As a resume writer, it’s no wonder some of SA’s university graduates – both international and domestic – have trouble getting a job because many can’t write or they were enrolled in areas where there were no jobs. They were treated as cash cows.

The standard of SA’s three publicly funded universities (and TAFE SA) is shockingly low, in large part due to maladministration.

According to an ICAC report, nearly 30 per cent of staff in a major survey at the three universities say they have been bullied or harassed and 18 per cent allege nepotism in recruitment and promotion.

A few years ago I wrote a story for InDaily which highlighted over enrolling students in courses where there were no jobs.

When I taught at university, I saw graduates and post-graduates in other schools and universities end up on JobKeeper after being charged HECS or full fees.

They wasted their skills and qualifications doing menial jobs that paid so little, they couldn’t afford to leave home or start repaying their HECS debt. Some employers exploited them as long-term, unpaid interns.

The ICAC report was commissioned just before allegations were made about inappropriate behaviour towards two women by the former vice-chancellor of the University of Adelaide, Peter Rathjen, who resigned before he was pushed.

More than 3200 staff took part in the survey and “numerous respondents implied that management allowed inappropriate conduct to occur or had failed to address such conduct”.

One female academic wrote in the survey, “he (an academic) is a bully and inappropriate with women but they (the management) have refused to do anything. No one has the backbone, so others keep suffering”.

Apart from allegations of nepotism, there were numerous reports of poor administration.

Fifteen per cent reported inappropriate practices in recruitment and promotion, 11 per cent said they were pressured over student grades and 7 per cent said they were pressured over enrolling.