When vice chancellor Adam Shoemaker took on the top job at Victoria University, the state was emerging from the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Things were looking up and people were preparing for a better 2021. Then the Delta variant arrived and the state was once again plunged into a lengthy lockdown.
As the state once again slowly opens up, Professor Shoemaker is aware the education sector and the broader community have been badly battered, seeing both the responsibilities and opportunities for VU going forward.
The focus has been shaped by a new strategy designed virtually from scratch over a 12-week period beginning in March this year, with input from almost 1000 staff and students.
“We able to do a new strategic plan faster than I’ve ever seen before,” he said.
Adding to the challenges will be the hit to revenue of a drop in international students, down from about 18 per cent to just eight per cent of the student body.
“Yes it’s been a problem, it’s been a hit, but we have other things that we’re doing to try and provide a bulwark against that,” Prof Shoemaker said.
The University is also aware that many of the more than 40,000 students will be in financial difficulty, with much of the casual and part-time work drying up.
“Students have done it particularly hard, think of all the part-time jobs that have disappeared,” Prof Shoemaker said.
VU has provided direct support where possible and is also focusing on helping people retrain and up-skill for new opportunities, particularly those living across Melbourne’s western suburbs, hardest hit by the pandemic.
There will be renewed focus on key pathways in areas like healthcare and more energy put into new and existing partnerships such as those with the Western Bulldogs, Western United, Greater Western Water and Western Health.
While the technology and online learning that has enabled teaching to continue through lockdown will remain a feature going forward, Professor Shoemaker said people are also excited about the prospect of a physical return to campuses.
“It’s accelerated, but people still yearn for the personal relationships and people still need contact with other people,” he said.
