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2015: OUR GOALS FOR THE YEAR AHEAD › PAGE 2

PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IS WORTH DEFENDING › PAGE 3

OUR STANDARDS OF TEACHING AND RESEARCH, ARE ABSOLUTE › PAGE 1

FEBRUARY 2015 | EDITION 1

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Go8.edu.au

OCTOBER 2018 | EDITION 21

Report highlights Go8 impact 03

Genomics a winner 05

Temper tantrums linked to narcissism 07

Why some catch and others can’t 08

01 OCTOBER 2018 EDITION 21

Welcome to our October newsletter…delayed somewhat by recent events in Canberra.

CE’S MESSAGE

Professor Davis loves university education too much to let go. So this isn’t really farewell. It is a massive thank you and a goodbye until the next time!

It occurred as I wrote this that we really are a sector paddling furiously like a swan beneath the surface. I have been working with the university sector for some 16 years. It has often struck me how serene – and so frequently lush – campuses can look, regardless of what country you are in. They so often have this calm and studious feel that belies the constant intensity, the hectic timelines, and the outcomes-focussed work ethic within.

And so it has been for the Go8 and its members since our last newsletter. Not least because we yet again have a new Minister who is the first to admit he does not know a lot about universities. With an election between now and next May we hope he will allow the sector the time it needs to have him up to speed enough for well-reasoned policy formulation on everything from international students to freedom of speech. Touch one wrong policy lever in the higher education sector and the ramifications rattle on for years as our former Ministers have found from the sidelines.

Apart from the concerns of policy formulation, of paramount

importance for the Go8, after nine months intense gestation, was the release in August of a first-ever forensic analysis of the Go8’s economic worth to Australia.

This robust and deliberately conservative analysis was carried out for us by one of Europe’s leading independent economic consultants, London Economics. The Go8 chose London Economics because of its independence, and because it had a specialist higher education team in place led by partner Dr Gavan Conlon.

This team had produced a recent similar analysis for the Go8’s equivalent UK university grouping, the research-intensive Russell Group. That this Russell Group report now forms a vital component of the UK Exchequer’s decision-making on university budgetary matters, says a lot about London Economics’ highly regarded rigorous approach.

We wanted that, and it is vital to state that the Go8 had no copy-editing rights. The content comes blemishes and all… as it should. And yes of course there are areas where we can do better; there always will be, and we will.

“Compelling Facts” contains headline statistics from the report and can be found here (https://www.go8.edu.au/Go8_London-Economics-Report_Compelling-Facts.pdf). There is immense pride from all Go8 members that the report shows the strength of our economic impact – from the total of $66.4 billion every year, to knowing that our research alone contributes $24.5 billion each year; $1000 for every Australian.

Reading that every $1 of Go8 research income delivers almost $10 in benefits to the economy was a figure we at early draft stage asked to have further unpacked for us, because it surpassed even what we expected. And the value to Australia of our international students shines through. From every three contributing $1 million in economic benefits to the fact they support some 77,000 Australian jobs.

The full London Economics report can be found here (https://www.go8.edu.au/Go8_London-Economics-Report.pdf).

The report’s release was well-timed. Now for the first time the Go8 could meet with Australia’s Minister of Education backed by a wide-ranging evidence-based agenda. We did know, in part, what a large percentage of the report would show, but we didn’t have this detailed economic analysis to back in our assertions. Now we do, and we had a solid foundation for the Go8’s first meeting with new

Minister of Education Hon Dan Tehan on 20 September.

Frankly, having three education Ministers in five years and now losing vocational education from the education portfolio exactly when Australia needs to manage post-secondary education as a whole, can hardly be described as optimal.

That point made, the Go8 hopes for a constructive consultative approach with Minister Tehan. I also harbor the hope that our new Prime Minister has suggested Minister Tehan fix the debilitating issues of the university sector in tandem with having fixed the funding debacle of the Catholic school’s sector.

As you can see Canberra has tended to overshadow significant other recent Go8 priorities. This newsletter’s content aims to rectify that. For example, Go8 members hosted student representatives to a two-day gathering in Sydney (page 9). This was the second in the Go8’s national conversation series of listening to the community.

(The first was the summit with Australia’s social advocacy sector on 30 April which featured in our previous newsletter.)

We also hosted a Genomics and Precision Medicine Forum. The depth of our research in this priority field was on display and keynote speakers included Health Minister, Greg Hunt and Chief Scientist Alan Finkel.

Researchers and investors held the floor in a series of insightful panels and Q and A sessions

02GO8.EDU.AU

… after nine months intense gestation, was the release in August of a first-ever forensic analysis

of the Go8’s economic worth to Australia.

There is immense pride from all Go8 members that the report shows the strength of our economic impact – from the total of $66.4 billion every year,

to knowing that our research alone contributes $24.5 billion each year; $1000 for every Australian.

with time for networking an important part of the forum. It is planned to be the first in a series of “meetings of minds” in this research area. More about which in a future newsletter.

Go8 member, UNSW hosted the Government’s “China reset” speech. With the Go8 home to one in three international students and home to the 63 per cent of students from China who choose to study in Australia, there was a definite synergy in one of our universities being asked by Government to provide the venue.

The Go8 has continually stated that its effort is channelled into providing quality education. We have worked hard to stay above the fray of the disharmony between Australia and China and, in doing so, have preserved our much-valued research and teaching relationships with China throughout. The Go8 therefore is positive about the Government’s recent reset statement and is positive the new Prime Minister is even more strongly committed to a reset.

As we work our way through so much in the policy sense please read my very personal farewell to University of Melbourne Vice Chancellor Glyn Davis. I doubt I am alone in believing he will be a giant of the sector in one way or another for many years to come. Professor Davis loves university education too much to let go. So this isn’t really farewell. It is a massive thank you and a goodbye until the next time!

