Skip to content
QUT Creative Industries a university for the real world
  • Contact usContact us
Home
Study
  • Undergraduate

    Gain the skills and connections you need today and the career agility you need for the future.

  • Postgraduate

    Develop advanced professional skills with flexible and online course delivery.

  • Research training

    Pursue supervised applied research with world-leading researchers.

  • International students

    Study at the world’s first dedicated Creative Industries Faculty.

  • Scholarships

    Scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate students.

  • Real-world learning

    Work Integrated Learning internships and other opportunities.

  • Learning abroad

    Go global with a variety of creative, international experiences.

  • Schools engagement

    Connect with our students and access resources and competitions.

  • Oodgeroo Unit

    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student support centre.

  • Education for all

    Learn more about our equity and widening participation programs.

  • Single-unit study

    Study individual units for personal or professional development.

Explore
  • Oodgeroo Unit

    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student support centre.

  • Education for all

    Learn more about our equity and widening participation programs.

  • Single-unit study

    Study individual units for personal or professional development.

Research
  • Our research

    Research across creative practice, design, digital media and journalism.

  • Real-world partnerships

    Access thought-leadership and policy insights in the creative industries.

  • Impact

    Learn how our collaborative research projects have positively impacted communities, the economy and the environment.

  • Find an expert

    Search for one of our researchers.

  • Doctor of Philosophy

    Pursue supervised applied research in the creative industries.

  • Doctor of Creative Industries

    Explore artistic and design practice in a range of settings.

  • Master of Philosophy

    Build your research skills and join our collaborative postgraduate community.

  • Become a design researcher

    Employ design-led research to tackle major societal challenges

  • Become a digital media and communication researcher

    Work alongside senior researchers to address emerging challenges.

  • QUT Design Lab

    A hub for a diverse team of academics, research students and industry professionals.

  • Digital Media Research Centre

    A world-leading communication, media, and law research centre.

Engage
  • Engage

    Collaborate and innovate with artists, designers, technologists and entrepreneurs.

  • Work with our students

    Inject creativity into your workforce and become one of our industry partners.

  • Schools engagement

    Connect with our students and access resources and competitions.

  • Alumni

    Get to know our diverse network of professionals growing the creative economy.

  • Support the creative industries

    Shape a creative future by giving or partnering with us and create real impact.

  • Research partnerships

    Drive research and development in your organisation or industry sector.

  • Giving to QUT

    Create a brighter future and make a real world difference.

About
  • About us

    The world’s first and largest dedicated creative industries faculty.

  • Our people

    Meet our diverse team driving our faculty to the forefront of creativity.

  • Our stories

    Read about our students, researchers and alumni - No Walls.

  • Our facilities

    World-class facilities for current and emerging creative professionals.

  • School of Creative Practice

    Collaboratively exploring the future of professional creative practice.

  • School of Communication

    A top-ranked school for providing communication and media studies.

  • School of Design

    Learning, teaching and research for the next generation of design professionals.

  • Contact us

    Get in touch, find directions or follow us on social media.

  • News and events

    Keep up to date with our announcements and events.

QUT announces COVID-19 responses and developments

You are here:

  1. Home
  2. News and events
  3. QUT announces COVID-19 responses and developments
First published 14 July 2020

QUT Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Margaret Sheil, today outlined to staff the university’s response to the challenges presented by COVID-19 as well as measures to position the university for a strong recovery in a fundamentally changed world.

Professor Sheil acknowledged the ongoing dedication and hard work of all the university staff to provide quality education and research in the current challenging environment, and the great level of care and support provided to QUT students.

Professor Sheil outlined four elements to the university response.

  1. A series of initial savings measures
  2. An organisational realignment
  3. The acceleration of the university’s digital transformation
  4. A review of strategy to deliver QUT’s strong and unique research and educational programs

Professor Sheil said the most urgent response involved a number of continuing measures to contain costs and define savings during 2020/2021, as the university is projecting an initial revenue shortfall up to $100 million in 2020.

“We have already paused the majority of our building programs and consolidated our administrative divisions (from 6 to 3). All of our senior staff have reduced their hours to a nine-day fortnight for the next 12 months, a move for which I am very grateful and one that marks the commitment of the 150 strong leadership team to QUT’s future,” she said.

