Media Releases
Government maintains commitment to higher education and research
9 May 2012
The 2012 Budget maintains the expansion of Australia's higher
education and research and research systems.
"Against a challenging budget the IRU is very pleased that the
Government kept faith with its commitment to education and research
as fundamental to our future economic and social well being", said
Professor Ian O'Connor, Chair of the IRU
IRU Media Release on Base Funding Review Priorities
29 February 2012
The IRU identifies five priorities for Government action in response to the Report of the Base Funding Review (2011).
1. The Government should commit to the Bradley review's recommendation for a 10 per cent increase in Government base funding to universities as an immediate goal. It has already put in place increases worth 3.5%.
2. The priority initiatives to achieve this are:
- Contemporary Learning Spaces, a infrastructure grant based on enrolments;
- enhancing programs to support access to university through:
- raising and maintain the loadings for students from low Socio Economic backgrounds for students of programs that enable enrolment in bachelor degrees; and
- creation of an Indigenous access and course completion loading;
- a Course Renewal Innovation Program, to support innovative course redevelopment that over time adds value for all students; and
- improvement to base funding rates for the most underfunded discipline areas.
3. There should be a single maximum rate of student contribution, no higher than the current second band of $8050 a year, not three distinct rates by discipline.
4. That student enrolments remain the basis for allocating base funding, including any identified research element.
5. That all Government supported places in a discipline, whether undergraduate or postgraduate, be funded at the same rate.
Act early, act local to save threatened landscapes
22 February 2012
Australians have been urged to "act early, act local" to save large tracts of the Australian landscape from shifting into radically-altered states.
A team of 26 leading ecologists from the Innovative Research Universities (IRUs) today released a list of the continent's ten most highly-threatened environments.
IRU welcomes united university Cabinet and farewells Senator Carr
12 December 2011
The IRU welcomes the Government's decision to bring back together responsibility for higher education and research under the leadership of Senator Chris Evans, the Government Leader in the Senate.
IRU universities: a leading part of Australia's world class university system
8 December 2011
In his David Davies Memorial Lecture (7 December 2011) Christopher Pyne, Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training advances three main points to his theme of 'excellence in universities':
- that we should retain a focus on universities as places for education and creation of knowledge;
- that we should support a variety of ways in which universities achieve their missions; and
- Australia needs to concentrate on pushing a small set of its universities into the highest level of international university rankings.
Cuts trim HE reforms to the bone
29 November 2011
The Government's two cuts to HE expenditure as part of its mid-year budget review preserve the essence of the Government's agenda but remove one of few additional funding streams resulting from the Bradley Review.
International Student Visa changes ensure viability of the sector
22 September 2011
The Government's endorsement of the review of Australia's Student Visa Program will create a more streamlined system for international students wishing to study in Australia. These reforms will ensure international education in Australia remains competitive.
"It is a major step forward to recognise that students selected by universities from any country should be subject to a quick, efficient visa assessment that ensures the basic questions identified by Mr Knight of the applicant's desire for education and intent to adhere to visa requirements". said Professor Ian O'Connor, IRU Chair.
Transforming Australia's University System
14 September 2011
Today marks the passing of legislation through the Senate which will ensure from 2012 that all students who are ready for university will be able to gain a place.
IRU research supports better preparation, response and adaptation for future disasters
18 August 2011
Disaster resilience: IRU research supports better preparation, response and adaptation for future disasters
Last night at Parliament House Canberra, Mr Jeffrey Bleich US Ambassador to Australia, launched IRU's latest publication, "Disaster Resilience: Preparing, responding and adapting", at a reception highlighting the network's research strengths in this area.
Demand driven funding bill should be supported
1 June 2011
The IRU supports passage through the House of Representatives of the Higher Education Support Amendment (Demand driven system and other changes) Bill 2011,scheduled for debate today [Wednesday 1 June 2011]. The legislation will ensure universities are funded for each student they enrol from 2012, a critical element of the Government's reforms to higher education.
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