The Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee (AVCC) has today welcomed Ms Julie Bishop MP to the university sector on the day she has been officially sworn in as the Minister for Education, Science and Training.
AVCC Chief Executive Office John Mullarvey said that Vice-Chancellors were looking forward to working with Ms Bishop in her new ministerial role.
"The AVCC has had a productive relationship with the previous Minister, Dr Brendan Nelson over the past four years, during which there have been substantial changes in the regulation and funding of the university sector," Mr Mullarvey said.
"Vice-Chancellors are looking forward to developing their relationship with Ms Bishop particularly in relation to the major issues currently facing the sector, such as the Research Quality Framework and the approval of the additional 5% of base funding which is dependent upon the approval of the workplace relations requirements.
"In addition, the AVCC is looking forward to progressing a range of broader issues currently high on the agenda for the university sector, including:
- Australian university quality and the development of Australia's Transnational Education and Training Strategy
- regulation and reporting requirements of universities
- indexation of university grants," Mr Mullarvey said.
The AVCC also takes this opportunity to thank Dr Brendan Nelson for the commitment and dedication he has shown the education sector in his time as Minister for Education, Science and Training.
"The past four years under the leadership of Dr Nelson have been very critical for the development of the Australian university sector. The sector has experienced significant change in this time, and the AVCC would like to thank Dr Nelson for his major role in the development of policies and expansion of funding for the sector.
"The AVCC congratulates Dr Nelson on his appointment as Minister for Defence," Mr Mullarvey said.
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