CE Vicki Thomson

03 OCTOBER 2018 EDITION 21

External report highlights Go8 impact

A report by London Economics – “The economic impact of Group of Eight universities” – was launched by the Go8 Chair, Professor Ian Jacobs at the National Press Club in Canberra on 14 August.

It is the first economic analysis undertaken by the collective Go8, and the first Australian universities’ forensic analysis of their impact to the nation from one year (2016, the most recent year for which official data was available).

London Economics (https://www.go8.edu.au/Go8_London-Economics-Report.pdf) is one of Europe’s leading economics consultancies. Its specialist higher education team had undertaken a similar forensic analysis for the UK’s Russell Group of Universities and the Go8 had been impressed by its content and by the respect afforded the report by the UK Government.

“This led to initial discussions with London Economics in late

2017 and Board endorsement to commission the same specialist team to carry out a similar forensic analysis for the Go8 early this year,” says Vicki Thomson Go8 Chief Executive.

“London Economics’ consultants were in Canberra to coincide with the report launch, and specifically to brief a number of senior Government officials and economic journalists.

The headline statistics from the analysis are that the Go8:

� has total economic impact of some $66.4 billion each year

� research activity contributes $24.5 billion to the economy each year – $1000 for every Australian

� delivers almost $10 in benefits to the economy for every $1 of research income

� is a major employer whose wages and need for services contributes almost $19 billion to the economy each year

… delivers almost $10 in benefits to the economy for every $1 of research income

� contributes $17.98 billion to Australia’s education exports each year

� supports 73,000 Australian jobs from income generated from its international students

� generates $1 million in economic impact for every three of its international students

Ms Thomson said an important statistic for the Go8, especially given it was comprised of Australia’s consistently leading research intensive universities, was that “every $100 million in additional research funding leads to $1 billion additional return. Conversely policy that reduces research funding by $100 million to the Go8 leads to a reduction of $1 billion in economic return. To us that figure was stark, and illustrative of our value and place in Australia’s economic future.”

Professor Ian Jacobs: VC, UNSW Sydney and Chair, Group of Eight

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VC Views: The economic impact of Group of Eight universities

What unites all world-leading research is curiosity and a desire to make a difference to our global community.

Professor Ian Jacobs, UNSW Sydney, Go8 Chair:

“The London economics report is further evidence that funding for our universities is not a burden or a charitable donation – it is a wise investment in the future of the nation which yields substantial economic return alongside many other benefits for the people of Australia.”

Professor Dawn Freshwater, The University of Western Australia, Go8 Deputy Chair:

“While Go8 universities have been delivering higher education and research benefits to our

communities for more than a century, this is the first time that we have been able to quantify the benefits of a single year’s activity to the country’s economy. What strikes me is not just the direct value of our graduates and our research, but the broader impact of these on society and social cohesion through productivity and knowledge spillover effects, which total $31bn. This far outstrips public expenditure on Go8 universities, and benefits all Australians, importantly including those who have not had the chance to go to university.”

Dr Michael Spence AC, The University of Sydney:

“Australia’s greatest asset is its innovative population, well educated in a world class University system. The benefits of being a clever nation almost incalculable. But even narrowly defined, the economic contribution of our eight research universities is enormous.”

Professor Peter Høj, The University of Queensland:

“The report affirms the essential roles of Group of Eight universities in generating jobs, nourishing economies, and enhancing productivity.

UQ is known as a leader in translation and commercialisation of its research, and I am proud that our people lead four of the nine research and innovation case studies highlighted in the London Economics report. They are making global contributions to health, farming and fibre production, and crucial infrastructure.

But – of course – the impact we have on our communities, through our students and graduates, is what we experience every day, and rejoice in.”

Professor Glyn Davis AC, The University of Melbourne:

“Understanding economic flows is an essential first step to making good policy. The London Economics report makes clear the contribution of Group of Eight universities across the nation – and asks, inevitably, how we make more of this flow for the benefit of Australia.”

Professor Margaret Gardner AO, Monash University:

“The London Economics Report demonstrates that investment in universities not only contributes to economic growth, but that Australian universities make measurable direct and indirect impacts through their research and education nationally and internationally.”

Professor Brian Schmidt AC, Australian National University:

“The value of universities is multi-faceted, and easily taken for granted. We open a world of opportunity that reaches outside of our campuses and into Australian homes and businesses. Whether creating highly skilled and valuable graduates, or new companies and technologies, The Australian National University (ANU) is making sure its excellence enriches the nation.

As Australia’s national university we serve the nations interests by producing world-leading research and education that has international impact. We see every day the value of the investment in excellence. However quantifying that value in terms of dollars and cents is not simple. This research, funded by the Group of Eight universities, provides a greater insight into the economic reach of universities. What unites all world-leading research is curiosity and a desire to make a difference to our global community. That motivation is translated directly into job generation in our communities, innovation gains and economic gains every year to Australia.

While this report gives a picture of the magnitude of the economic contribution that universities make to Australia’s future, the vibrant contribution made by PhD students and their influence on the world is harder to quantify. Whether it is a step towards curing disease, or it is research that contributes to our understanding of the history, politics and humanities, every step forward increases the intellectual wealth of our nation.”

Professor Peter Rathjen, The University of Adelaide:

“This report provides an important analysis of the immense value of Go8 universities – and that we give back to the economy and society much more than the funding we receive. Research-led universities uniquely combine innovation, human capital and global connectivity and therefore have a special role to play in the transformation of our society and the forging of a prosperous future for generations to come. The London Economics report demonstrates just this, recognising the importance of higher education to economic development – in terms of direct jobs, the value of our research, and the growth that can be directly connected to our graduates. What we produce is now absolutely critical: smart, well-educated people who can carve out a future in the workforce, innovation programs that can give rise to economies that create instant jobs for us and for our kids, and global connectivity that is enormous in a world that is globalized.”

