Why tertiary institutes are planning massive job and course cuts

The Government has stepped in to announce a $128 million funding package to assist our struggling universities.   This comes after a proposal to cut more than 200 jobs at Victoria University of Wellington, which would have seen entire courses removed from the syllabus and others folded into neighbouring departments - just one of many universities that have had to take this measure amid growing budget holes.  While the Government has responded to the furious calls from staff to plug the funding gap, serious questions persist about whether these steps go far enough.   So why are our universities struggling to make ends meet, and what does this mean for the future of tertiary education?  Dougal McNeill, a senior lecturer in English at Victoria University of Wellington and the Tertiary Education Union branch president gives Damien his take on whether the Government’s handout is enough.  Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network. Host: Damien VenutoProducer: Shaun D WilsonExecutive Producer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.