Our Purpose and History
Our Purpose
IRU delivers value to its member universities, students and stakeholders through the pursuit of three key objectives:
- To build profile and a strong voice with government and other influential bodies
- To enhance quality through the sharing of policy and practice
- To create opportunities for students and stakeholders through collaboration and partnership
Our History
In 2003, a group of universities sharing common origins established a collaborative network for the purpose of enhancing the outcomes of higher education.
Each were established as research-intensive universities during the 1960s and 1970s, a dynamic period characterised by massive expansion in higher education and extensive innovation in educational design and delivery - hence, the network name of 'Innovative Research Universities'.
The founding five universities universities included
- Flinders University
- Griffith University
- La Trobe University
- Murdoch University; and
- The University of Newcastle.
Macquarie University joined the network as the sixth member until 2008 when they decided to leave the the network.
James Cook University joined in 2007, followed by Charles Darwin University in 2009 resulting in the current seven members.
Charles Darwin is a research university founded on 50 years of post-secondary education tradition in the Northern Territory and IRU's first dual sector institution.
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