05 OCTOBER 2018 EDITION 21

Genomics a winner

127 participants – both researchers and investors – accepted a Go8 invite to spend a day networking future collaboration and commercialisation opportunities, while hearing about the deep capability of Go8-specific research expertise in Genomics and Precision Medicine.

An important feature of the day was frank and outcomes-focussed dialogue on the policies and procedures that needed development, and the communications protocols and ethical frameworks that required explanation to gain community trust.

Still mostly seen as an over-the-horizon prospect, rather than

an already-arrived research and development sector by the community, gaining trust to advance understanding and acceptance was a major talking point of the day.

The participants heard from Minister for Health Hon Greg Hunt MP, (who is an enthusiastic and committed champion of Genomics and Precision Medicine); the Chair of Innovation and Science Australia Bill Ferris; the Chair of the Australian Medical Research Advisory Board Professor Ian Frazer, and the Lead for the

Australian Genomic Health Alliance Professor Kathryn North.

The Speakers and the representative panels which followed each then had detailed questioning from participants and audience discussion.

The day was put together by the Go8’s Commercialisation and Engagement Directors in recognition of Innovation and Science Australia’s focus on Genomics and Precision Medicine in its ‘Australia 20130; Prosperity through Innovation’ plan, and to showcase Go8 knowledge and expertise in the area.

Still mostly seen as an over-the-horizon prospect … gaining trust to advance understanding and acceptance was a major talking point of the day.

Go8 Chair, Professor Ian Jacobs, Go8 Deputy Chair, Professor Dawn Freshwater, Minister, the Hon Greg Hunt MP, and Go8 CE, Vicki Thomson

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Professor Ian Frazer AC, Chair, Australian Medical Research Advisory Board, Chair Genomics Health Futures Mission Expert Steering Committee

Professor Kathryn North AM, Deputy Chair Genomics Health Futures Mission Expert Steering Committee, Lead Australian Genomics Health Alliance

Mr Bill Ferris AC, Chair Innovation and Science Australia

Federal Minister for Health the Hon Greg Hunt MPProfessor Robyn Ward AM, University of Sydney; Professor Sean Grimmond, University of Melbourne; Professor Deborah White,

University of Adelaide; Professor Cristin Print, University of Auckland; Dr Joost Lesterhuis, University of Western Australia

07 OCTOBER 2018 EDITION 21

Temper tantrums may be linked to narcissism

People who are quick to lose their temper are more likely to overestimate their own intelligence, a new study from The University of Western Australia and the University of Warsaw in Poland has found.

The investigation examined the role of trait-anger (people who get angry as a disposition) in the overestimation of cognitive ability in undergraduates from Warsaw, Poland.

The participants were asked to answer questions assessing their trait-anger, stability, narcissism, and how they would rate their intelligence on a 25-point scale, before taking an objective intelligence test.

UWA Senior Lecturer Gilles Gignac, co-author of the paper with Professor Marcin Zajenkowski from the University of Warsaw, said the study found an interesting relationship between those with a clear

tendency to become annoyed at things, big and small, and their perception of their own intelligence.

“Trait anger, in some cases, may be a consequence of less emotional stability, such as anxiety,” Professor Gignac said.

“However, for others, there is no anxiety fuelling the frustration, nastiness, and angry outbursts. Instead, for them, it looks like it may be narcissism. Consequently, when you ask this type of trait-angry person to rate their own intelligence, they tend to overestimate it.”

The results of the newly published study answer important questions about the dynamics between trait-anger, emotional stability, and narcissism. By understanding more about how trait-anger functions, it will allow clinicians and members of the general public to deal with it better.

The study also leads into some important speculations that could be examined in future research.

“A narcissist, especially what we call the grandiose narcissist, has, as a defining characteristic, an inflated positive self-image,” Professor Gignac said.

“So, it’s not surprising to see a link between narcissism and the overestimation of one’s intelligence.

“The interesting element is that trait-anger appears to be involved in this process. It may be speculated that, for many grandiose narcissists, trait-anger develops over time, as they begin to gain some awareness of the difference between how important and good they think they are versus the reality of what they can do and what they have accomplished.”

RESEARCH

“A narcissist, especially what we call the grandiose narcissist, has, as a defining characteristic, an inflated positive self-image. So, it’s not surprising to see a link between narcissism and the overestimation of one’s intelligence.”

� Trait anger, in some cases, may be a consequence of less emotional stability, such as anxiety.

� However, for others, it looks like it may be narcissism.

� For many grandiose narcissists, trait-anger develops over time, as they begin to gain some awareness of the difference between how important and good they think they are versus the reality of what they can do and what they have accomplished.

UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

08GO8.EDU.AU

Researchers are helping to explain why some people anticipate and react to fast-moving objects much quicker than others.

When Collingwood footballer Jeremy Howe launches into the clouds to take a “speccy” over an AFL opponent, or Serena Williams returns a lightning-quick tennis serve – most of us marvel at their skill and speed.

Considering what the human brain overcomes to make it happen, these feats are nothing short of miraculous. When we watch a moving object, such as a fly, we experience it in the present. But delays in how the brain processes the image from the eye means our awareness of visual events lags behind their occurrence.

So to make it possible to swat a fly or catch a moving ball the brain has developed a way to overcome this lag. This means we are unaware of this delay

and can interact with even rapidly moving objects – in the case of AFL footballers and elite tennis players extremely efficiently.

University of Melbourne-led research investigated this phenomenon and found that the delay with which people make eye movements to a target predicts where they perceive the target, and some people like sports stars do this better than others.

Lead researcher and Melbourne School of Psychological Science Senior Research Fellow Dr Hinze Hogendoorn said the brain then worked out what the target would do next.

“The cool thing about that is that the brain apparently ‘knows’ how long the eye movement is going to take, uses that to calculate in which direction to send the eye movement, and

also uses that same signal to tell awareness where the object is in the first place,” Dr Hogendoorn explained.

