Sharing the funding pie

"As Vice-Chancellor of Wellington's leading tertiary institution, I feel a responsibility to let students and their parents understand the full picture when they look at what political parties offer by way of student allowances this election year.

"Already, funding of universities in New Zealand compares unfavourably to other countries, such as Australia. For example, the University of Melbourne, which is now attracting some of New Zealand's top students, has twice the income per student of any New Zealand university.

"Though we have a high level of investment in tertiary education by OECD standards, an unusually high proportion of this is spent on students. In terms of total public investment in tertiary education, New Zealand spents 42 per cent on financial aid to students against an OECD average of 18 per cent.

"Only 58 per cent of the tertiary budget is spent directly on institutions, compared with an OECD average of 82 per cent. This has significant implications for the quality of our university education.

"It comes down to the issue of quality versus affordability. If the pendulum between quality and affordability swings too far toward affordability, students will be able to afford to come to university but the quality of the education they receive will be compromised.

"That won't be good for anyone - students, universities, or New Zealand." - VUW Vice-Chancellor Professor Pat Walsh writing an opinion piece for The Dominion Post