ATN Advocate - July 2024
Australian Technology Network of Universities (ATN Universities)
ATN brings together six of Australia's most innovative universities: Curtin, Deakin, RMIT, Newcastle, UniSA and UTS
Welcome from the Executive Director?
Hello to the readers of ATN Advocate, and welcome to our regular update on the policy and advocacy work being undertaken by our team across Australia.
The ATN directorate has been active this month ensuring that members' interests are advanced with policymakers and politicians. In the past few weeks, we've met with Government advisors, the Opposition and extensively with public servants to press our case across a number of crucial policy areas. Key to these discussions have been international students, both the current acute issue in the sector of delayed and refused visas, and the longer-term question of the position of international students within Australian universities.
We made submissions to Government on the future framework for international students, and to Parliament on the related amendments to the ESOS Act. We also wrote to Minister Clare to advocate for a practical agreement around any future caps on the proportion of international students. You can read more about that in my opinion piece, published in The Australian. We are actively seeking certainty for prospective students, and stability for Australian universities.
Separately, we responded to the consultation on the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence. And we are currently developing our positions on further government consultations, including those on the proposed Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC) and a new approach to funding domestic student places. There is certainly plenty of change afoot in the higher education space and we are engaging constructively - and in detail - on the many policy developments.
It has been both a pleasure and extremely fruitful to visit ATN campuses recently and to meet members of the senior leadership teams across our member universities.?
Finally, this week’s Under The Microscope?spotlight features the great work of Melissa Shields, from The University of Newcastle.?Please enjoy that story and all the other articles from across our group, in this month’s ATN Advocate.
Dr Ant Bagshaw
Executive Director
Quad Fellowship opportunities
Are you a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) student graduating by August 2025, or do you know someone who is? If so, the Quad Fellowship may be of interest. This is an initiative by the governments of Australia, India, Japan, and the United States which offers US $40,000 towards study in an eligible STEM graduate program at a US-based university. In addition to financial support, Quad Fellows participate in virtual programming with influential figures in STEM, government and society, and join a growing alumni network on graduation that is dedicated to advancing innovation and research for positive social impact.
Applications for the Fall 2025 (September) intake are expected to open in Q4 2024 and close in Q1 2025. Eligible students will need to be at least 18 years old at the time of application, a citizen/permanent resident of Australia, India, Japan, the US or any of the 10 ASEAN countries, and have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a STEM field by August 2025. Keep an eye on our newsletter for further information, including dates of online Q&A sessions. If you have any questions visit the Quad Fellowship?website or email [email protected].
Register here
ATN in The Great Hall, Canberra
ATN Universities' Deputy Executive Director, Frank Coletta, was among the invited guests at The Great Hall in Parliament House to honour the Australia-China Relationship. The event followed the Annual Leaders meeting which saw the Premier of the People's Republic of China, Li Qiang welcomed by Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese (pictured below with Education Minister, Jason Clare). Leaders signed agreements to further collaborate on climate action, education and the enhancement of free trade agreements.?
CEDA State of the Nation?
Dr Bagshaw represented the ATN Universities group at the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) State of the Nation event in Canberra. Delegates heard from the PM, Minister Clare and Foreign Minister Penny Wong (pictured below centre).
The audience heard of the critical importance the higher education sector plays, and will continue to play, in tackling Australia's economic challenges, deepening international connections and energising policy solutions.?
Parliamentary Friends of International Education
Our ED was also invited to attend the International Education Association of Australia (IEAA) gathering, tagged "Engage, Empower, Educate". Minister Clare (below) was also on hand and reiterated the importance of international education in Australia.?
Following the event, Dr Bagshaw said: "As visa settings, the Strategic Framework, and amendments to the ESOS legislation challenge the sector's ways of working, it's more important than ever that we articulate the massive cultural, intellectual and economic value of international students."
Political engagement at Parliament House
Members of our senior leadership team were in Canberra last week meeting with key representatives from across government and the opposition.
