Curtin Vice-Chancellor Slams Proposed WA University Merger

Curtin University's vice-chancellor has expressed strong opposition to a proposed merger of three Western Australian universities, describing it as a "solution looking for a problem" that would create unnecessary difficulties.

The WA government's plan to merge Curtin University, Murdoch University, and the University of Western Australia (UWA) has sparked intense debate, with concerns raised by all three universities and many staff members.

WA's Tertiary Education Minister Tony Buti argues that the state's universities are in a "race to the bottom" and that many students have told him they are receiving a "substandard education".

The government claims that a mega university catering to around 120,000 students would help keep the sector competitive, attract more students and investment, and ensure that universities are world-class.

"There's a hyper-competition between our universities. We want to ensure that our universities are world-class, that is what this is all about," Mr Buti said.

But Curtin University's vice-chancellor Harlene Hayne hit back at Mr Buti's claims, stating that the data shows 90 per cent of students who graduate from a Western Australian university get a job within six months and that employers rate them amongst the best in Australia.

"If you actually look at the data, 90 per cent of the students who graduate from a Western Australian university get a job within six months and the employers rate them amongst the best in Australia," she told 102.5 Perth. "I don't think that's the definition of a sub-par degree."

Professor Hayne also responded to figures showing that five individual eastern state universities each received more research funding than all four WA public universities combined, laying the blame partly at the WA government's feet.

She disputed figures provided by the government that showed the number of students completing undergraduate degrees ranged from 49 per cent at Murdoch to 75 per cent at UWA, saying that was based on "an old-fashioned" benchmark.

Among those arguing in favour of the merger is Mark Barnaba, who will chair a steering committee that will provide expert advice throughout the business case process to the government.

He said the state's university sector was "punching well below its weight" and that the merger was about what was best for all WA taxpayers.

"I just don't understand, when the basis for this is a stronger university sector and fundamental tertiary and economic reform, why there wouldn't be growth and further opportunity," he said.

More than two-thirds of WA public university staff oppose mergers, according to a recent survey by the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU).

NTEU WA division secretary Scott Fitzgerald, a professor at Curtin, said public universities existed to serve students, staff and the wider community.

"Any decision about their future should be through that focus, not a simplistic approach that puts profits over people," he said.