MEDIA RELEASE
BRINGING BUSINESS AND UNIVERSITIES CLOSER TOGETHER
13 May 2003 MIN 347/03
A new body will be established to help to foster
greater collaboration between universities, industry, business,
other education providers and communities.
Complementing Budget initiatives in the higher
education reform package, Our Universities: Backing Australia’s
Future, I will be appointing a new Council to improve communication
and collaboration between the business/industry and higher education
sectors.
The Council for Business/Industry/University
Collaboration will draw on high-level representation from business,
industry and employer groups and universities, and will include at
least one representative from regional Australia.
The Council will be chaired by a representative of a
key business, industry, or employer group, with members appointed
later this year.
Initial priorities for the Council will include:
-
participation in the selection of business/industry/university
projects for funding;
-
development of strategies to encourage business/industry to invest
more in the higher education sector;
-
facilitation of involvement of small and medium enterprises in
collaborative arrangements with universities;
-
establishment of Awards for Business/University Collaborations;
and
-
marketing
of the Graduate Skills Assessment (GSA) to a broad range of
employers (supported by funding for the GSA from the Quality
Fund).
-
advice to
Government on initiatives to further facilitate the
commercialisation of intellectual property.
Closer relationships with business and industry will
ensure that graduates are better prepared for the labour market, and
that the commercial potential of research and innovation is
maximised.
Greater involvement by universities in the economic
and social lives of their communities, particularly regional
communities, will generate rewards from which many Australians will
benefit.
The Commonwealth will provide seed funding of
$200,000 to the Council over two years.
For further information:
Dr Nelson’s Office: Ross Hampton 0419 484 095
Dept of Education, Science & Training: Jane Smith
0412 973 411
|
