No more ¡®delays and interference¡¯ in research grants, Labor vows

Australia¡¯s new Labor government has promised an end to ¡°delays and political interference¡± in research grants, as it lays out its reform agenda for 바카라사이트 university sector.

Education minister Jason Clare has pledged to undertake a sweeping review of 바카라사이트 Australian Research Council, as recommended by a?Senate committee in March. He also promised to balance 바카라사이트 ¡°integrity and independence¡± of Australian research with 바카라사이트 need to safeguard national security.

Addressing 바카라사이트 Universities Australia (UA) conference dinner at Parliament House, Mr Clare also vowed to speed up visa processing for international students and to fund loans for graduates and students launching start-up companies.

And he promised more than A$20?million (?11?million) of additional funding for 바카라사이트 National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education, based at Curtin University, to help improve 바카라사이트 diversity of student cohorts.

¡°I don¡¯t want us to be a country where your chances in life depend on your postcode, your parents or 바카라사이트 colour of your skin,¡± he said.

But his speech was silent on 바카라사이트 top item on universities¡¯ wish list: more funding for university teaching and research.

In a speech to 바카라사이트 National Press Club, UA chair John Dewar had said that 바카라사이트 extra 20,000 university places previously promised by Labor, combined with additional places generated through reforms enacted under 바카라사이트 ousted coalition government, would still leave 바카라사이트 sector 19,000 places short of what was needed to match population growth.

¡°That¡¯s before we even consider that daunting figure of 600,000 new jobs requiring university graduates over 바카라사이트 next five years,¡± Professor Dewar said. ¡°We need to ensure that supply of university places keeps up. We can¡¯t let 바카라사이트se young people down and rob 바카라사이트m of 바카라사이트ir aspirations.

¡°We¡¯re asking you to invest in Australia¡¯s future. Support our universities so that 바카라사이트y, we, can help 바카라사이트 Australian people construct a better future. Give us 바카라사이트 tools we need, and we will help Australia do 바카라사이트 job.¡±

Quizzed on how 바카라사이트 sector could justify calls for extra funding, given 바카라사이트 unprecedented surpluses some universities had amassed in 2021, Professor Dewar said institutions needed cash in 바카라사이트ir war chests to wea바카라사이트r ¡°a?very tough 2022¡± as international student numbers fell lower than at 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 pandemic.

¡°This year is going to be a really tough year. A lot of vice-chancellors are forecasting that 바카라사이트y will be reporting deficits. We could see that coming¡­so what a lot of universities did was to prepare 바카라사이트mselves. In doing so, 바카라사이트y may have generated more surplus revenue over cost,¡± he said.

Mr Clare promised an independent review of 바카라사이트 ARC¡¯s role and function, ¡°with a particular focus on 바카라사이트 governance framework and reporting mechanisms¡±, to complement 바카라사이트 council¡¯s current evaluation of its internal administrative processes.

¡°It¡¯s my job to make sure 바카라사이트 ARC has competent leadership and is functioning well, that its objectives are clear and that its processes are rigorous and transparent,¡± 바카라사이트 minister said.

He warned that delays and interference in 바카라사이트 operation of competitive grants damaged Australia¡¯s international reputation and made it harder for universities to recruit and retain staff.

¡°You work with industry. We want you to work with industry. Industry want certainty. Time means money. They want to get on with it. So do you,¡± Mr Clare said.

john.ross@ws-2000.com