Kerry Cox

An 8 per cent fall in university applications in Western Australia for 2006 entry had an immediate impact on staff numbers at Edith Cowan University.

STAFF costs at Western Australia's public universities have risen significantly as the institutions seek to deal with rising students numbers and improve their reputations at home and overseas.

WHEN Celebrate WA announced Western Australia's Citizen of Year awards for 2009 two weekends ago the presence of the University of Western Australia would not have escaped the attention of many.

International educators say they can see light at the end of a very long tunnel.

Western Australia’s public universities have continued to grow through a difficult period for the higher education sector, which was hit first by the GFC and then by adverse federal government immigration policies.

The state’s public universities are bracing for a likely fall in revenue next year, with the number of eligible domestic school leavers set to fall as a result of a change to the school starting age a decade ago.

SPECIAL REPORT: WA’s higher education sector is gearing up for change as the federal government considers major reforms.

Edith Cowan University has joined Murdoch University in freezing fees for students who enrol in an undergraduate degree this year amid concerns proposed government funding changes could drive down student enrolments.

The federal budget changes to higher education have yet to go to the Senate, but WA’s universities are considering their options.

Edith Cowan University has appointed Steve Chapman as its new vice-chancellor, to replace eight-year veteran Kerry Cox.

The heads of Western Australians universities have publicly warned the proposed legislative changes to higher education could reduce the level of public good universities provide and threaten more expensive fields of study such as medicine and science.

The falling dollar is attracting foreign students and bolstering fees at WA’s universities, but it’s not clear whether this will restore their once-fat surpluses.