Postgrads a threatened species at Charles Darwin University

Postgraduate students at Charles Darwin University are preparing for a drawn out campaign on inadequate facilities and resources, while the University admits that Federal funding meant to support postgraduate research has been diverted to other areas.

Research students have been told that they will no longer be able to use departmental office space, and have set up a "tent embassy' on the grounds of the University in protest. Students intend to take out advertisements in local media asking for support from future students.

In a heated meeting with postgraduates earlier this week, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research admitted that federal funding for postgraduates had been diverted to other areas. "This admission vindicates out concerns," said campaign director Trevor Le Lievre. "Postgraduate research students, who for years struggled to get basic resources, are being thrown out of their offices..." Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations President Stephen Horton has sent a letter of support for postgraduates to the University's Council.

"The situation at CDU is appalling, but sadly has been repeated at universities across the country," said Mr Horton today. "Postgraduates undertake about two thirds of the research conducted at universities - the research on which a university's prestige is based. Yet universities consistently divert funding meant to support this research towards other areas like undergraduate teaching. It is an inditement against years of under-funding from a negligent government. Sadly, it is too often postgraduates who bear the brunt of these cuts."

CDU postgraduates say that the crisis began with the arrival of the current Vice-Chancellor in late 2003. Since then Council meetings have been held in confidence, and the culture of collegiality at the university has been eroded.

The CDU postgraduates are demanding:

• Researchers be returned to their rightful work place within the Schools and Faculties
• The position of Dean and Director of Postgraduate Studies be re-established
• The positions of Associate Dean (Research) be re-established within each Faculty
• That a new policy of minimum resourcing be established after proper consultation with Postgraduate Researchers and Course Work Students
• Aim for Best Practice in Postgraduate Resourcing
• That the university commit itself to open, transparent and accountable governance

CAPA offers its full support to the CDU postgraduates fighting for open governance and appropriate facilities and resources. CAPA's statement of minimum resources for postgraduates is available from the CAPA web-site, www.capa.edu.au, under "CAPA Papers.'