although this decline is continuing in 2013, UB is still by far the largest provider of accredited training in the western region of Victoria.
"Traditionally, UB has had over 350 TAFE programs approved for offering. Last year, we cut about 50 of these because they had low enrolments or were not financially viable.
"This year, we have seen growth in a number of our TAFE programs particularly in community services, children’s services, disability studies, and nursing and aged care.
"However, a number of our VET programs were identified last year for a trial period in an attempt to increase their enrolments and funding viability."
PROPOSED COURSES TO BE CUT
The Business School
Diploma of Management
Diploma of Human Resources Management
Diploma of Project Management
Diploma of Business Administration
Certificate IV in Project Management
Certificate IV in Frontline Management
School of Education and Arts
Diploma of Library and Information Services
Advanced Diploma in Library and Information Services
School of Health Sciences
Diploma of Remedial Massage
Diploma of Remedial Massage/Diploma of Sustainability
Diploma of Fitness/Diploma of Remedial Massage
Certificate IV in Outdoor Recreation
Certificate IV in Massage Therapy Practice
Certificate IV in Fitness/Certificate IV in Massage Therapy Practice
Industry Skills Centre
Certificate IV in Civil Construction Supervision
