|
Knowledge and Innovation: A policy statement on research and research training 6. ConclusionAustralia’s higher education institutions have an important role to play in the knowledge economy of the 21st century. Through basic research, institutions provide the foundations which underpin the nation’s social, cultural and technological progress. As significant players in the innovation system, institutions collaborate with industry to find solutions to complex problems. Through the provision of research training, they prepare Australia’s future researchers, and transfer skills and knowledge for the benefit of the broader community. By moving to a performance-based system of funding for research and research training, the Government will provide the incentives for institutions to best perform these functions. Institutions will be rewarded for performing research of an excellent quality, as well as being encouraged to increase their collaboration with industry. They will be rewarded for the quality of their research training environments and for ensuring that students complete their degrees. These incentives will be provided in an environment that respects the autonomy of institutions to determine their areas of strength and the best way to manage their research. The enhancements to the ARC will ensure that individual researchers and their teams will continue to have their excellent research proposals assessed by their peers, whilst giving the ARC a more strategic focus. The introduction of an external quality verification framework and the publication of Research and Research Training Management Plans provide the platform for Australian institutions to demonstrate that the research and research training they do is of a high international standard. The importance of our regional institutions in their local communities will continue to be supported by the Government and with the introduction of funding dedicated for rural and regional research, higher education institutions will strengthen the social and economic development of these communities. This ensures that all Australians will benefit from our interaction with the global knowledge economy. Every institution has an important role to play within the national innovation system. Their expertise in different fields, their relationships with their regions and their interaction with industry are an integral part of Australia’s cultural, economic and social development. The Government believes that this new framework for research and research training, based on principles of excellence, autonomy, student choice, collaboration and accountability, will provide the tools for institutions to fulfil their role. Title & Foreword | Contents | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Higher Ed Home Any comments or queries should be sent to: highered@detya.gov.au |