The University of Notre Dame Australia wants to end “substantial inefficiencies”

It follows senior management departures (CMM Jul 27) and a voluntary redundancy scheme (CMM August 27).

Now the university wants to consolidate 16 academic schools into three faculties, * arts, science, law and business * education, philosophy and theology and * medicine, nursing-midwifery, health sciences.

There would be three executive deans and eight heads of national schools. Research institutes would be based in faculties. “Management in the schools” will be very nervous, a learned reader remarks.

The university says change is needed to end “substantial inefficiency” in academic programmes, course administration and “campus based processes.”

However, the proposal also refers to a growth in “teaching scholar” and research academic positions – the university academic workforce is now “predominantly” teaching and research.