IRU News | 1 November 2013 Capping university funding, as proposed by Melbourne University vice-chancellor, Glyn Davis, would create a system that would be opaque, have no coherence across institutions and invite extensive micro managing of university expenditure, writes Conor King of the Innovative Research Universities group. What does it mean to change university funding to a capped funding amount which universities can use as they will? Can it both give Government certainty of expenditure and protect universities from micro managing of their operations? Under current arrangements universities receive base funding based on the load of enrolled students in particular … [Read more...]
Demand – driven funding works – IRU
02/07/2013 by
IRU News | 2 July 2013 Statement by the Innovative Research Universities network on the mooted demise of the demand-driven system ________________________________________________________________________________________ The challenge of effective funding of Australia’s universities is not to be fixed through retreating to a system of allocating universities limited numbers of university places. Demand driven funding works. Let’s not ruin it. As the Prime Minister said (29 June 2013)[1]: Did you know this? Since we were elected five or six years ago, there are now 190,000 more Australian kids at universities than there were before. Because we took a policy decision which said if … [Read more...]
13 Australian unis in top 100 “young unis”
21/06/2013 by
IRU News | 20 June 2013 Innovative Research University members have cemented their position in the Times Higher Education ranking of the world’s top 100 universities under 50 years old, with all participating IRU members listed. According to Barney Glover, IRU hair and Vice-Chancellor, Charles Darwin University that six IRU members and seven other Australian universities are among the world’s top 100 universities under 50 years shows the benefit of the investment from Australian Governments in open and competitive research funding. Open competition keeps pressure on universities with longer track records, rewarding all universities which improve research outcomes. It creates a … [Read more...]
The Scan Main Edition 14 June 2013 # 123
14/06/2013 by
_____________________________________________________________________________________________ Sydney sets research priorities Following an extensive independent review, Sydney University is set to focus its health and medical research on four priority health and medical priority areas - obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, cancer, mental health and neuroscience and infectious diseases. The Health and Medical Research Strategic Review, chaired by Peter Wills AC, was commissioned by vice-chancellor Michael Spence to assist the university "to strategically position itself over the next decade amidst changes to the health and medical research sector in Australia and … [Read more...]
Government risks undermining its achievements: IRU
15/05/2013 by
IRU Media | 14 May 2013 The Government has supported a major expansion in university places which means that all Australians with the capability and interest in university study can enrol at university. For this to work universities need the resourcing for high quality education that keeps pace with the requirements of the digital age and rapid changes in professional knowledge and skills. The efficiency dividend means that universities are permanently 3.25% less able to do this. Changing a grant into a loan strips away the Government’s significant achievement in substantially improving student income support that ensures all students have at least sufficient income while … [Read more...]
Unis may need to rein in growth
18/02/2013 by
The Australian | 15 February 2013 Chairman of the Australian Technology Network Peter Coaldrake has echoed his counterpart in the Innovative Research Universities Barney Glover that, in the absence of an increase in base funding, universities may need to rein in the growth of student numbers in order to maintain quality. Coaldrake, who is also vice-chancellor at Queensland University of Technology says that Universities have to make a choice about the balance between climbing the quality stakes and their factory size. Maintaining quality is now the challenge. It isn't just a question for government, it is a question for individual institutions. Institutions have to make … [Read more...]
Tributes to Chris Evans
06/02/2013 by
Evans resigns 4 February 2013 | The resignation of Senator Chris Evans as Commonwealth minister for skills and tertiary education has resulted in a flow of tributes by peak tertiary education bodies for his “substantial contribution” and “committed” advocacy for the sector. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Evans leaves a strong higher education legacy 2 February 2013 | Chair of Universities Australia Professor Glyn Davis today paid tribute to Senator Evans’ work for the sector,saying he can be proud of his achievements in the sector. There is no doubt that the Minister was a … [Read more...]
IRU welcomes new Minister, thanks retiring Minister
02/02/2013 by
IRU Newsroom | 2 February 2012 The IRU thanks outgoing Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research Senator Evans for his commitment to implementing the Government’s major university reforms and welcomes incoming Minister Mr Bowen to the portfolio. “I look forward to meeting Mr Bowen to discuss the challenges ahead for ensuring universities contribute effectively to Australia’s needs, including the IRU’s lead role in our engagement with Asia” Professor Glover, IRU Chair said. “Senator Evans has been staunch in maintaining the importance of the Government’s reforms, particularly the demand driven funding system which has allowed a major expansion in access to … [Read more...]
IRU poised for the Asian century
29/10/2012 by
IRU Newsroom | 29 October 2012 In this Asian Century, IRU universities will continue to play a leading role in engagement with the region, says Professor Ian O'Connor, Chair, Innovative Research Universities (IRU). For several decades Australian universities, including IRU network members, have built lasting relationships with universities, industry, Government and community partners throughout the Asian region, including campuses in Singapore. These partnerships have contributed to capacity building in the region and the rapid development of Asian nations. The Government's Australia in the Asian Century white paper confirms the value of these efforts, providing impetus for IRU … [Read more...]
Sector reactions to MYEFO funding cuts – mainly calm
22/10/2012 by
22 October 2012 The tertiary education portfolio bore the brunt of portfolio cuts in the "Mid Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook", with $1.42 billion over 4 years. About $500 billion will be saved by "slowing" the Sustainable Research program, while the “cessation” of higher Education Facilitation Funding will save another $270 million. The sector has,expressed disappointment at these measures, as they would and should. Nevertheless, we get the feeling that the ATN comment - sort of glass half full attitude, rather than half - probably best sums up the sector attitude. The savings measures are discomfiting for all, particularly unpalatable for the research intensive … [Read more...]
