Despite UOW reporting a rise in enrolments from 2019 to 2023, subjects have continued to be slashed across all faculties.

The University of Wollongong is yet to provide a report on 2024 enrolment numbers.

UOW introduced a plan to cut subjects and staff  last year in a $21 million savings initiative.

UOW has claimed that the plan was formed in response to a new Australian Government migration policy that was expected to cause a $35 million drop in revenue.

Since then, a new plan has been introduced which is looking to cut out an entire faculty and reduce the amount of schools from 18 to 11.

National Tertiary Education Union organiser, Martin Cubby, recently organised an assembly called ‘DON’T CUT THE HEART OUT OF UOW’.

The assembly called on university management to stop the job cuts and any forced redundancies, and to treat UOW staff with respect.

The NTEU has also predicted that a significant number of staff will be affected by the proposed changes.

“There was a lot of budget set by the university expecting continued growth in relation to international student enrolments,” Mr Martin said in an interview with UOWTV.

“To budget, to say, ‘it’s only ever gonna grow’ after they had just been through COVID is really problematic.”

The assembly saw a great number of protestors demanding action from the university, though administration has yet to respond to the demands put forth by the NTEU.