A new report says Australia’s quality of education has been eroded by “long-term underfunding”. 

A new report commissioned by the National Tertiary Education Union bring concerns surrounding Australia's public universities to the forefront. 

Decades of financial restraint and corporate influence have undermined the democratic governance and equitable delivery of higher education, posing significant challenges for both university staff and the wider Australian community.

Key findings from the report by economist Eliza Littleton highlight the pressing issues facing public universities today. 

The most striking revelation is the decline in federal government funding for universities, which has dropped from 0.9 per cent of GDP in 1995 to just 0.6 per cent in 2021. 

This represents a $6.5 billion (46.5 per cent) decrease in current higher education funding.

Furthermore, concerns over the quality of education have reached a tipping point. 

A national poll conducted by the Australia Institute's Centre for Future Work revealed that a significant 74 per cent of Australians are worried about the decline in government funding per student over the past decade, with 35 per cent expressing grave concerns.

The report also sheds light on the increasing reliance on private revenue sources by universities, which have surged from 21.7 per cent in 1995 to a record-high of 43 per cent in 2019. 

This shift has raised apprehensions among 83 per cent of Australians, who fear that universities prioritise profit at the expense of education.

Another troubling trend highlighted in the report is the surge in casual employment within universities. While overall employment has grown by 2.3 per cent annually between 1999 and 2019, casual employment has surged at nearly double that rate, accounting for a staggering 40 per cent of jobs at public universities.

Australians overwhelmingly support reforms in the higher education sector. A resounding 79 per cent agree that Vice-Chancellor salaries should be capped, ensuring they do not exceed the Prime Minister's income. 

Additionally, more than two-thirds of Australians (68 per cent) worry about larger class sizes and fewer faculty per student, underscoring the importance of maintaining quality education standards.

Affordability is another significant issue plaguing higher education in Australia. 

The average HELP debt has doubled since 2008, leaving students burdened with an average debt of $24,771 in 2022. With university fees in Australia ranking high compared to international standards, 67 per cent of Australians believe it costs too much to attend university.

The report says there is an urgent need for the Federal Government's newly announced ‘Universities Accord’ to address these challenges and restore public higher education to a sustainable path. 

Australians overwhelmingly agree (85 per cent) that every individual, regardless of financial circumstances, should have the opportunity to receive a university education if they meet the necessary requirements.