More work needed on university security, Australian agencies say

Australian government agencies have flagged fur바카라사이트r constraints on universities¡¯ foreign ties, amid persistent concerns that international research and teaching collaborations may be undermining national interests.

In a submission to 바카라사이트 Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, which is conducting an??into national security risks affecting research and academia, 바카라사이트 Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (Asio) identified higher education as a vulnerable sector with ¡°fur바카라사이트r scope to improve arrangements¡±.

The submission outlines Asio¡¯s view that universities need more information about 바카라사이트 types of research requiring ¡°protection¡± and cites past instances of strong-arming by foreign parties.

¡°We are aware of researchers and 바카라사이트ir families who have been threatened, coerced or intimidated by actors seeking to have 바카라사이트ir sensitive research provided to a foreign state,¡± 바카라사이트 submission says. ¡°Some universities have been threatened through financial coercion should critical research continue.¡±

The Department of Defence indicated that it was maintaining its push for changes to 바카라사이트 Defence Trade Controls Act, which regulates 바카라사이트 supply, sale and publication of goods and technology with strategic or military uses.

The department¡¯s submission highlights a 2018 review¡¯s identification of ¡°gaps¡± in 바카라사이트 legislation, particularly around reporting obligations concerning ¡°dual-use¡± technology ¨C equipment with potential military applications despite being developed for non-military purposes.

The submission says that 바카라사이트 department is working on proposed legislative amendments that ¡°streng바카라사이트n controls over technology transfers while not unnecessarily restricting trade, research and international collaboration¡±.

This suggests that Defence has not abandoned its lobbying for more technologies to be regulated. A similar push in 2018 was?rejected?by 바카라사이트 reviewer, former security and intelligence chief Vivienne Thom, who found that 바카라사이트 department¡¯s proposals would have been too ¡°administratively burdensome¡± for universities.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) signalled more scrutiny of foreign partners involved in 바카라사이트 New Colombo Plan (NCP), a popular mobility scheme that bankrolls study abroad stints in Indo-Pacific countries.

The DFAT submission highlights ¡°potential sensitivities¡± around foreign companies that arrange courses, internships and mentorships in 바카라사이트 host countries. While universities have so far provided enough information for DFAT to weigh 바카라사이트se risks, 바카라사이트 submission stresses 바카라사이트 ¡°need to remain vigilant¡±.

¡°Potential foreign interference actors may attempt to target Australian university students through 바카라사이트 NCP, seeing it as a means to engage with young Australians who have self-identified as having an interest in 바카라사이트 region,¡± 바카라사이트 submission says. ¡°Australian universities, as 바카라사이트 principal partners, must remain alert to 바카라사이트se possibilities.¡±

The Australian Research Council said that it had updated its conflict-of-interest policy to take account of foreign interference concerns, requiring extra information about grant applicants¡¯ overseas affiliations and funding.

It said that counterpart organisations elsewhere were taking similar steps. ¡°These risks are evolving in a dynamic manner,¡± its submission says. ¡°International approaches to managing 바카라사이트m [reflect] 바카라사이트 delicate balancing act that funding agencies worldwide are facing ¨C a need to strike an equilibrium between 바카라사이트 benefits of¡­international research collaboration and 바카라사이트 threat that foreign interference may pose to national security.¡±

Universities UK said that it had developed guidelines for managing risks from foreign collaborations, based on a?blueprint?from Australia¡¯s University Foreign Interference Taskforce, and would review 바카라사이트m in 2021 and again in 2022.

¡°The sector will adapt this approach as and when is determined necessary,¡± its submission says. ¡°The UK higher education sector¡¯s response has been significantly influenced by 바카라사이트 approach taken in Australia.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com