Advocacy and government relations
Universities Australia acts as a consultative and advisory body for all university affairs, making submissions to public inquiries of interest to the university sector, and preparing statements on major issues. It seeks to influence politicians, the community and opinion leaders, in order to secure the best possible outcomes from government funding and regulatory decisions, and the actions of other groups and individuals related to the university sector.
Universities Australia has representatives, or nominated people, on more than 70 external national and international bodies of import to higher education. These include the Prime Minister's Science, Engineering and Innovation Council, the Association of Commonwealth Universities Council, the board of the Australian Universities Quality Agency, the Australian Medical Council, and the National Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee.
International collaboration
Universities Australia maintains strong links with universities and education and education-related organisations internationally. Universities Australia maintains close informal contact with its counterpart organisations overseas, covering more than 25 countries along with the European Union.
It supports universities' international activities through a framework of multilateral and bilateral cooperation at the sector-wide level, including formal agreements promoting student and staff exchange, research collaboration and knowledge transfer. Under these agreements a suite of programs and projects has been developed to promote educational, scientific and cultural cooperation.
Information provision and other services to members
Universities Australia supports regular meetings of senior university staff in areas including education policy, indigenous education issues, research and research training, international issues, and university management and administration.
Through its subsidiary, Higher Ed Services, Universities Australia also provides services to assist university management, such as software purchasing and negotiation of copyright and travel contracts.
