Source : Perth Now news
Leadership disarray at the Australian National University has cost tens of thousands of dollars in enrolments and donations despite the institution pleading with major benefactors for financial help.
Reputational damage had been quantified at a much higher $100 million to the end of 2025, interim vice-chancellor Rebekah Brown told a Senate committee.
“It is very significant. We are still modelling the impact,” she said in Canberra on Friday.
Early analysis showed international student recruitment and the university’s donor pipeline had fallen significantly since concerns were first raised about Professor Brown’s predecessor, Genevieve Bell.
The university in late 2024 approved a $250 million cost-cutting program with little evidence of whether it was needed or could even be achieved, a government audit found this week.
It eventually led to Professor Bell and former chancellor Julie Bishop leaving the university.
Ms Bishop, a former foreign affairs minister, resigned in May after a tumultuous six years in the role, which included being cleared of bullying allegations.
ANU Council members also left because of the changes, which independent ACT senator David Pocock dubbed a “governance failure of epic proportions”.
The audit found the now-abandoned program saved only $74.8 million and associated redundancies cost $35.9 million.
Long-standing donors had been contacted by the university once they expressed they would no longer be giving money, the Senate committee was told.
New and repeat beneficiaries from China, the US and domestically were beginning to fill gaps left by the university’s reputational downfall.
“We’ve done a lot of work with alumni and donors in getting input into our next strategy, so we think we are on the pathway of restoring confidence,” Prof Brown said.
But student enrolments were still suffering and had barely risen since Renew ANU began imploding.
“Things are very challenged at ANU. There’s no doubt about that,” Prof Brown said.
It was revealed last week the ANU offered up to $5000 to prospective students to enrol in just one course next semester, in a first for Australian universities.
People who live more than 100km from the ANU campus in Canberra are eligible for the full amount, while those who live closer will be paid $3000.
University officials defended the bursary, which they said was to help students afford study during an economic downturn, not as an incentive for enrolment.
“We want people to have a terrific ANU education, and we know access, particularly relocation to Canberra, is very costly,” Prof Brown said.
“This is a tactical decision to really address access.
“It’s unfortunate the way it’s being reported.”
