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in·ter·me·di·ate
[in-ter-mee-dee-it]
–adjective
Being situated or acting between two points, stages ,things, persons, etc: the intermediate steps in a procedure.
–noun
A person who acts between others; intermediary; mediator.
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IM provides strategic policy advice – what you need to know about government policies and programs that affect your business or enterprise, what you need to say, to whom and when.
IM can advise on – and help prepare – submissions, letters and briefings to governments.
IM will assist you prepare and present advocacy in support of your enterprise or cause.
If IM’s expertise doesn’t match your needs, we are associated with a number of Australia’s best known consultancies and other independent practices: we will connect you with the consultancy/practice most suited to your needs.
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POLICY SUBMISSIONS & NOTES
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The surprise in the Budget for universities was that there was no nasty surprise. It wasn’t altogether painless but a cut of $33 million to the Co-operative Research Centres program pales into insignificance against swingeing cuts to medical research which had been strongly rumoured until dismissed by the Government in late April. In fact, there were some mildly pleasing surprises. The Government has budgeted for an additional 20,000 commencements in 2012 to coincide with the introduction of demand-driven funding. While the sufficiency of funding per place is yet to be determined through the current review of base funding, the additional commencements do approximate official estimates of unmet demand in 2010 (although unofficial estimates are somewhat higher).
InterMediate Submission to the Commonwealth Review of Higher Education Base Funding
In its consideration of base funding, the Review needs to take account of other streams of revenue that relieve pressure on base funding and which help sustain the fabric of a university.
The rules that govern our system of higher education ought to reflect the reality that we have a continuum of university institutional types from “research intensive” to “teaching intensive”.
Federal election: higher education outlook
While there would have been a collective sigh of relief at the prospect of continuity of policy provided through the maintenance in office of the Gillard Government, there are high levels of anxiety, particularly as to the sufficiency of funding for the proposed expansion of the system.
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MEDIA COMMENTARY
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Shout if you believe in research
The Australian 15 June 2011
In the speed and effectiveness of their response to rumoured funding cuts, members of the academy reached out to the wider community, rather than just speak among themselves and voice their polite protests in the corridors of government. While it may be rude to shout, sometimes you need to, just to be heard above the clamour of other interests.
One size does not fit all unis
The Australian 11 May 2011
A fixation on the teaching-research nexus limits diversity and access and what’s more it’s worth refining the concept of a university college to recognise a new university type with a teaching orientation.
TEQSA loosens grips of states
The Australian 27 April 2011
In employing the constitutional sledgehammer that is the corporations power to establish TEQSA, the commonwealth is poised to crush the residual role of the states in higher education, leaving them as “dead parrots”.
Base funding: brave decisions required
The Australian 13 April 2011
In the likely event that the current review of base funding concludes that an increase in the rate of base funding is necessary, a politically palatable and sellable resolution would be that it be funded in such a way as to maintain the current distribution between the public share and the student contribution at roughly 60-40. That would mean an increase in both Government funding and the overall student contribution.
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TOPICAL ISSUES
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IM prepares a regular Topical Issues Brief
The Brief links myriad discrete pieces of information in reports specially tailored for Australian higher education. It synthesises national and international data, events, research and developments.
- Topical Issues February 2011
- Topical Issues March 2011
- Topical Issues April 2011
- Topical Issues May 2011
- Topical Issues June 2011
- Topical Issues July 2011
- Topical Issues August 2011