Australian Universities Accord, White Paper on Jobs and Opportunities, Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024: Latest rundown of higher
Our Chief Executive Catriona Jackson's message
As we enter the final months of the process to develop the Australian Universities Accord, more and more voices are joining the conversation. This week, the head of the Australian Industry Group, Innes Willox, weighed in – making both an interesting and valuable contribution to the debate.?
Citing OECD data, Mr Willox highlighted that despite universities being among Australia’s greatest national assets, we can do better on university-industry collaboration.?
UA advocated for this in our submission to the Accord panel’s discussion paper. As we put it then, incentivising all players in the economy to discover and implement new ideas, via collaboration, will create new ways of growing our productivity and economy.?
Mr Willox’s contribution to the conversation demonstrates industry’s recognition of our role in driving innovation and productivity gains across all aspects of society.?
In releasing the White Paper on Jobs and Opportunities this week, government, too, acknowledged our part in supporting a strong economy through a skilled labour force. We welcomed the paper’s focus on filling skills needs and building our future workforce to reignite productivity – tasks which universities are central to.?
To support our role in meeting Australia’s skills needs, the government announced its intention to explore ways to better support students financially as they undertake compulsory placements during their studies and will progress the development of a national skills passport.?
These are initiatives we have long called for, on your behalf, and will assist us in educating the skilled workers Australia desperately needs.?
We are seeking clarification from government on the idea of TAFEs delivering bachelor-equivalent apprenticeships independent of universities. We welcome engagement between unis and VET providers, but it’s important that this is done in a complementary way.?
I noted the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 this week. Despite the challenges COVID-19 served up, our institutions have continued to perform very strongly on the world stage and these results reinforce our sector’s strong international standing.?
Before I go, I am writing to you today from India where I have spent this week with fellow members of the Centre for Australia India Relations (CAIR) Advisory Board. The centre was launched by our Prime Minster in March to turbocharge economic engagement between Australia and India, underpinned by mutual understanding and deep people to people ties.??
Before I go, I am writing to you today from India where I have spent this week with fellow members of the Centre for Australia India Relations Advisory Board. The centre was launched by our Prime Minster in March to turbocharge economic engagement between Australia and India, underpinned by mutual understanding and deep people to people ties.??
Education continues to shine through as a centrepiece of the Australia-India relationship, and it is a privilege to represent our sector on the Board.?
CAIR administers the Maitri Grants Program, one element of which focuses on attracting and supporting high-achieving Indian students to study at our universities. Australian universities can now nominate Indian PhD and Masters students in STEM for the program, and I encourage your institutions to consider doing so. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you’d like to know more.?
Until next time,?
Catriona Jackson?
Chief Executive, Universities Australia?
PARLIAMENTARY UPDATES?
GRANTS, FUNDING AND OPPORTUNITIES?
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CHIEF ECONOMIST’S UPDATE?
Demand for tertiary education, in net terms, appears to be growing among young people in Australia, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ monthly labour force survey. After a period of negative growth, the number of people aged 15-29 years old who are enrolled in full-time tertiary education has posted significant growth from the middle of 2023 onwards. This is good news for universities and the nation, which can’t function without the skilled workers our universities educate.?
MEDIA UPDATE?
The UA media team continues to underpin the delivery of policy initiatives with strategic media and communications engagement activities. Our activity over the last fortnight has generated almost 300 media items with a potential audience reach of 13 million people across online, print, radio and television platforms.?
SUBMISSIONS?
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View all submissions on the UA website.?
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