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STUDENTS and staff at Swinburne TAFE's Lilydale campus were left reeling last Friday at news the campus would stop operating next July.
About 120 staff - part of up to 240 TAFE teaching staff and general staff redundancies across the university's campuses - would be made redundant as a result of the closure.
TAFE courses in hospitality, leisure, recreation and tourism will be discontinued.
Swinburne University of Technology's vice-chancellor Professor Linda Kristjanson said in a statement the closure was due to fewer courses being offered and a decline in demand.
Evelyn MP Christine Fyffe said she was angry and bitterly disappointed at Swinburne's decision.
"This is a huge blow to students in my electorate. I call on Swinburne to ensure that higher education facilities are offered at their Croydon and Wantirna campuses."
Swinburne has stated that students currently enrolled at the Lilydale campus would be offered positions at its other campuses and through Swinburne Online from July 2013.
Most students in TAFE programs at Lilydale will be transferred into the Croydon and Wantirna campuses. Tertiary students will be integrated into courses at the Wantirna, Croydon or Hawthorn campuses.