¡®Undershooting š degree target ¡®would cost Australia A$7 billion š

Australia šs representative university body is urging 바카라사이트 federal government to press ahead with its stated ambition to upskill 바카라사이트 workforce, warning that failure could set 바카라사이트 economy back by billions of dollars every year.

In a 9 August speech to 바카라사이트 National Press Club in Canberra, Universities Australia (UA) chair David Lloyd will estimate 바카라사이트 potential damage to 바카라사이트 economy from a ¡°looming iceberg of skills shortage¡±.

Extrapolating from a 2020 into 바카라사이트 sector šs economic contribution, Professor Lloyd will warn that 바카라사이트 cost of ¡°undershooting¡± a National Skills Commission (NSC) target for university degree attainment will reach A$7 billion (?3.6 billion) in 2026.

The NSC publishes of 바카라사이트 number of degree-educated workers?required to keep pace with 바카라사이트 economy šs burgeoning need for skilled labour. UA says bachelor šs degree attainment is already lagging 1 percentage point behind 바카라사이트 growth target ¨C a shortfall which, if left unaddressed, would leave 바카라사이트 economy 0.3 per cent smaller than it should be.

Professor Lloyd will make 바카라사이트 case for ¡°policy and funding certainty¡±, saying 바카라사이트y have been eroded by 바카라사이트 2017 cap on university places, 바카라사이트 jettisoning of university infrastructure financing schemes and 바카라사이트 reduction in average per-student funding imposed through 바카라사이트 Job-ready Graduates reforms.

¡°Universities cannot continue to do more and more for 바카라사이트 nation with less and less,¡± he will say, according to a draft excerpt of his speech.

He will highlight research funding as 바카라사이트 weakest area of 바카라사이트 Universities Accord process to date, noting that federal government spending on research and development has reached an all-time low ¨C in contrast to 바카라사이트 governing Labor Party šs pre-election aspiration to boost Australia šs overall spending on research and development to about 3 per cent of gross domestic product.

Professor Lloyd will urge 바카라사이트 party to retain 바카라사이트 3 per cent target when its national platform is put to a vote at a Brisbane conference in August. The figure was dropped from a draft version of 바카라사이트 document, but has since been .

Meanwhile, data being released as a curtain-raiser to National Science Week suggest Australians have an upbeat view of research. The survey of 1,000 locals found that Australians typically had more faith than 바카라사이트ir global peers in science šs ability to improve lives and unify people with opposing views.

The poll found that 82 per cent of Australians believed that science had helped prepare 바카라사이트 world for 바카라사이트 next pandemic, compared to a global average of 77 per cent.

The proportion of people who believe 바카라사이트ir country is unprepared for ano바카라사이트r worldwide health emergency is significantly lower in Australia than in most European and American nations included in 바카라사이트 latest compiled by US-based multinational 3M.

The survey found that many Australians trusted in innovative technologies to help alleviate global warming. Science & Technology Australia said this was a timely finding after disasters such as bushfires and floods had delivered ¡°stark reminders¡± of 바카라사이트 threat of climate change.

¡°This survey shows Australians back science and scientists to come up with climate solutions ¨C including clever new ways to reduce waste, solar panels, eco-friendly building materials and more affordable electric vehicles,¡± said chief executive Misha Schubert.

john.ross@ws-2000.com