July 1, 2020
Following extensive consultation with Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan over past few weeks, the Group of Eight (Go8), which represents Australia’s leading research-intensive universities, is pleased sector representatives will be closely involved in the development of the Government’s post-COVID university research policy architecture.
Go8 Chief Executive Vicki Thomson says that “the announcement of the Government’s two working groups’ membership – to assist design Australia’s future university research structure, and a strong re-boot of universities working collaboratively with industry to enable a more sovereign national capability – will offer exciting possibilities for fresh ideas and strong leadership of policy development.”
“The Go8 undertakes 70 percent of all university research undertaken in Australia and it is this research, which provides jobs, saves lives and contributes $25 billion to the national economy annually which will be a critical component of our post COVID economic recovery. However, this is at risk given the financial challenges the sector is facing and we also know that now is the time for bold and brave policy to reform our research funding system.
“We welcome that the research working group will include the Go8 Interim Chair, Professor Margaret Gardner, former Go8 Chair, Professor Ian Jacobs and University of Melbourne Vice Chancellor, Professor Duncan Maskell. It is also pleasing to see the committee chaired by incoming University of Queensland Vice Chancellor and Universities Australia Chair, Professor Deborah Terry, given the University of Queensland’s reputation for above world class research and its globally renowned extensive commercialisation of that research.”
Ms Thomson said the Go8 would continue to work closely with the Minister to assist with the development of the sector’s post COVID agenda, with the Go8 priority being to do all it can to ensure sustainable economic recovery.