'Vandals' dump core uni subjects of economics, languages

ALL economics study at the University of Western Sydney will be dumped except for one introductory course for business students.

ALL economics study at the University of Western Sydney next year will be dumped except for one introductory course for first-year business students, and those enrolling in Islamic studies won't be able to learn Arabic after cutbacks forced by a lack of demand.

UWS will also cut Spanish, Italian and financial planning, blaming falling demand for these subjects over the past four years. But critics say it's an "act of academic vandalism" and "a knee-jerk reaction" to changing preferences among school-leavers. Steve Keen, a high-profile economist who is among more than 30 staff destined to lose their jobs, says the federal government's demand-driven system, which allows universities to enrol as many students in a course as "qualify", is to blame.

"Instead of increasing competition, the demand-driven system is destroying it," Professor Keen said.

His theory is confirmed in an email to staff from vice-chancellor Jan Reid. In it, she says falling student demand and an uncertain political climate are behind the cuts. "Eighty-three per cent of our income is from our students," she writes.

"This year, with the intense competition from other universities in the Sydney basin in the 'uncapped' environment and flat international student numbers, we received $14 million less than we planned for, and 2013 will be no less straitened.

"There are indications that the federal government could cut projected allocations for higher education in the budget, and this will flow on to all universities, further exacerbating the competition for undergraduate enrolments.

"We know other universities in Sydney have dropped their cut-offs dramatically to take more students and will undoubtedly continue to do so."

Roy Green, dean of the business school at the University of Technology, Sydney, said it was "disappointing to see any university remove economics from a business degree".

"It provides the conceptual foundation, theory and context for understanding how business works," he said.

The closure of the three languages will leave UWS offering just Japanese and Chinese. It will need federal government approval to shut Arabic as it is listed as a "significant language".

Deputy vice-chancellor (academic and research) Wayne McKenna also said that UWS's partnership with the Centre for Excellence in Islamic Studies, along with Melbourne and Griffith universities, would not be compromised by the closure of Arabic. Nor would its bachelor of arts with a major in Islamic studies, even though the website encourages students to take a sub-major in Arabic.

Professor McKenna, asked if any other subjects were vulnerable for closure, said: "Not that I am aware of."

He later said there would be "no more surprises . . . comparable to economics".