Published in the Journal of Neuroscience, the paper looked at transmission delays in the nervous system that pose challenges for pinpointing moving objects due to the brain’s reliance on outdated

information to determine their position.

“Acting effectively in the present requires that the brain compensates not only for the time lost in the transmission and processing of sensory information, but also for the expected time that will be spent preparing and executing motor programs,” the paper said. “Failure to account for these delays will result in the mis-localisation and mistargeting of moving objects.”

In visual motion, the future position of a moving object can be extrapolated based on previous samples. The team recently demonstrated that these neural mechanisms do indeed reduce the lag with which the brain represents the position of a moving object.

Dr Hogendoorn said the findings aligned with and

extended previous research, by showing that motion extrapolation mechanisms were linked to smooth and rapid eye movements. As for elite sportspeople, he said they could have an inherent ability to process all this information faster and more accurately than others, or develop it through practice. Or maybe both.

… motion extrapolation mechanisms were linked to

smooth and rapid eye movements.

Why some catch and others can’tRESEARCH

� When we watch a moving object, we experience it in the present. But delays in how the brain processes the image from the eye means our awareness of visual events lags behind their occurrence.

� The delay with which people make eye movements to a target predicts where they perceive the target.

� Failure to account for these delays will result in the mis-localisation and mistargeting of moving objects.

UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE

09 OCTOBER 2018 EDITION 21

Students gather to express views on university experience

Go8 members recently hosted student representatives from each of the eight universities at a “student summit” held over two days at UNSW Sydney.

The summit was the second in a series of such summits to be held across Australia with a range of different sectors to include business, industry, media, the bureaucracy,

overseas representatives and unions. (The first being the social advocacy summit on 30 April 2018 which featured in the previous newsletter).

The students, with the group including undergraduate and postgraduate representatives, were encouraged to express their views openly so Go8 members and future students and young researchers could benefit from their experiences and suggestions.

The wide range of topics that were discussed, included impediments to study, especially cost of living and transport; how to ensure quality teaching and learning changed to reflect the times, so that it was presented in ways that most benefited the student cohort; balancing the freedom of online learning with the desire to be part of a thriving campus community; international students, their assimilation and ensuring they receive value for money; and the workforce and the value of a degree.

The wide range of topics that were discussed, included impediments to study, especially cost of living and transport; … balancing the freedom of online learning with the desire to be part of a thriving campus community; … and the value of a degree.

010GO8.EDU.AU

The University of Melbourne farewells a charismatic Vice Chancellor

As we farewell a giant of the university sector with the retirement of Professor Glyn Davis as Vice Chancellor of the University of Melbourne, it is a time for personal reflection about someone who has contributed so much to a sector he cares so much about.

I first became aware of the name Glyn Davis in the late 90s. I was Chief of Staff to a South Australian Premier at the same time Glyn was Director General of the Department of Premier and Cabinet of a Queensland Premier.

His presence preceded him. Senior public servants and political staffers from my own region as well as others, spoke of the “unusual” senior bureaucrat who was not known to raise his voice. A man charming as opposed to friendly, quietly yet ferociously determined as opposed to strident.

Yet when he did speak, softly, any room listened. He seemed

above the fray but able to control it at the same time. It was a method of management and use of power I was to become very familiar with over the following decades. I was in awe of that presence.

Lives moved on, and when our Premiers moved on also, Glyn Davis and I both found ourselves in the university sector. Glyn back to the sector to become Vice Chancellor of Griffith University, and me for the first time, as senior strategic communications manager for the AVCC that morphed into Universities Australia.

Glyn moved to the Go8’s University of Melbourne as Vice Chancellor in 2005. He took on the role of Chair of Universities Australia at the same time as his wife Professor Margaret Gardner then Vice Chancellor of Victoria’s RMIT (now Vice Chancellor of Monash) was my Chair at the Australian Technology Network of Universities, which I had joined as Executive Director in 2003.

His presence had not changed. Still calm and reserved, polite and charming and totally erudite he would and could hold any room he so chose in the palm of his hand. He was also able to cut to the quick without even drawing blood. A quiet sentence with a dagger’s power. How many Ministers one wonders have only belatedly realised as he took his leave of a meeting that they had been decidedly skewered!

And so Glyn ploughed forward, always making gains, delivering the “Melbourne model” of a generalist undergraduate degree before specialisation for his students. Just mention “Melbourne model” from Delhi to Beijing, London to New York, Boston and California and beyond and everyone in the sector knows the man behind it.

After all those years I still do not believe I know the person. But I like and remain in awe of what I do know: the quiet, albeit enormous intellect, the personality that removes heat from any discussion that stands in the way of a result, the outcomes-focussed academic and, now former CEO of an enormous operation who managed to fit 48 hours into every 24. He is also a collector of fridge magnets – although I am told there is ‘fridge magnet criteria’ in the Davis/Gardner household – they must be tacky! (Aren’t they all?)

And while he will hate me for writing it in public, I absolutely love the husband who will seek out his Vice Chancellor wife in a room for a quick smile, even a hand squeeze. It says a lot.

Vicki Thomson Chief Executive The Group of Eight

Yet when he did speak, softly, any room listened. He seemed above the fray but able to control it at the same time. It was a method of management and use of power I was to become very familiar with over the following decades. I was in awe of that presence.

