The University of Newcastle has hit back at claims that it ignored feedback about a recent organisational restructure that resulted in the loss of 110 jobs.
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It follows the delivery of a petition containing 4500 signatures to Vice-Chancellor Alex Zelinsky this week.
The Community Petition Against Job Cuts which has been signed by students, staff, alumni, calls for the reversal of cuts associated with the restructure.
The university argues the change program is necessary to achieve long-term financial sustainability. It estimates the changes will result in savings of more than $30 million annually.
However the National Tertiary Education Union has accused the institution of putting profit before quality teaching and research.
"As an alternative to ill-considered staff cuts, the petition expresses a vision that values quality higher education: research, teaching and quality education for our region's students, rather than continual surpluses. After all, the university is a not-for-profit institution." NTEU Newcastle president Dan Conway said.
"The complete disregard for wishes of staff, students and the community shows we have a vice-chancellor who is intent on leaving his mark on the institution, no matter the fall out. It amounts to institutional vandalism.
"The manner in which these changes have progressed and the way in which the VC has responded to any criticism from any level shows we have a leader who is out of touch and not listening to his community."
Vice-Chancellor Alex Zelinsky said the university had directly responded to almost 4000 queries, suggestions and thoughtful feedback on the change proposal papers that were circulated in March.
"It is not accurate for the NTEU to claim we are being ignorant. Everyone involved in this process has worked to meet the change objectives and help secure our financial stability through considered planning, consultation, and implementation plans that are respectful to those impacted," he said.
"Through the feedback process, the team have accepted and adapted the proposed changes where better solutions or alternatives have been agreed on at least 200 occasions. We 've listened, we've taken staff feedback seriously, we've accommodated a lot of suggestions."
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He said the feedback contained in the petition would be considered.
"I accept that people have a voice on this," Professor Zelinsky said.
"The impacts of this change process have not been lost on me or anyone at the university, and our rationale for change has been discussed at length.
"To be honest, I find the manner in which the NTEU has conducted themselves in the execution of people's right to petition and make representations on behalf of unnamed spokespeople quite disingenuous."
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