An external review of the language schools under the Australian National University’s College of Asia and the Pacific has recommended major changes to the courses as well as governance. The recommendations come as the Australian National University's School of Culture, History and Language faces a budget deficit of $1.5 million this year. The changes would include moving language courses online, which could result up to 40 job cuts.

At an all-staff meeting on [when], around 100 of the School’s staff have been informed of their impending fate that would be announced on Dec. 1. But according to National Tertiary Education Union ACT division secretary Rachel Bahl, the school’s internal finances were not clearly reviewed.

"We're relying on management says on what the finances are like, so staff are going 'we need independent auditors to tell us what the finances are really like'," Bahl told 666 ABC Canberra.

According to her, even though there has been a budget deficit, the present situations are a result of bad management decisions in the past, for which the staff will be made to bear the brunt.

"If you have star researchers you have to pay for them in some way,” she said. "We know everything costs money but having money as the sole determinant for whether staff keep their jobs seems to be very short-sighted."

The review panel, which consisted of academics from Duke, Hawaii, Harvard and Macquarie universities, found that there is a gross mistrust among the staff over the management of the school, college and the university. The report also pointed out that many of the staff members feel undervalued and threatened at the school. Despite the negative atmosphere, the school is considered one of ANU’s strongest research performers.

According to a formal statement issued by the ANU, the review was meant to safeguard the sustainability of the research facility.

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