Non-academics form majority of university staff – Report

An investigation into ‘administrative bloat’ has found New Zealand universities employ more non-academic staff than their international peers, writes Matthew Littlewood for Otago Daily Times.

The University of Otago has pushed back against the new report from the pro-free-market public-policy think tank New Zealand Initiative. However, the report, Blessing or Bloat?, says non-academics form the majority of staff at New Zealand universities, and have for at least a decade. And there has been a shift towards ‘managerialism’ at the institutes of learning.

In response, University of Otago human resources director Kevin Seales said operating a university depended on not just providing excellence in teaching and learning, but also pastoral care and operational services, such as IT support, library, health and recreational services. “Both must be priorities.”
Full report on the Otago Daily Times site