When Simon Birmingham suggested phasing out funding for the Melbourne model (HELP-eligible bachelor plus coursework masters) the University of Melbourne looked the minister’s plan dismissively up, disdainfully down and then effectively ignored it. Even before Thursday’s news that the education minister’s package did not have the Senate numbers the university made it plain that the M model was staying.

On Monday the university launched a new recruitment campaign based on the MM, with Provost Margaret Sheil telling CMM, “the University of Melbourne remains committed to the Melbourne Model.” And last week the university published a tenth anniversary article for alumni explaining what a splendid thing is the MM. Ministers come and but UniMelb magisterially rolls on.