In an email to students and Warrnambool campus graduates on Friday, Professor den Hollander said she would speak about the challenges and options Deakin is considering for the future of higher education in Warrnambool.

The vice chancellor said the university had worked hard to improve student numbers and neutralise the impacts of a demand-driven funding system. 

“Deakin has invested $45 million improving infrastructure, venues and residential accommodation at its Warrnambool Campus,” she wrote.  

“More than $5 million was invested in marine science, including a new, state-of-the-art research vessel. We added a third year to our law degree and we upgraded our nursing simulation equipment to the best in the university.

“We also continued to increase spending on marketing and advertising.” 

Professor den Hollander reiterated her earlier comments that around 40 percent of students at Warrnambool receive some form of scholarship, which she said provided an opportunity to attend university those students may not have had otherwise. 

She also outline three “insurmountable issues preventing growth” at the campus. 

“Firstly, Warrnambool has an ATAR cut off of 50. Around 67 per cent of students come from the local region, yet many other school leavers do not achieve the required ATAR. Rather than enter a pathway program as a stepping stone for eligibility to Deakin, those students are choosing to go to another university,” Professor den Hollander said. 

“Second, many school leavers who do achieve the required ATAR are leaving home to study beyond Warrnambool, at our Burwood or Geelong campuses, or at other universities.”

“Thirdly, our industry engagement confirmed a growing gap between what Deakin offers - bachelor degrees through to PhDs - and the changing needs of the region’s students, businesses and the broader community, where the desire is mostly for certificate and diploma qualifications at the sub degree level.

“We don’t have those pathways for students to consider as an entry at Deakin and other universities are simply accepting those students directly into a degree.” 

Professor den Hollander said the issues were compromising “Deakin’s trademark student experience” at Warrnambool. 

“So we are looking for a new provider which is better able to meet the higher education needs of students and businesses in the region,” she said. 

“While we’re in discussions with a range of people and organisations, there is no deal on the table. However, I can assure you that we’re working on it.”