UTS Axes 1,110 Subjects And 134 Full-Time Jobs As Mass Cuts Begin

The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) has announced the closure of its schools of education and public health amidst a multi-million-dollar restructure set to axe more than 1,100 subjects and 134 jobs.

In a proposal released on Wednesday, the university said it would move to combine its trans-disciplinary and business schools in a new faculty of Business and Law.

The university’s International Studies and Education and Public Health schools will also be dropped, alongside its teacher training program.

The change will see the number of schools drop from 24 to 15, as well as the cessation of 167 courses, encompassing more than 1000 subjects and 134 full-time jobs.

Vice-Chancellor Andrew Parfitt said the university was facing limited revenue growth following policy restrictions on domestic and international students.

“UTS is focused on achieving a sustainable future where students can continue to get the quality of education they expect, and we can continue to deliver research outcomes for the communities that benefit from our work,” he said in a statement.

“Our commitment to public education and focus on the student experience is paramount.”

The cuts come following the announcement of the university’s redundancy program dubbed Operational Sustainability Initiative (OSI) aiming to to save the institution $100 million. The program would see an estimated 400 staff lose their jobs before the end of the year, approximately 10 per cent of the university’s current workforce.

Staff commitment and expertise sacrificed, says union

NTEU NSW Division Secretary Vince Caughley said the university’s choice to close the schools was an abandonment of their duty to staff, students, and the wider community.

“They are choosing short-term financial optics over their responsibility to deliver quality higher education,” he said.

“UTS recorded record income in 2024, staff costs are lower in real terms than in 2019, and their own modelling shows the university would return to surplus by 2029 without cuts. Yet the Vice-Chancellor and his executives are inflicting turmoil on staff simply to bring that surplus forward by two years, all while blowing $93 million on consultants in the last three years.”

During consultations with management, staff offered viable alternatives to job and course cuts, but these were ignored by the university.

“Why call for consultation if staff won’t be listened to?” asked UTS Branch President Dr Sarah Attfield. “The lack of transparency, the decisions made without consulting staff and students, and the shutting down of valid criticism have all led to staff losing faith in the leadership at UTS.

“Today, staff who have dedicated their working lives to this institution are being treated as expendable. Their commitment, expertise and passion for education is being sacrificed for the sake of a manufactured urgency to return to surplus.”

Speaking to the ABC, the NSW Department of Education Secretary Murat Dizdar confirmed he had been in contact with Parfitt about the changes, which is subject to a consultation period until October 15.

“My understanding is this is a complex change process for the university,” he said.

“I have made representation and urged him to look closely at the teacher and education courses.”

Any approved changes to the university will come into effect from 2026.