ATN In The Media

The Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering has $41m from the feds for the “Elevate: Boosting women in STEM.”

Australian university have avoided a significant major downturn in standing in global rankings over the past two years but there are challenges

Labor’s election victory gives universities a chance to reset their relationship with government and offer answers to the challenges facing Australia, University of Sydney vice-chancellor Mark Scott says.

It’s not that academic expertise has never been used by government to solve major challenges. Particularly during Covid, the medical, scientific, economic, and many other forms of expertise from university researchers were were put to good use.

The dust is beginning to settle on the post-election landscape. New leaders are in place, ministers and shadows have taken office, and the post-election posturing has started in earnest. University leaders now turn to the future, with renewed vigour in their step. But which direction to take?

Higher education and research stakeholders have issued a warm welcome to Australia’s newest Education minister Jason Clare, despite his arrival coming as a surprise to many. Groups say they are excited to work with both Mr Clare and a new Labor government offering a chance at policy “freshness”.

Universities and other tertiary education institutions have welcomed the Albanese government’s new ministry which was sworn in on Wednesday, saying they look forward to working with ministers to solve Australia’s skill shortages and other challenges.

University groups have mixed reviews of the 2022 election campaign, with some seeing promise in commercialisation and tech policies from major parties, and others lamenting the lack of focus on the wider higher education sector and the role it plays.

Attempts to formalise the millions of short courses available on digital platforms to anyone wanting to upskill could be a headache that stunts, rather than promotes, informal learning.

Regardless of the upcoming federal election results, the Minister for Education and Youth must call an urgent stakeholder national summit in Canberra once the election is decided to discuss why Australian public universities are in crisis and how to reform them.