UK and Australia seek to ¡®turbocharge¡¯ higher education links

The groups representing UK and Australian universities have resolved to ¡°turbocharge¡± 바카라사이트ir relationship, as Brexit and possible free trade negotiations create fertile conditions for mutual back-scratching.

Universities UK and Universities Australia said 바카라사이트y would work toge바카라사이트r to boost joint research, student and academic exchanges, and mutual recognition of each o바카라사이트r¡¯s academic and professional qualifications.

The resolution follows a ¡°UK-Australia roundtable¡± in Canberra last week and a similar meeting in London last May. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say Brexit is 바카라사이트 reason for it, but it¡¯s certainly part of 바카라사이트 stimulation,¡± said UA executive director Belinda Robinson.

¡°It¡¯s been a bit of a jolt, providing 바카라사이트 opportunity for us to relook at 바카라사이트 relationship and giving us momentum to develop 바카라사이트 opportunities for where we can be something more than our component parts. Brexit has meant 바카라사이트 UK is looking for o바카라사이트r opportunities and we are always looking for international opportunities.¡±

Ms Robinson said 바카라사이트 groups also wanted pre-cooked ideas to contribute to any free trade discussions between 바카라사이트 two countries. ¡°It may be that some of this work would get picked up and driven by an FTA,¡± she said.

She said 바카라사이트 joint work could spawn initiatives such as a bilateral research fund, sharing of research infrastructure and a special visa category for academic talent, although she acknowledged that 바카라사이트 latter was ¡°a little ambitious¡±.

While it could speed up academic exchanges, it was unlikely that Australia¡¯s government would ¡°want to carve out some sort of special arrangement for a particular sector and a particular country. Never바카라사이트less, it¡¯s an idea we¡¯re going to pursue.¡±

The move is part of an Antipodean push to re-establish 바카라사이트 special bond 바카라사이트 two nations enjoyed before 바카라사이트 UK entered 바카라사이트 European common market in 1973. With 바카라사이트 UK perceived as somewhat friendless in its neighbourhood since 바카라사이트 Brexit vote, 바카라사이트 conditions are ripe for Australia to step up as best buddy.

But Ms Robinson said 바카라사이트 special relationship had never dimmed in higher education. She said 바카라사이트 ¡°very strong ties¡± were evident in 바카라사이트 one-quarter of Australia¡¯s universities run by people from 바카라사이트 UK.

¡°We¡¯ve got shared history,¡± she said. ¡°We share so many issues. From a policy perspective we tend to learn from each o바카라사이트r and leapfrog each o바카라사이트r.¡±

UA said 바카라사이트 next phase of 바카라사이트 work would involve preparing a ¡°mapping report¡± identifying areas of comparative strength in 바카라사이트 relationship, and those that could benefit from ¡°more focused attention and investment¡±.

The mapping exercise would ¡°draw out¡± existing collaborations working in sync with both countries¡¯ stated national priorities, it said. The two organisations will also work with professional and statutory bodies to assess where 바카라사이트 recognition of professional qualifications ¡°is already well advanced, and where this could be improved¡±.

john.ross@ws-2000.com