The purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is to establish a Joint PhD Program between the Group of Eight (go8) member universities.  The program seeks to provide the best possible experience for Go8 higher degree by research students and facilitate collaborative research by actively engaging in joint PhD programs with partner institutions. 

Please click here to view or download - Memorandum of Understanding for Go8 Joint PhD

Foundation programs listed in the Go8 foundation program schedule (‘the schedule’) are recognised by each of the Go8 member universities for the matriculation of students into relevant university programs, though each university will determine the academic grades that must be achieved to enter particular programs. In addition to achieving the required academic grades and meeting English language requirements, students may need to meet further requirements (such as subject prerequisites) for entry to some programs.  The existence of the schedule does not exclude opportunities for individual Go8 universities to recognise additional foundation programs.

Please click here to view or download Go8 foundation program schedule

International education  provides significant economic benefits for Australia. It is both a major export  industry and a source of  domestic economic growth. Around one quarter of all higher education students  in Australia are international  students. International student fees more than cover costs of study and account  for some 16% of total higher education revenue.

Education related  tourism (family and friends who visit international students) is just one of  the many indirect benefits of  international education to the Australian economy.

However, international  education is much more than a business.

The relationships formed through international education underpin Australia's engagement with the  world, and help sustain  goodwill, trade and investment. They are the basis of future research  collaboration. They open doors for Australia  and make Australia's creative and intellectual assets more visible to other countries. They improve our reputation internationally as a centre for learning, research and innovation.

Trade in education  contributes to revenue growth for education providers, thereby strengthening  the financial viability of  institutions and increasing opportunities for participation in education, research  and employment. Offshore campuses,  twinning arrangements and international research collaboration help to build  education capacity in other  countries.

Education as part  of Australia's aid program assists developing countries in improving  governance, building stable and  effective civic institutions, reducing poverty and achieving sustainable development.

International education  also grows Australia's knowledge capability.

International students  provide diverse social and cultural perspectives that enrich the educational  experience for all students.  Through interaction with international students, Australian students learn about other cultures and languages' critical knowledge in today's globalised business world.

International students  contribute intellectually to Australian society. They bring talent to Australia  and help to widen the outlook  of Australians. They also increase Australia's understanding of the languages,  cultures and economies of our trading partners.

International graduates are attractive employees for Australian companies because they have the language skills and networks  to do business in their own countries and they understand the Australian  culture. Through international education, personal and institutional ties are formed. Doing business is easier with people who are already familiar with Australia.

When formal  diplomatic relations are strained, these ties ensure ongoing dialogue with  Australia. Australia cannot  afford to be isolated or by-passed in a more knowledge-connected world. Our future will rely on strong international connections and openness.

Click here to view or download - Go8 international education statement

Group of Eight (Go8) universities are committed to the pursuit of the highest quality research, research training and teaching.

We recognise that unless research is seen publicly to be conducted in accordance with the highest standards of integrity and ethics, then the endeavour of research itself is threatened, and public confidence eroded.

Go8 universities recognise that they have responsibilities not only to train and mentor staff and students about sound research practice, but to monitor and report research practice, and to make it clear to staff, students and collaborators that poor research practice is a serious matter that will not be tolerated.

All Go8 universities are committed to having in place broadly consistent, transparent, fair and robust mechanisms for receiving and investigating allegations of research misconduct, and for reporting and punishing cases where research misconduct is found to have occurred.

The release of the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (the Code) has been a valuable exercise. It has encouraged Australian universities to look closely at how they promote and assure sound practice among their staff and students, and in particular at how to strengthen their processes for handling allegations of research misconduct made against employed staff.

The development of this consultation paper has been overseen by Go8 Deputy-Vice Chancellors (Research).

Go8 guiding principles for implementing Part B of the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research

Group of Eight universities are The Australian National University, Monash University, The University of Adelaide, The University of Melbourne, The University of NSW, The University of Sydney, The University of Queensland and The University of Western Australia.

AIM

In recognition of the excellence of teaching and research that exists in Group of Eight universities, members agree to maximise the opportunities for mobility of students between them by facilitating the transfer of credit earned at their institutions.

The Agreement is based on recognition that the academic expectations and assessment regimes at all Group of Eight universities are comparable and transferable.

PRINCIPLES

1. Credit will be granted to students who are accepted for admission into a degree program at a Group of Eight university for appropriate units of study successfully completed while enrolled at another Group of Eight university.
2. Credit transfer will be available to students in all degree programs who have successfully completed a recognised component of study at a Group of Eight university.
3. Transferring students will be required to complete at least one year of equivalent full-time study, or a minimum of 50% of the relevant degree program where it is less than the full-time equivalent of one year in length, in the university from which they graduate.
4. Students must meet all requirements of the degree program in which they enrol.
5. Credit transfer for units of study successfully completed as part of a previously completed degree will be considered in accordance with the rules of the degree program into which the student is seeking admission.

May 2011

For further  information about how the agreement is applied at each institution, click the links below:

The University of Queensland
The University of Adelaide
The University of Melbourne
The University of  New South Wales
The University of Western Australia
Monash University
The University of Sydney
The Australian National University (details pending)

 View or download - Go8 Credit Transfer Agreement (PDF)

Learning to speak a Language Other Than English (LOTE) is increasingly important for effective participation in a globalised world.

Group of Eight universities play a vital role in the delivery and support of languages education in Australia. All 35 languages currently available at tertiary level in Australia are offered at Go8 universities.

In addition, a wide range of LOTE incentives are available both for entry to and while enrolled in programs of study at Go8 universities (see link to LOTE incentives PDF below).

In 2007, the Go8 released a discussion paper, Languages in Crisis, which proposed co-operative action between Commonwealth, state and territory governments to achieve a consistent national approach to language education at all levels of the education system. Click here for Languages in Crisis discussion paper.

The Go8 welcomes the opportunity to work with government, schools and other higher education institutions to promote and encourage the study of Languages Other Than English.

View or download - Go8 LOTE Incentive Schemes.pdf (PDF)

“If the teachers of mankind are to be cognisant of all that they ought to know, everything must be free to be written and published without restraint.”
—John Stuart  Mill, On Liberty

Go8 universities are dedicated to expanding knowledge through rigorous research and to disseminating the results for the benefit of the public.

The validity and credibility of universities rely upon the fact that academic work is carried out in an open and independent environment, where staff are free to reveal and challenge theories, knowledge and understanding in accordance with internationally accepted scholarly norms. These norms include the examination of criticisms and new ideas by other experts in a given field.

The publication of results obtained from properly constructed research carried out by experts is a fundamental component of academic freedom.

Therefore, where external funding supports university research there should not be undue influence brought to bear on the dissemination of the research results.

Go8 universities recognise that government and non-government bodies providing funding for research are entitled to specify the scope of the research they intend to support and monitor the quality and timeliness of the work. However, Go8 universities hold that it is inappropriate to accept external funding:

• where the funder has the right to interfere in, or alter, the conduct of  sponsored research; or  
• where the funder has the right to alter, suppress or indefinitely delay  publication of all or part of the outcomes.

Go8 universities do recognise that commercial or other considerations might sometimes require short, finite delays in publication. However, they will vigorously assert their right to publish the results of all research in a timely manner.  
January 2008

 View or download - Go8 Statement on the Right to Publish (PDF) - 22kb