The cuts were outlined in a restructure proposal paper sent to University of Ballarat staff for consultation.

The university, which operates dozens of TAFE courses in Ballarat and western Victoria, this week announced up to 60 programs would no longer be offered due to the state government slashing funding in its budget.

In an email sent to staff and obtained by The Courier yesterday, University of Ballarat vice-chancellor David Battersby said the cuts were necessary due to the net funding cut of up to $20 million.

The draft shows that, should the proposal go ahead, entire courses, including those in horticulture, finance, live production and racing will be closed down.

CLICK HERE FOR THE PROPOSED LIST OF COURSES

Business administration will lose all but one course and others such as hospitality will be severely affected.

However, University of Ballarat pro vice-chancellor of schools and programs Professor Andy Smith said the list was not final.

Her Majesty’s Theatre manager Graeme Russell said losing live production would be a huge hit to Ballarat.

“It has turned out fantastic technicians,” Mr Russell said.

“The course has been seriously beneficial to Her Majesty’s.”

Ballarat Turf Club chief executive Lachlan McKenzie said they were dismayed to see the extent of cuts to the racing courses.

“We are meeting with the university to discuss the cuts next week,” Mr McKenzie said.

“Following the discussions, if we think it is worthwhile, we will make a submission to the university regarding the cuts.”

Mr McKenzie said they would be disappointed to see cuts in any course which would see an end to qualifications assisting those working in the racing industry.

Committee for Ballarat chief executive John Kilgour said the cuts would have a major impact on the number of students participating in school-based training which could have a knock-on effect on job placements.

Sovereign Hill chief executive Jeremy Johnson said the culling of the hospitality department, which could lose half the courses, would be a backwards step for tourism.

“These proposals send a wrong signal at the time when the tourism industry in regional areas is struggling,” Mr Johnson said.

Pro vice-chancellor of Schools and Programs Professor Andy Smith said the list was not final.

“This is not a final list. We are in a consultation with staff over the next two weeks about these programs,” Professor Smith said.

“We decided on these programs after a detailed assessment of their long term viability under the Victorian government training funding system.”

Professor Smith said the university was retaining 70 per cent of the TAFE programs, keeping in mind the needs of Ballarat business and the community.

“This is particularly so in regards to our apprenticeship programs.”

National Tertiary Education Union branch president Jeremy Smith said the impact of the proposed cuts would be very deep.

“In a way that doesn’t surprise us, given the extent of the state government’s funding cuts,” he said.

“It is hard to see how the courses that are disappearing can ever come back.

“The accumulated staff expertise as well as reputation of those programs will be very difficult to re-establish.”

Mr Smith said the cuts would narrow the range of offerings of the university’s TAFE sector to apprenticeship and skills training and preparatory programs.