Statement from Deakin University Vice-Chancellor Professor Jane den Hollander on the 2014-15 Federal Budget

The 2014-15 Budget, the first from the Abbott Government, is ambitious and likely to be far-reaching with sweeping changes for all of us – as students, as staff and for the communities Deakin serves.

Some will believe the changes are long overdue, others will be horrified.

But we know, especially from our experience in Geelong that we now live in a very fast moving and globally connected world and change is essential if Australia is to prosper and be a force for innovation, for public good and for the values and activities that are in our national interest.

This Budget statement is not the end of life as we know it. No Budget ever is. We do, however, need to carefully consider the implication of the matters that affect us.

Our current and future students will be concerned about fee deregulation, what that means for their futures and how they will manage; our staff will be equally concerned about what competition from the private providers actually means, how research funding will fare and what the implications are for the future of the academy if PhD students are required to pay fees. And we need to think of these matters in the context of the other implications for all of us as citizens of Australia. These matters are connected.

It is true that we argued against additional fee deregulation. We lobbied for consistent investment in higher education. And we remain convinced that a world class and equitable higher education system requires strong and consistent policy and long-term Government investment.

It is within this context that we welcome the decision to retain the demand driven system, which has enabled those who wish for an education to have one, alongside those who never have to think about this option because it is a rite of passage.

On the other hand, the reduction in Research Training Scheme funding is an unexpected and surprising change to Australia's research funding and a potential blow to the nation's innovation system. It is also worth noting that the Budget cut $31.1 million from the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency – also surprising given the expanded role the Regulator will have in relation to non-university higher education providers.

There are definitely challenges in the Budget, but there are also opportunities. Our responsibility now is to respond to the new reality we confront.

Deakin will continue to hold true to our promise which in just 40 years has taken us from a green field site to a ranking of 59 globally among universities under 50 years old. We will take heart from what we have achieved, be confident that we can make our own opportunities and that while change is now the only constant, we will find the path that enables us to meet the challenges ahead and do what we do best: provide education for the jobs of the future and research that makes a difference to the communities we serve.