The meetings provided an opportunity to discuss current pressing issues facing higher education, including the future of international education and the consultative process taking place on the Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC).?
Dr Bagshaw (pictured below with Mr Coletta) said: "The Federal Government is consulting on the sector's new oversight body - the Australian Tertiary Education Commission - and the method for allocating places for domestic students. We support the intention to increase participation in HE, and to promote access and equity. To achieve these ends, we need policies and structures which are workable - for students, communities, and universities.?We're also eagerly awaiting the consultation on needs-based funding, flagged in the Universities Accord. This is an essential piece of the reform agenda which should improve the conditions which support every student to succeed."
The visit allowed ATN Universities to further engage with key stakeholders on behalf of our membership and foster the partnerships which are in place with the nation's policymakers.?
2024 Shaping Australia Awards
Entries for the Shaping Australia Awards 2024 are now open. Each year, Universities Australia hold the awards to celebrate the best in higher education, across teaching, community service and research. The gongs acknowledge the crucial work that people within the higher education sector undertake in order to transform the lives of other Australians and help shape this country's future. If this sounds like you, or someone you know, be sure to apply via this link.
ATN Universities partnership with Times Higher Education for Campus Live ANZ 2024
We are delighted to be an official event partner of Times Higher Education?(THE) Campus Live ANZ, hosted in partnership with The University of Newcastle on 26-27 September. To celebrate this collaboration, we also have a 20% discount to offer for members of our network to come and join us at the event. Use code: ATN-20 #THEliveANZ.
Buy your tickets here.
A Political Lens
Education Minister visits students at UTS
University of Technology Sydney teaching, nursing, midwifery and social work students had the pleasure of hosting the Education Minister recently, where Minister Clare spoke to them about the upcoming Prac Payment Scheme announced in the Federal Budget. The payment is aimed at helping students complete their degree by funding their placement hours.?
领英推荐
Deakin master's students at international campus in India?
Deakin University has welcomed the inaugural cohort of master's students at the first international branch campus in India.
Minister Clare and Deakin University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Iain Martin, were in GIFT City in Gujarat (pictured below) for the occasion and were joined by officials from the Australian and Indian governments - including?India's Minister of Education, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, and Australia’s High Commissioner, HE Mr Philip Green OAM.
The program formally commenced in July 2024 and is another great representation of knowledge exchange and educational excellence between India and Australia.?
NSW Premier visits The University of Newcastle?
NSW Premier, Chris Minns, has paid a visit to The University of Newcastle's Hunter Nexus event and I2N Hub. The Premier met with Vice-Chancellor Professor Alex Zelinsky AO and entrepreneurs from The University of Newcastle, to showcase their start-ups including Start Em Up Energy and Wild Yeast Zoo.?
The Hunter Nexus event provides networking opportunities for The University of Newcastle students and connects them with leaders in business.?
European Australian Business Councils at RMIT Europe?
RMIT Europe Executive Director, Marta Fernandez Bertos, met with delegates from the European Australian Business Councils?(EABC) as well as the?Ambassador to Spain Her Excellency, Sophia McIntyre, and Ambassador of the European Union to Australia, His Excellency, Gabriele Visentin. The event hosted by the Fundacion Consejo Espana-Australia focused on strengthening bilateral relations and furthering business links between Australia and Europe across all sectors.??
The meeting involved members from across a range of industries and government joining leaders from around the world to work towards further innovation and collaboration.?
Under The Microscope: Melissa Shields
This month's Under The Microscope?focuses on the work of Melissa Shields, an academic researcher in nuclear medicine, currently completing her PhD. Her unique field of research stems from personal experience and a desire to make well-being a priority for all Nuclear Medicine Technologists (NMTs). We hope you enjoy reading Melissa's story.?
Read the full piece here.
Our free online program for HDR students
ATN Frontiers is a fully online program which develops Higher Degree Research (HDR) students’ knowledge, skills, and ability to shape the future of innovation and productivity in industry.
It is open to all HDR students at our?ATN member universities. If you're interested and are one of our students, you can find out more here.
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