Professor Glyn Davis

011 OCTOBER 2018 EDITION 21

GROUP OF EIGHT | Level 4, 10 Moore Street, Canberra ACT 2600 | T. +61 2 6239 5488 | F. +61 2 6239 5808

Vice Chancellor Professor

Peter Rathjen

No. of Students 27,199

Campus Locations 5 Aus + 1 O/S

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2015: OUR GOALS FOR THE YEAR AHEAD › PAGE 2

PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IS WORTH DEFENDING › PAGE 3

OUR STANDARDS OF TEACHING AND RESEARCH, ARE ABSOLUTE › PAGE 1

FEBRUARY 2015 | EDITION 1

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MARCH 2015 | EDITION 2

THE WORLD’S MOST NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES› PAGE 2

GO8’S NEWEST VICE CHANCELLOR › PAGE 3

CEO’S MESSAGE

› PAGE 1

FEBRUARY 2015 | EDITION 1 01

“ Quality students come from all walks of life. Ensuring every quality student can have a quality outcome at the University of their choice requires realistic political policies, and community support.”

FROM THE CHAIR

The Go8 enters 2015 dealing with recurring themes to the fore – quality, funding, results, values, equity, choice – each one reliant on others to achieve.

To our group of Universities, those themes go to the heart of who we are and what we do.

Our standards, of teaching and research, are absolute.

As our new CEO Vicki Thomson says, 2015 is the year we will have to fight to ensure they are protected into the future, because everyone living in Australia benefits if they can be, and faces detrimental consequences if they are not.

I see being Chair of the Go8 as an enormous privilege, never more so than at a time when our future ability to maintain quality, funding, results, values, equity and choice are at risk from potentially poor political decisions related to funding.

In 2013, the Go8 provided Australia with 89,950 graduates. They benefited from much lower student staff ratios than at other Australian Universities, and through our position as the most research-intensive group of Australian Universities they had access to unique research-based learning. That quality experience which delivers Australia’s economy a quality graduate outcome cannot be allowed to be compromised.

As Chair I am also vehement that the Go8 must be able to continue to provide our undergraduates from disadvantaged backgrounds with the support and education that currently delivers them better outcomes in terms of retention and success than at other Australian Universities.

Quality students come from all walks of life. Ensuring every quality student can have a quality outcome at the University

of their choice requires realistic political policies, and community support.

Yet teaching is only one component of our contribution. In 2013 the Go8 received research income of $2.4 billion. Its global value in terms of impact is immeasurable. Our pride that this has come from dedication to quality research at a group of Australian Universities is immense.

As a group of Universities we are facing an uncertain funding future at this point, but what the Go8 is certain of is that everything we ask of Canberra’s politicians, and every decision we make relating to fees and student support mechanisms, concentrates solely on being able to continue delivering the highest quality teaching and research in Australia.

Professor Ian Young

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FEBRUARY 2015 | EDITION 1 02

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CEO’S MESSAGE

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Vicki Thomson

Welcome to the first Go8 newsletter of 2015, and also my first newsletter since joining the Go8 as CEO last month.

As Federal Parliament resumes for its first session of the year, the final makeup of its Higher Education reform agenda, currently stalled in the Senate, will define the future of every Australian University for at least two generations.

2015 is therefore a pivotal and extremely challenging year for our sector, and for Australia’s economic future; for without a robust and quality higher education sector, one of excellence in both graduates and research, our economy can only wither.

Sadly there remains too little community – and dare I say political – understanding of just how much the strength or otherwise of our sector affects a nation’s future.

The Universities which make up the Go8, in particular, have much at stake in the current funding debate as we seek a funding formula and methodology that can enable us to deliver at the demanding level we wish to, and as Australia’s future requires us to.

As a group we celebrate excellence and are proud to be known as Australia’s group of elite Universities. However we must illustrate more clearly to politicians and to the taxpayers who part-fund us, that while we may be elite we are not elitist – and there is a world of difference between the two.

Equally while we are proud also to have the long traditions of being Australia’s first and still premier group of Universities, we must illustrate more clearly that we do not allow those traditions to stop us embracing change. Traditions deliver a valued and valuable foundation, but they

alone can never deliver a viable future.

We also all love to hear that Go8 Universities have educated every Nobel Prize winner educated in an Australian University – but our quest is to be sure we can continue to do so.

During the next year, it will be how much the Go8 can convince the politicians and taxpayers that our sights are set firmly on a future for ourselves that can deliver an elite, value for money, education for any student with the capability of graduating, that will assist us make our case for a funding model that can work for us.

As Australia’s most research-intensive group of Universities we must ensure the funding model that is finally decided upon takes this level of research into consideration. Research equals the future. We owe it to ourselves and to the Australian community to better “sell” the positive effects of our research and its impact on the lives of every Australian, every day. Its global impact also must be better understood. For a nation of just 23.7 million our research punches well above our weight!

So in a year of much to be proud of, and much to do to better share our values and

determination, bluntly, we have a fight ahead of us.

While there is much agreement the current higher education funding model is broken – largely as a result of the uncapping of student places without the funding to pay for the additional numbers – there is no political consensus on how to repair it.

The Go8 will be fighting for the right to deliver quality – of teaching and of research. We owe that to the community, as do our politicians.

I will keep you informed each month of what 2015 brings for the Go8.

“ We also all love to hear that Go8 Universities have educated every Nobel Prize winner educated in an Australian University – but our quest is to be sure we can continue to do so.”

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FEBRUARY 2015 | EDITION 1 01

“ Quality students come from all walks of life. Ensuring every quality student can have a quality outcome at the University of their choice requires realistic political policies, and community support.”

FROM THE CHAIR

The Go8 enters 2015 dealing with recurring themes to the fore – quality, funding, results, values, equity, choice – each one reliant on others to achieve.

To our group of Universities, those themes go to the heart of who we are and what we do.

Our standards, of teaching and research, are absolute.

As our new CEO Vicki Thomson says, 2015 is the year we will have to fight to ensure they are protected into the future, because everyone living in Australia benefits if they can be, and faces detrimental consequences if they are not.

I see being Chair of the Go8 as an enormous privilege, never more so than at a time when our future ability to maintain quality, funding, results, values, equity and choice are at risk from potentially poor political decisions related to funding.

