USyd Releases Plan to Abolish Learning and Maths Centres

By Jossie Warnant

The University of Sydney (USyd) has announced plans to abolish the Mathematics Centre and Learning Centre. The proposed changes include 20 staff redundancies.  

The plan will be implemented from October 2020 to February 2021 and will see all mathematics learning support deferred to faculties via a range of modes including Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS). The Learning Centre will be combined with the Centre for English Teaching. The current Academic Enrichment model will be terminated and replaced by a Learning Hub.  

The plan also includes the removal of research funding for academics who run language and learning support workshops. The University’s Draft Change Proposal said that this loss of research expertise will be mitigated by creating a Research Advisory Board that will include academics who will inform and conduct research on Learning Hub initiatives. 

The Learning and Maths Centres provide support to students via a series of online resources, consultations and face-to-face workshops. These services are often utilised by first year and international students who may be unfamiliar with or struggling with university study and academic communication styles. 

Staff and students have expressed concerns regarding the fact that the University has not adequately acknowledged the important role of the Learning and Maths Centres to student education. 

The University’s Draft Communication Plan said that the Student Life Survey (2020) indicated that 85.8% of survey respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the Learning Centre is an important service to the student community. 

“These centres provide crucial support for students, particularly for non-traditional pathways and international students,” said third year international student, Aman Kapoor. 

An online petition has been created to save the Learning Centre and Maths Centre and currently has over 100 signatures. 

The Draft Change Proposal said that “cost is not a driver for the change” but that as a result of the proposed changes there will be an “18% decrease in continuing and fixed-term staff costs.” 

“We want to streamline and enhance our support for our students, and put in place a central team and technology platform. This work is unrelated to our COVID-related savings measures,” said a University of Sydney spokesperson. 

This announcement follows ongoing student protests against course and staff cuts at USyd. Most recently, students occupied the F23 Administration Building to demand the reversal of cuts to staff in the Medical Sciences and Learning Centre.