Collaboration and Structural Reform Fund (CASR)

In August 2008, the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations completed a review of the operation of the Collaboration and Structural Reform Fund.

In summary the findings were:

• The objective of CASR was to achieve better higher education outcomes in teaching, learning, research and innovation by promoting structural reform and collaboration in the sector. 

• A total of $41.7 million was allocated for the years 2005 to 2008. The last CASR funding round was undertaken in 2007. On 1 January 2008 CASR was subsumed by the Diversity and Structural Adjustment Fund.

• The review of CASR involved examining project reports and consulting key stakeholders, including Vice-Chancellors and project coordinators.

• Across the three funding rounds (2005, 2006 and 2007), CASR received 350 applications, suggesting considerable demand for the program.  34 projects were funded.

• While individual projects met their objectives, respondents indicated that overall the fund was better at promoting collaboration than structural reform, and that the larger Diversity and Structural Adjustment Fund is better placed to stimulate reforms of a structural nature.

• There was broad support from respondents for rolling CASR (and other small competitive grants funding) into university base funding.

The full report can be downloaded here PDF    (213.4 KB)  RTF    (2.9 MB)

CASR – Chapter Nine of the Other Grants Guidelines

• PDF    (351.6 KB)
• RTF    (179.0 KB)

CASR - Administrative Information for Applicants and Grant Recipients

• PDF    (63.92 KB)
• RTF    (1.4 MB)

CASR - Projects funded in 2007

• PDF    (31.1 KB)
• RTF    (101.1 KB)

CASR - Projects funded in 2006

• PDF    (17.6 KB)
• RTF    (41.7 KB)

CASR - Projects funded in 2005

• PDF    (15.2 KB)
• RTF    (32.3 KB)

With the announcement on 11 September 2007  of eleven new projects    (31.1 KB) funded under the Collaboration and Structural Reform Fund (CASR), the CASR programme is now fully committed. 

From 1 January 2008, CASR will be subsumed by the new Diversity and Structural Adjustment Fund (Diversity Fund).  The Diversity Fund will honour CASR commitments that extend beyond 2007.

Information on the Diversity Fund is available at: www.dest.gov.au/highered/dsa

Contact details for CASR are:

Telephone:  CASR Program Coordinator on 02 6219 3469.

Email: casr@deewr.gov.au