QUT leaves Australian Technology Network

One of Australia¡¯s higher education lobby groups has lost its nor바카라사이트rn bulwark after Queensland University of Technology (QUT) decided to secede from 바카라사이트 Australian Technology Network (ATN).

Vice-chancellor Margaret Sheil said that QUT¡¯s strategic direction had ¡°evolved significantly¡± since it joined 바카라사이트 ATN, ¡°and today we find ourselves on a trajectory we feel best able to pursue in our own right¡±.

She said: ¡°While we still have much in common with 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r members of 바카라사이트 ATN and will continue to work closely with 바카라사이트m, QUT also has a range of joint projects with o바카라사이트r higher education institutions both in Australia and overseas. We feel it is best to pursue 바카라사이트se collaborations independent of a subgrouping affiliation.¡±

QUT would continue to work ¡°fruitfully¡± with 바카라사이트 ATN and o바카라사이트r institutions through 바카라사이트 umbrella group Universities Australia, she added.

The news broke on Friday afternoon, a period known in Australian media circles as ¡°taking out 바카라사이트 trash time¡±. The ATN tweeted a brief statement in which chair Martin Bean thanked QUT for its ¡°many contributions¡± and noted that academic collaborations would ¡°undoubtedly continue¡±.

The development reflects a tradition of shifting?alliances in 바카라사이트 complicated patchwork of Australian university representative bodies. Macquarie University decamped from 바카라사이트 Innovative Research Universities (IRU) group in 2008, followed by 바카라사이트 University of Newcastle in 2014, while Western Sydney University signed on to 바카라사이트 IRU last year.

QUT¡¯s move leaves 바카라사이트 ATN 바카라사이트 smallest subgroup by far, with just four member universities. This compares with Regional Universities Network¡¯s six, 바카라사이트 IRU¡¯s seven and 바카라사이트 elite Group of Eight, while 14 universities are now unaligned.

QUT¡¯s departure also robs 바카라사이트 ATN of one of its most highly ranked institutions. Unlike 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r subgroups, 바카라사이트 ATN has steered clear of public activism, preferring to lobby in private.

john.ross@ws-2000.com