‘The death of campus life’: first major Australian university dumps face-to-face lectures, leaving staff ‘furious’

Staff at the University of Adelaide (pictured) and the University of South Australia were told last week that traditional lectures would no longer form a part of courses at the merged institution opening in 2026. Photograph: Tracey Nearmy/The Guardian

The newly amalgamated Adelaide University has become the first Group of Eight institution in Australia to ditch face-to-face lectures, in a move condemned as accelerating the “death of campus life” by the union representing tertiary education staff.

Ahead of the merged university opening at the beginning of 2026, staff at the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia were informed last week that traditional lectures would no longer form a part of courses.