In 2013, the Go8 provided Australia with 89,950 graduates. They benefited from much lower student staff ratios than at other Australian Universities, and through our position as the most research-intensive group of Australian Universities they had access to unique research-based learning. That quality experience which delivers Australia’s economy a quality graduate outcome cannot be allowed to be compromised.

As Chair I am also vehement that the Go8 must be able to continue to provide our undergraduates from disadvantaged backgrounds with the support and education that currently delivers them better outcomes in terms of retention and success than at other Australian Universities.

Quality students come from all walks of life. Ensuring every quality student can have a quality outcome at the University

of their choice requires realistic political policies, and community support.

Yet teaching is only one component of our contribution. In 2013 the Go8 received research income of $2.4 billion. Its global value in terms of impact is immeasurable. Our pride that this has come from dedication to quality research at a group of Australian Universities is immense.

As a group of Universities we are facing an uncertain funding future at this point, but what the Go8 is certain of is that everything we ask of Canberra’s politicians, and every decision we make relating to fees and student support mechanisms, concentrates solely on being able to continue delivering the highest quality teaching and research in Australia.

Professor Ian Young

GOE_001 Newsletter_A4 PRINT_FINAL.indd 1 17/02/2015 11:22 am

FEBRUARY 2015 | EDITION 1 02

GO8.EDU.AU

CEO’S MESSAGE

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Vicki Thomson

Welcome to the first Go8 newsletter of 2015, and also my first newsletter since joining the Go8 as CEO last month.

As Federal Parliament resumes for its first session of the year, the final makeup of its Higher Education reform agenda, currently stalled in the Senate, will define the future of every Australian University for at least two generations.

2015 is therefore a pivotal and extremely challenging year for our sector, and for Australia’s economic future; for without a robust and quality higher education sector, one of excellence in both graduates and research, our economy can only wither.

Sadly there remains too little community – and dare I say political – understanding of just how much the strength or otherwise of our sector affects a nation’s future.

The Universities which make up the Go8, in particular, have much at stake in the current funding debate as we seek a funding formula and methodology that can enable us to deliver at the demanding level we wish to, and as Australia’s future requires us to.

As a group we celebrate excellence and are proud to be known as Australia’s group of elite Universities. However we must illustrate more clearly to politicians and to the taxpayers who part-fund us, that while we may be elite we are not elitist – and there is a world of difference between the two.

Equally while we are proud also to have the long traditions of being Australia’s first and still premier group of Universities, we must illustrate more clearly that we do not allow those traditions to stop us embracing change. Traditions deliver a valued and valuable foundation, but they

alone can never deliver a viable future.

We also all love to hear that Go8 Universities have educated every Nobel Prize winner educated in an Australian University – but our quest is to be sure we can continue to do so.

During the next year, it will be how much the Go8 can convince the politicians and taxpayers that our sights are set firmly on a future for ourselves that can deliver an elite, value for money, education for any student with the capability of graduating, that will assist us make our case for a funding model that can work for us.

As Australia’s most research-intensive group of Universities we must ensure the funding model that is finally decided upon takes this level of research into consideration. Research equals the future. We owe it to ourselves and to the Australian community to better “sell” the positive effects of our research and its impact on the lives of every Australian, every day. Its global impact also must be better understood. For a nation of just 23.7 million our research punches well above our weight!

So in a year of much to be proud of, and much to do to better share our values and

determination, bluntly, we have a fight ahead of us.

While there is much agreement the current higher education funding model is broken – largely as a result of the uncapping of student places without the funding to pay for the additional numbers – there is no political consensus on how to repair it.

The Go8 will be fighting for the right to deliver quality – of teaching and of research. We owe that to the community, as do our politicians.

I will keep you informed each month of what 2015 brings for the Go8.

“ We also all love to hear that Go8 Universities have educated every Nobel Prize winner educated in an Australian University – but our quest is to be sure we can continue to do so.”

GOE_001 Newsletter_A4 PRINT_FINAL.indd 2 17/02/2015 11:22 am

VC VIEWS

MARCH 2015 | EDITION 2 06

Professor Glyn Davis VICE CHANCELLOR UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE

“the question whether markets work in higher education has been much debated and remains an arcane and technical subject. It is worth noting that two out of three parts of the higher education sector are already deregulated; that is, the graduate and international markets. And in neither international nor graduate education, which have been operating for 25 years, do you see the extraordinary price increases people confidently assert will happen in the undergraduate market if deregulated. Deregulation seems an approach that works in practice, but apparently not in theory.”

Professor Warren Bebbington VICE CHANCELLOR UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE

“I think the concept of what a university is has been shredding for some time. We’re beyond making efficiency cuts. From here on in, the question is just how inadequate the income is going to be.”

Professor Peter Høj VICE CHANCELLOR UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND

“…as wise heads in both industry and research have said, we need to make an impenetrably strong case that the nation needs research. More clearly than ever, we must show how high-priority research saves and improves lives, creates jobs, builds productivity and offers solutions to urgent environmental problems. The NCRIS near-miss has done at least two things: it has served as a

wake-up call and it has highlighted that many people in industry and the non- research community really do ‘get it’. Let’s seize this opportunity to re-engage with the community, to interlock with industry, and to leave no doubt that a vibrant, secure research culture makes Australia smart and prosperous.”

Professor Michael Spence VICE CHANCELLOR UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY

“Australia has two resources – things in the ground and clever people. We do research really well, the future is about innovation, and investment in core facilities is absolutely crucial to the nation’s future.”

Professor Paul Johnson VICE CHANCELLOR UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

“The University of Western Australia has been running the Perth International Arts Festival for 63 years and we are proud to have created the oldest arts festival in the southern hemisphere. All Universities extend beyond teaching and research to community engagement. For UWA an important part of this engagement with our community is delivering the arts and culture brought by one of the largest festivals in the world. In valuing the university’s contribution we cannot stop what we do in the classroom or laboratory but need to count and value what we do on the streets, campus, and virtually with our broad community.”

