MEDIA RELEASE

Slip in University Rankings - Funding Not the Problem

2 OCTOBER 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Responding to the slippage of New Zealand universities' rankings, Jordan Williams, Executive Director of the Taxpayers’ Union says:

"New Zealand’s universities should look in the mirror rather than complain to the Government and claim they are under funded. Academics are crying poverty, when in reality, OECD figures show that New Zealand spends well above the average.”

According to the OECD, New Zealand spends 1.9% of GDP on tertiary education. That’s above the OECD average of 1.4% and the United States (1.3%); the United Kingdon (1.3%); and Australia (1.1%). Source: Education at a Glance 2014 - OECD 2014.

“What the results show is that our universities need to focus on quality not quantity.”

Earlier this year the Taxpayers’ Union criticised Otago University for a study into thegraffiti and litter in Wellington's walkways. Otago University also took flack in 2012 forground breaking research confirming that Dunedin students are promiscuous.

“Rather than throwing taxpayer money at proving self-evident theories such as there being litter in walkways and sex on campuses, our universities may find they get higher rankings if they focused on real research."

ENDS

© Scoop Media