A BLEAK OUTLOOK - ACADEMIC STAFF PERCEPTIONS OF CHANGES IN CORE ACTIVITIES IN AUSTRALIAN HIGHER-EDUCATION, 1991-96

A survey of the perceptions of academic staff from three representativ e universities to recent higher education reform in Australia has reve aled a high level of concern in many areas of academic responsibility and a dismal assessment of future prospects. This article reports resp onses to issues involving the mainstream activities of teaching and re search as well as to the standard of undergraduate students and the ex tent of academic freedom. The quality of new students, of teaching and research are all identified as in decline. Changes in university mana gement to a more corporate style are seen as a threat to academic free dom. Established research universities are concerned that scarce resea rch funds are being stretched too far. This perception is leading to n ew divisions in the unified higher education sector.