Flinders University is participating in The Advertiser’s tertiary sector feature this week, with articles scheduled across seven days detailing the role of universities in South Australia’s economic recovery, updates on capital works, and how the sector is weathering the COVID-19 storm.

So far this week discussions have surrounded the financial challenges facing universities and how students have dealt with the changes brought on by the pandemic.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Stirling said for Flinders University the shortfall is “$20 million this year and I’ve told staff it could be $46 million next year.

“Investments go up and down – I’m not going to be cutting jobs because we’ve lost money on the stock market. We’ve absorbed the $20 million of savings we required this year.

“For 2021, we might face this $46 million hole. That’s our worst-case projection. What we’re seeking to do is to ensure that does not become our reality and that we can grow our revenues to cover some or all of that position.”

The remainder of the week is expected to focus on the below areas:

• Wednesday – international students
• Thursday – staff, including how they are managing in the new operating mode, online innovation, and the resumption of lectures
• Friday –  universities and economic recovery, business engagement and supporting growth including a case study from Flinders University
• Saturday – capital works, including an update on Flinders Village
• Sunday – leaders’ round table

Subscribers can view published articles:

South Australian universities attempt to hold as many jobs as possible despite shortfall of hundreds of millions, including research examples and updates from the universities on research spending commitments.
Student representatives report good uptake of online learning, but need to deal with isolation, wellbeing and job prospects, including nursing students’ COVID-19 efforts case study.