The university has worked with the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) and the Together Union to propose to staff a variation to the current Enterprise Agreements.

Professor Sheil said that the negotiations with the NTEU and Together had been productive and were aimed at preserving as many jobs as possible as we work to address the challenges ahead.

The main points of the proposal, developed following feedback from staff and unions, include:

  • Postponing the next two per cent wage increase until December 2021
  • No leave loading accrued, or paid for the next 18 months
  • Some changes to leave provisions (including COVID-19 leave, and the use of leave for Christmas shutdowns in 2020 and 2021)
  • A moratorium on forced redundancies prior to 30 June 2021
  • Commitments for retraining opportunities
  • Maintenance of superannuation contributions (notwithstanding the cash effects of the above measures)

The formal access period for the proposed variations will be opened to staff on Wednesday 15 July for a vote later in the month.

Professor Sheil said the second element would involve a realignment of schools and faculties and institutes, with a discussion paper to be released later this week outlining the proposed direction to move from 2 institutes and 6 faculties to a more streamlined model of 5 faculties:

  • Business and Law
  • Creative Industries, Education and Society
  • Engineering
  • Health and Biomedical Innovation
  • Science and Environment

She said a formal change plan for the division and faculty realignment will be released for consultation in mid-September with a view to implementation from 31 January 2021.

In a separate message to students she reiterated that they would continue to receive the same qualifications and quality education, but they would be invited to comment on different elements of the reforms. 

The third element will centre around QUT’s ongoing digital transformation to ensure the university’s virtual campus offers the same quality teaching and learning experience to its two physical campuses. 

“This will enable more flexible learning and give access to high quality QUT courses to a greater number of students throughout Queensland and more broadly throughout Australia,” Professor Sheil said.

The final element will involve a review of strategy and education offerings during the second half of 2020 and early 2021.

Professor Sheil said she looked forward to working with staff and the QUT community to ensure the university’s viability, sustainability and success in the future.

 

Media contact: Rose Trapnell, QUT Media team leader, 07 3138 2361 or 0407 585 901, rose.trapnell@qut.edu.au or media@qut.edu.au

 

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email Share on Reddit Share on LinkedIn
Study Research Engage About QUT
  • Undergraduate study
  • Postgraduate study
  • PhDs and research degrees
  • Professional and executive education
  • International students
  • Study abroad and exchange
  • Student life
  • Graduate success
  • Applying
  • Fees
  • Scholarships
  • Key dates
Whatever you want to study, our range of courses will give you the hands-on learning, industry connections and real-world perspective you’ll need to succeed.
Explore study at QUT
  • Why QUT?
  • Our research
  • Our experts
  • World-class facilities
  • Study with us
  • How to apply
  • Master of philosophy
  • PhD
  • Professional doctorate
  • Partner with us
  • Research jobs
  • Institute for Future Environments
  • Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation
Join us at the forefront of research and development. Access cutting-edge facilities and technology, work with world-renowned experts, and create real-world change.
Explore research at QUT
  • Industry and partnerships
  • Work with our students
  • Expertise for industry
  • Executive education
  • Give to QUT
  • Make a real impact
  • Ways to give
  • Get involved
  • Alumni
  • Alumni benefits
  • Update alumni details
  • Alumni networking
Connect with us and see how we can support you. We invite industry partners, alumni and our valued donors to join the vibrant, exciting QUT community.
Explore ways to engage with QUT
  • Our university
  • Our people
  • Achievements and recognition
  • Campuses and venues
  • QUT Business School
  • Creative Industries Faculty
  • Faculty of Education
  • Faculty of Health
  • Faculty of Law
  • Science and Engineering Faculty
  • News
  • Events
  • Jobs
  • Library
Learn what makes Queensland University of Technology (QUT) the university for the real world. Read about our goals for future growth, achievements and success, and the organisational structures that support us.
Explore QUT
  • Login
  • Legal
  • Privacy
  • QUT on Facebook
  • QUT on Instagram
  • The QUTube
  • QUT on Twitter
  • QUT on LinkedIn
Our social media
Contact QUT
QUT acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands where QUT now stands.
  • CRICOS No. 00213J
  • ABN 83 791 724 622
  • Page updated: 14 October 2020