Record operating surplus for Australian universities
Australia’s universities continue to grow strongly, according to the latest report on their financial health.
Minister for Tertiary Education, Senator Chris Evans, today released the Finance 2010: Financial reports of Higher Education Providers. It shows the operating surplus of Australia’s 39 universities increased to $1.95 billion in 2010, an increase of 8.1 per cent compared to the 2009 result.
Eighteen Australian universities returned surpluses of more than $50 million.
Revenue for the sector increased from $19.9 billion in 2009 to $21.5 billion in 2010 – up 8.2 per cent. Australian Government funding, including loans to students, increased by 8.9 per cent to $12.4 billion in 2010.
Australian Universities – Operating Surplus ($m)
“Today’s report shows universities are well placed for the start of the demand driven funding system in 2012,” Senator Evans said.
“Universities have shown strong financial growth since coming out of the global financial crisis, supported by major injections of Australian Government funding in response to the Bradley Review of Higher Education in 2009.
“What is remarkable is that this financial growth has occurred despite the well-documented slowdown in international education which started to bite in 2009”.
Universities have now returned record operating surpluses six times in the last seven years. Since 2002, universities have recorded nine surpluses totalling $9.2 billion.
“I expect that 2012 will be an even stronger year for universities as it is the first year that the Government’s improved indexation arrangements take full effect,” Senator Evans said.
“Next year will also see the restoration of funding for student amenities and services, delivering substantial additional revenue to universities in 2012.
“Universities also stand to gain considerably from new streamlined visa arrangements which will underpin sustainable growth in their international operations next year.
“I would like to see universities using the resources they have been provided to invest more in their students to ensure students get the best learning experiences our universities can deliver”.
The report today also shows in 2010, the total net assets in higher education increased to $37.6 billion, up by nearly $2.5 billion, or 7.1 per cent, from 2009. External borrowings increased to $1.9 billion, but the debt to equity ratio remains modest having increased by only 1 per cent to 33 per cent.
“It is vital universities now demonstrate that these extra resources can produce the quality graduates Australia needs for its future workforce and improved productivity,” Senator Evans said.
“I have been up front with Australia’s university leaders that in the current budget environment, new injections of funding for universities in response to the Base Funding Review are not realistic.
“What this report shows is that Australian universities are going from financial strength to strength and that they are in a strong position to consolidate these gains next year”.
The finance report released today is derived from universities’ annual financial statements. The report is available at: http://www.deewr.gov.au/HigherEducation/Publications/FinanceReports/Pages/Finance2010.aspx
A full table of operating results is attached.
| University | Surplus ($m) |
|---|---|
| University of New South Wales | 141.1 |
| Australian National University | 137.2 |
| University of Sydney | 113.7 |
| Griffith University | 109.8 |
| University of Queensland | 106.1 |
| Macquarie University | 100.6 |
| University of Wollongong | 100.4 |
| La Trobe University | 99.2 |
| Deakin University | 83.0 |
| University of South Australia | 70.0 |
| University of Adelaide | 64.1 |
| University of Western Sydney | 61.4 |
| RMIT University | 58.8 |
| Flinders University | 56.4 |
| University of Tasmania | 54.5 |
| University of Melbourne | 53.6 |
| Monash University | 53.1 |
| University of Western Australia | 52.8 |
| Queensland University of Technology | 47.2 |
| Swinburne University | 45.3 |
| Curtin University of Technology | 40.9 |
| University of Newcastle | 36.5 |
| Murdoch University | 32.4 |
| University of Technology, Sydney | 29.8 |
| Victoria University | 23.6 |
| Australian Catholic University | 22.2 |
| Edith Cowan University | 21.0 |
| Charles Darwin University | 20.5 |
| University of Ballarat | 18.5 |
| James Cook University | 18.4 |
| University of Notre Dame Australia | 17.8 |
| Charles Sturt University | 16.8 |
| University of the Sunshine Coast | 16.3 |
| University of Southern Queensland | 14.6 |
| University of Canberra | 8.0 |
| Southern Cross University | 5.4 |
| University of New England | 2.3 |
| Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education | -0.5 |
| Central Queensland University | -6.3 |
| All Institutions | 1,946.4 |