Jason Clare says Australian universities punch above their weight

Australian universities punch above their weight, says federal Education Minister Jason Clare.

Federal Education Minister Jason Clare. Picture: David Foote

Australian universities punch above their weight in research. Australia is only 0.3 per cent of the world’s population, but we do 3 per cent of the world’s research.

We are home to some of the world’s most brilliant researchers and the most cutting-edge research. Research that has led to life changing inventions – like Wi-Fi, spray-on skin, a vaccine for HPV and polymer bank notes. And this magazine contains inspiring examples of Australian research excellence across 250 individual fields of research.

Last year I announced the first comprehensive review of the Australian Research Council (ARC), led by Professor Margaret Sheil AO, Professor Susan Dodds and Professor Mark Hutchinson. That ARC review found the legislation that underpins the ARC is old and needs updating, and we need to strengthen its governance arrangements. Over the past few years, the ARC has been bedevilled by political interference and ministerial delays.

That has made it harder for universities to recruit and retain staff, and it has damaged our international reputation. That’s not good for our universities. It’s not good for businesses either, which work with our universities, or the research community.

I promised last year to take the politics out of research and that’s what we are doing.

That’s why I have agreed in principle to all 10 recommendations and will introduce reforms that will set up the ARC to meet current and future needs and maintain the trust and confidence of the research sector.

The Australian Universities Accord will also provide us with a long-term plan that will help set up our higher education system for the next decade and beyond.

The next big, cutting-edge innovations are being developed in our universities right now through research and will help to change the world tomorrow.

Jason Clare is the federal Education Minister.