FEBRUARY 2015 | EDITION 1 01

“ Quality students come from all walks of life. Ensuring every quality student can have a quality outcome at the University of their choice requires realistic political policies, and community support.”

FROM THE CHAIR

The Go8 enters 2015 dealing with recurring themes to the fore – quality, funding, results, values, equity, choice – each one reliant on others to achieve.

To our group of Universities, those themes go to the heart of who we are and what we do.

Our standards, of teaching and research, are absolute.

As our new CEO Vicki Thomson says, 2015 is the year we will have to fight to ensure they are protected into the future, because everyone living in Australia benefits if they can be, and faces detrimental consequences if they are not.

I see being Chair of the Go8 as an enormous privilege, never more so than at a time when our future ability to maintain quality, funding, results, values, equity and choice are at risk from potentially poor political decisions related to funding.

In 2013, the Go8 provided Australia with 89,950 graduates. They benefited from much lower student staff ratios than at other Australian Universities, and through our position as the most research-intensive group of Australian Universities they had access to unique research-based learning. That quality experience which delivers Australia’s economy a quality graduate outcome cannot be allowed to be compromised.

As Chair I am also vehement that the Go8 must be able to continue to provide our undergraduates from disadvantaged backgrounds with the support and education that currently delivers them better outcomes in terms of retention and success than at other Australian Universities.

Quality students come from all walks of life. Ensuring every quality student can have a quality outcome at the University

of their choice requires realistic political policies, and community support.

Yet teaching is only one component of our contribution. In 2013 the Go8 received research income of $2.4 billion. Its global value in terms of impact is immeasurable. Our pride that this has come from dedication to quality research at a group of Australian Universities is immense.

As a group of Universities we are facing an uncertain funding future at this point, but what the Go8 is certain of is that everything we ask of Canberra’s politicians, and every decision we make relating to fees and student support mechanisms, concentrates solely on being able to continue delivering the highest quality teaching and research in Australia.

Professor Ian Young

GOE_001 Newsletter_A4 PRINT_FINAL.indd 1 17/02/2015 11:22 am

FEBRUARY 2015 | EDITION 1

GROUP OF EIGHT | Level 2, 101 Northbourne Ave, Turner ACT 2612 | T. +61 2 6239 5488 | F. +61 2 6239 5808

05

The University of Western Australia’s childcare facility Unicare has achieved recognition as a Centre of Excellence, with much thanks to Macca the big pig.

Kids at the University’s innovative Unicare Early Childhood Centre, who share their playground with the large docile pet pig, experience what it’s like caring for a farm animal by feeding, cleaning and walking him. This is only one of the many innovative programs within the centre which is also used for teaching new early childhood educators.

When Macca’s not uploading selfies to his very own Facebook page, you can often see Macca roaming around campus with several kids in tow.

Macca is toilet trained and has exemplary hygiene – washing his snout in one bucket, drinking from another and bathing in a third small trough.

Unicare is a community based not-for-profit facility, and thanks to innovations like Macca, the Centre has just received the excellent rating after an assessment by the Australian Children Education and Care Quality Authority.

SMALL FRIES LOVE PIG MAC

Macca

VC VIEWSUniversity of Melbourne Vice Chancellor Prof. Glyn Davis

Fee deregulation is to fund a quality education for students

“Current funding rates mean the tertiary education offered to Australians at times falls short of global practice. In the absence of public appetite to invest in public education, a measure of fee deregulation is the only way left to fund education policy to a reasonable standard.”

Australian National University Vice Chancellor Prof. Ian Young

Status quo not a pleasant place to be

“…..……because remember that Universities are still trying to recover from the very significant cuts in the latter days of the Labor Government; these are multi-billion

dollar cuts across our universities which institutions are still responding to”

University of Queensland Vice Chancellor Prof. Peter Høj

No deregulation will obstruct opportunity for deserving students

“Our University has already grown enormously and should in my view not get bigger. The worst case scenario would therefore be, that deserving Australian students are denied places because the University by necessity must attract more full-fee paying international students instead. The risk is therefore that Australian students who are prepared to pay for a UQ education effectively are barred by legislation from doing so. Under that scenario, legislation that fails to reflect differences in quality and cost is legislation that could be said to obstruct opportunity”.

University of Adelaide Vice Chancellor Prof. Warren Bebbington

The current system is unfair to students

“There has been much talk of unfairness in the reform proposals. Yet no-one should think that the current system is fair; some students pay as much as 400% of the cost of their education, others as little as 8%.”

University of Western Australia Vice Chancellor Prof. Paul Johnson

Political debate is avoiding reality

“I have not heard anyone on the Government side or from the Opposition coming out saying ‘this is the tax increases we are prepared to put to the Australian people in order to fund the higher-education sector’. If the Senate turns round and says there is no fee flexibility, the only thing we can do is cut, and every University will retreat to its core activities”.

GOE_001 Newsletter_A4 PRINT_FINAL.indd 5 17/02/2015 11:22 am

MARCH 2015 | EDITION 2 09

207mm 210mm 210mm

adelaide.edu.au

Vice Chancellor Professor

Margaret Gardner AO

No. of Students 73,807

Campus Locations 6 Aus + 4 O/S

monash.edu

Vice Chancellor Professor

Brian Schmidt AC

No. of Students 23,571

Campus Locations 1

GO8.EDU.AU

2015: OUR GOALS FOR THE YEAR AHEAD › PAGE 2

PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IS WORTH DEFENDING › PAGE 3

OUR STANDARDS OF TEACHING AND RESEARCH, ARE ABSOLUTE › PAGE 1

FEBRUARY 2015 | EDITION 1

GOE_001 Newsletter_A4 PRINT_FINAL.indd 1 17/02/2015 11:22 am

MARCH 2015 | EDITION 2

THE WORLD’S MOST NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES› PAGE 2

GO8’S NEWEST VICE CHANCELLOR › PAGE 3

CEO’S MESSAGE

› PAGE 1

FEBRUARY 2015 | EDITION 1 01

“ Quality students come from all walks of life. Ensuring every quality student can have a quality outcome at the University of their choice requires realistic political policies, and community support.”

