The successful delivery of major initiatives in the 2022 Federal Budget can only be underscored by the contribution that will be needed from the nation's research-intensive universities. Government ignores that at their peril.
Group of Eight (Go8) universities undertake 70 per cent of Australian university research activity and graduate 110,000 students each year. This includes more than 60 per cent of medical and 42 per cent of engineering graduates.
Go8 Chief executive Vicki Thomson said almost all the major initiatives announced in the Budget will require robust and well-funded universities to educate the graduates required.
"Change is critical and required at speed. It is our gradates and our research and innovation which will, for example, ensure the Hells Gate dam is delivered for Queensland, or that AUKUS becomes a reality."
Ms Thomson said that in many ways, while it can superficially appear this Budget overlooks universities, it will rely on the quality of Australia's universities (and our education partners in TAFE).
"The Go8 is core to Australian capacity and sovereign capability now and into the future because the services they provide underpin the professional workforce and knowledge needs of a prosperous 21st century economy. There is no point announcing key infrastructure and defence projects without adequate consideration being given to who and what mix of skills is required so they can be delivered.
"We will not be building new opportunities and productivity without world class research and innovation.
"The Go8 is therefore proposing that an incoming Government adopt a Sovereign Capability Charter to ensure essential current and future skills, supply chains and research capacity are all accounted for before public announcement, within the financial and timeline parameters for major infrastructure projects from future Governments.
"As Industry well knows, Australia is already facing skills shortages in a number of areas central to the Government's growth agenda: engineering, professional services, health, AI, cybersecurity, logistics and procurement.
Supporting high-quality, research-intensive universities means supporting Australia's engineering workforce, its medical workforce, its technology workforce, its research capability and its capacity to engage with emerging and developing industries."
