Media releases

Responding to the global pandemic and positioning Federation University Australia for strong growth were the university’s key focuses in 2021.

Federation’s 2021 Annual Report tabled in the Victorian Parliament today shows that a loss in international student revenue and a drop in domestic student enrolments due to online learning fatigue were significantly impacting the university’s financial position.

A series of priority projects were launched to help offset these impacts and to start implementing Federation’s Strategic Plan 2021-2025 objective of building a strong and sustainable university.

The focus has been on transforming the student experience, renewing teaching programs, taking a digital-first approach, making better use of real estate assets and working in partnership with industry, government and the community to ensure research, programs and courses drive economic growth and jobs.

This work, together with savings measures, helped to deliver a net operating surplus of $33.1 million in 2021, and was further supported by a one-off positive revaluation of the university’s investment holdings.

However, the university has an underlying deficit, and this will require addressing in 2022 and beyond.

A copy of the Annual Report is available here 2021 Annual Report

Quotes attributable to Federation University Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Duncan Bentley

“The global pandemic has been an unpredictable force for the education sector and our university. I’m proud to say that we have risen to these challenges through our strategic plan and the priority projects that are enabling us to build a strong and sustainable university.”

“We have begun a significant transformation of the university to better align with future jobs growth in the regional communities we serve, as well as the needs of students, industry, government, community and employers.”

“This is being underpinned by a concentrated effort to modernise our operations, make strategic investments to support growth and take advantage of our position as Victoria’s regional university.”

“Federation’s underlying deficit underscores the need to continue building a strong and sustainable university in the years ahead.”