Curtin University warns proposed merger 'solves problems we don't have'

Curtin University's vice-chancellor says a planned merger of three Western Australian universities "solves problems that we don't have and creates problems that we don't need".

The WA government's decision to push ahead with a business case to merge Curtin University, Murdoch University and the University of Western Australia (UWA) has sparked fierce debate, with all three universities and many of their staff raising concerns.

But WA's Tertiary Education Minister Tony Buti said the state's universities were in a "race to the bottom" and that many students had told him they were receiving a "substandard education".

The government argues a mega university catering to around 120,000 students would keep the sector competitive while helping them attract more students and investment. 

"There's a hyper-competition between our universities. We want to ensure that our universities are world-class, that is what this is all about," Mr Buti said. 

'Solution looking for a problem'

But Curtin University's vice-chancellor Harlene Hayne said the proposal amounted to a "solution looking for a problem", slamming it as a costly process that aimed to "fix something that is not broken".

Professor Hayne hit back at Mr Buti's claims WA's universities were in a race to the bottom.

"If you actually look at the data, 90 per cent of the students who graduate from a Western Australian university get a job within six months and the employers rate them amongst the best in Australia. I don't think that's the definition of a sub-par degree," she told 102.5 ABC Perth.

Professor Hayne also responded to figures that revealed five individual eastern state universities each received more of Australia’s research funding than all four WA public universities combined. 

She laid the blame for that partly at the WA government's feet, saying many of those universities received seed funding from their state governments, allowing them to generate more research funding as part of a "virtuous cycle".

She also disputed figures provided by the government that showed the number of students completing undergraduate degrees ranged from 49 per cent at Murdoch to 75 per cent at UWA, saying that was based on "an old-fashioned" benchmark that required students to finish a degree within six years. 

Professor Hayne rejected the idea that four public universities was too many for WA's growing population, saying it had fewer than other states and many other countries on a per capita basis. 

Sector 'punching well below its weight'

Among those arguing in favour of the merger is Mark Barnaba, who will chair a steering committee that will provide expert advice throughout the business case process to the government. 

He said the state's university sector was "punching well below its weight" and the merger was about what was best for all WA taxpayers. 

Mr Barnaba told 102.5 ABC Perth the most optimistic cost-benefit estimate put the benefit of the amalgamation at 15 times the transition cost, but that the final price tag would be determined by the business case. 

He disputed Professor Hayne's claims the merger would result in job losses, saying it was about creating stronger universities. 

"I just don't understand, when the basis for this is a stronger university sector and fundamental tertiary and economic reform, why there wouldn't be growth and further opportunity," he said.

Mr Barnaba said the committee, which was expected to present its findings to the government by mid-2027, would respect the history and customs of the universities throughout the process.

Backlash from staff

More than two-thirds of WA public university staff oppose mergers, according to a recent survey by the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU).

More than three-quarters of Curtin University staff were against a three-way merger, with 66 and 68 per cent of UWA and Murdoch staff in opposition, respectively.

NTEU WA division secretary Scott Fitzgerald, a professor at Curtin, said public universities existed to serve students, staff and the wider community.

"Any decision about their future should be through that focus, not a simplistic approach that puts profits over people," he said. 

"Staff want real governance reform and an end to the corporatisation of their universities. A merger would double down on an approach that has already failed them."