HE institutions warned to expect funding cuts next year

The Tertiary Education Commission in New Zealand has indicated some tertiary education institutions could face funding cuts next year, writes John Gerritsen for RNZ.

The commission’s annual guidance to institutions said they should not assume their funding would increase or even be maintained next year. “Total funding available for Vote Tertiary Education will be limited and we will need to reprioritise our investment in a fiscally constrained environment. This will mean disinvesting from lower-performing and-or some non-priority provision to ensure funding is directed towards the government’s priority areas … When planning for 2026, you should not assume your funding will be increased or maintained. We expect you to reprioritise your funding, where relevant, to respond to our priorities,” the guidance said.

Universities New Zealand Chief Executive Chris Whelan said the guidance sent a clear signal, but universities were not sure how it would play out.
Full report on the RNZ site