Full Universities Australia Logo Universities Australia Logo
Study in Australia
  • Home
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Board
    • Our Staff
    • History
    • Career Opportunities
  • Facts & Publications
    • Student Statistics
    • Staff Statistics
    • University & Funding Statistics
    • Publications
  • Policy & Submissions
    • Submissions
    • Keep it clever
    • Teaching, Learning & Funding
    • Research & Innovation
    • International
    • Diversity & Equity
    • Safety & Wellbeing
    • Health
    • Copyright
  • Campaigns & Projects
  • Our universities
    • University Profiles
    • Teaching Calendar
    • University Contacts
    • University Startup Hubs
    • Student Safety – Contacts
    • 2022 Floods
  • Media
  • Events
  • Contact
Study in Australia
©2022
Site by ED.

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
Media Release 3 September 2018

UK LESSONS UNDERSCORE THE NEED TO NURTURE OUR UNIS

Brexit risks and a major boost to UK R&D spending are powerful reminders that Australia’s world-class universities need the backing of stable policy and sustained investment.

Universities Australia Chief Executive Catriona Jackson is in the UK this week for high-level talks with Government and universities, and will speak at the Universities UK annual members meeting.

“UK universities, like many others across the globe, are navigating a time of great uncertainty,” Ms Jackson said.

“Few of the challenges faced by the world’s universities are more daunting than Brexit — with the UK preparing to leave the EU in March 2019,” she said.

“Negotiations about the post-2020 arrangements are centrally important. If existing strong reciprocal relationships with EU universities change, it could endanger two-way student exchange and research links.”

However, the UK was forging ahead of Australia on R&D investment with the UK Government’s commitment to spend 2.4 per cent of GDP on R&D.

“This sits in stark contrast to Australia, where we spend 1.88 per cent of GDP on research and development,” Ms Jackson said.

“Research is vital to create the future jobs and industries we will all rely on. But the most recent figures show that business investment in R&D has gone backwards in Australia for the first time in almost two decades,” she said.

“We need to see Australia’s Government and businesses lift R&D investment so we can match countries like the UK. Otherwise we risk falling further behind the OECD average.”

Ms Jackson said the UK and Australian university systems had a strong relationship and often looked to each other to share advances and innovations.

“There is keen interest in Australia’s reciprocal arrangements that allow New Zealand citizens to study here as domestic students, the inclusion of student loans in trade deals, like we have with Japan, and developing a comprehensive international education strategy that mirrors ours,” Ms Jackson said.

“There are also mutual lessons both sectors can share about how universities are tackling sexual assault and sexual harassment,” she said.

At the Universities UK annual members meeting, Ms Jackson will share how Australia’s universities demonstrate to the public the vital role that university research and teaching plays in the economy, society and prosperity.

Ahead of formal Brexit negotiations, Universities UK and Universities Australia will engage with stakeholders about the importance of higher education and research to both economies – and identify areas of shared interest that should feature in any future bilateral agreements.

Related Media

See All Media
media-item
Media Release
17 August 2022

More university places to skill-up more Australians

Universities Australia welcomes the Government’s allocation of 20,000 additional university places to tackle skill shortages and give more people from under-represented backgrounds the chance to go to university.

Read more
media-item
Media Release
15 August 2022

Mitacs and Universities Australia sign renewed agreement allowing for expanded mobility opportunities

Vancouver, BC – Mitacs and Universities Australia are proud to announce that they have signed a renewed agreement, allowing for expanded research collaborations and mobility opportunities between the two countries.

Read more
media-item
Media Release
15 August 2022

Onshore vaccine manufacturing hub key to Australia’s wellbeing

Today’s announcement by the Prime Minister that an onshore vaccine manufacturing hub will be created at Monash University is critical to advancing Australia’s response to future health outbreaks and strengthening our sovereign capability.

Read more
See All Media
Universities Australia Logo
Study in Australia

Popular Search Terms

  • Business & Community
  • Careers & Staffing
  • Indigenous
  • International
  • Resources & Regulation
  • Quality Assurance
  • Governance
  • Research
  • Students & Teaching
  • Student Income Support
  • Teaching Calendar
©2022
Site by ED.
Universities Australia Logo
Study in Australia

Sign up

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
©2022
Site by ED.
Universities Australia Logo


Australian Aboriginal Flag Flag of the Torres Strait Islanders

Quick Links

  • Home
  • About
  • Facts & Publications
  • Policy & Submissions
  • Campaigns & Projects
  • Our universities
  • Media
  • Events
  • Contact

Get in touch

  • 1 Geils Court
  • Deakin ACT 2600
  • T: +61 2 6285 8100

Follow Us

  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
©2022 - Site by ED.
Legal
Study in Australia
Site Index