Universities Australia expressed strong support for the announcements made today by the Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon. Julia Gillard MP as she opened the inaugural Universities Australia Higher Education Conference in Canberra.
"We now have a clear statement from the Government that they will act on the important and welcome reforms recommended by Professor Denise Bradley's Review of Australian Higher Education," said Professor Richard Larkins, Chair of Universities Australia.
The Deputy Prime Minister's recognition that education is the key to a stronger and fairer Australia was especially welcome.
Minister Gillard announced that the Government would move to implement key elements of the Bradley Review including raising the proportion of the Australian population aged 25-34 with a bachelor level degree to 40 percent by the year 2025; moving to a student-demand driven model of university funding from 2012; and establishing a national regulatory and quality agency for higher education.
"This morning the 350 delegates at the conference showed their clear approval of Minister Gillard's announcements, and we feel this will be the beginning of real, positive change and support for universities in Australia," Professor Larkins said.
"Universities now look forward to the Government really following through on their commitments by prioritising the funding of the important reforms in the Bradley and Cutler Reviews in the upcoming and subsequent Budgets," Professor Larkins said.
"Universities also look forward to working with Government on the detail of the structural reforms announced," Professor Larkins said.
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