FROM THE CHAIR

The Go8 enters 2015 dealing with recurring themes to the fore – quality, funding, results, values, equity, choice – each one reliant on others to achieve.

To our group of Universities, those themes go to the heart of who we are and what we do.

Our standards, of teaching and research, are absolute.

As our new CEO Vicki Thomson says, 2015 is the year we will have to fight to ensure they are protected into the future, because everyone living in Australia benefits if they can be, and faces detrimental consequences if they are not.

I see being Chair of the Go8 as an enormous privilege, never more so than at a time when our future ability to maintain quality, funding, results, values, equity and choice are at risk from potentially poor political decisions related to funding.

In 2013, the Go8 provided Australia with 89,950 graduates. They benefited from much lower student staff ratios than at other Australian Universities, and through our position as the most research-intensive group of Australian Universities they had access to unique research-based learning. That quality experience which delivers Australia’s economy a quality graduate outcome cannot be allowed to be compromised.

As Chair I am also vehement that the Go8 must be able to continue to provide our undergraduates from disadvantaged backgrounds with the support and education that currently delivers them better outcomes in terms of retention and success than at other Australian Universities.

Quality students come from all walks of life. Ensuring every quality student can have a quality outcome at the University

of their choice requires realistic political policies, and community support.

Yet teaching is only one component of our contribution. In 2013 the Go8 received research income of $2.4 billion. Its global value in terms of impact is immeasurable. Our pride that this has come from dedication to quality research at a group of Australian Universities is immense.

As a group of Universities we are facing an uncertain funding future at this point, but what the Go8 is certain of is that everything we ask of Canberra’s politicians, and every decision we make relating to fees and student support mechanisms, concentrates solely on being able to continue delivering the highest quality teaching and research in Australia.

Professor Ian Young

GOE_001 Newsletter_A4 PRINT_FINAL.indd 1 17/02/2015 11:22 am

FEBRUARY 2015 | EDITION 1 02

GO8.EDU.AU

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Vicki Thomson

Welcome to the first Go8 newsletter of 2015, and also my first newsletter since joining the Go8 as CEO last month.

As Federal Parliament resumes for its first session of the year, the final makeup of its Higher Education reform agenda, currently stalled in the Senate, will define the future of every Australian University for at least two generations.

2015 is therefore a pivotal and extremely challenging year for our sector, and for Australia’s economic future; for without a robust and quality higher education sector, one of excellence in both graduates and research, our economy can only wither.

Sadly there remains too little community – and dare I say political – understanding of just how much the strength or otherwise of our sector affects a nation’s future.

The Universities which make up the Go8, in particular, have much at stake in the current funding debate as we seek a funding formula and methodology that can enable us to deliver at the demanding level we wish to, and as Australia’s future requires us to.

As a group we celebrate excellence and are proud to be known as Australia’s group of elite Universities. However we must illustrate more clearly to politicians and to the taxpayers who part-fund us, that while we may be elite we are not elitist – and there is a world of difference between the two.

Equally while we are proud also to have the long traditions of being Australia’s first and still premier group of Universities, we must illustrate more clearly that we do not allow those traditions to stop us embracing change. Traditions deliver a valued and valuable foundation, but they

alone can never deliver a viable future.

We also all love to hear that Go8 Universities have educated every Nobel Prize winner educated in an Australian University – but our quest is to be sure we can continue to do so.

During the next year, it will be how much the Go8 can convince the politicians and taxpayers that our sights are set firmly on a future for ourselves that can deliver an elite, value for money, education for any student with the capability of graduating, that will assist us make our case for a funding model that can work for us.

As Australia’s most research-intensive group of Universities we must ensure the funding model that is finally decided upon takes this level of research into consideration. Research equals the future. We owe it to ourselves and to the Australian community to better “sell” the positive effects of our research and its impact on the lives of every Australian, every day. Its global impact also must be better understood. For a nation of just 23.7 million our research punches well above our weight!

So in a year of much to be proud of, and much to do to better share our values and

determination, bluntly, we have a fight ahead of us.

While there is much agreement the current higher education funding model is broken – largely as a result of the uncapping of student places without the funding to pay for the additional numbers – there is no political consensus on how to repair it.

The Go8 will be fighting for the right to deliver quality – of teaching and of research. We owe that to the community, as do our politicians.

I will keep you informed each month of what 2015 brings for the Go8.

“ We also all love to hear that Go8 Universities have educated every Nobel Prize winner educated in an Australian University – but our quest is to be sure we can continue to do so.”

GOE_001 Newsletter_A4 PRINT_FINAL.indd 2 17/02/2015 11:22 am

FEBRUARY 2015 | EDITION 1 01

“ Quality students come from all walks of life. Ensuring every quality student can have a quality outcome at the University of their choice requires realistic political policies, and community support.”

FROM THE CHAIR

The Go8 enters 2015 dealing with recurring themes to the fore – quality, funding, results, values, equity, choice – each one reliant on others to achieve.

To our group of Universities, those themes go to the heart of who we are and what we do.

Our standards, of teaching and research, are absolute.

As our new CEO Vicki Thomson says, 2015 is the year we will have to fight to ensure they are protected into the future, because everyone living in Australia benefits if they can be, and faces detrimental consequences if they are not.

I see being Chair of the Go8 as an enormous privilege, never more so than at a time when our future ability to maintain quality, funding, results, values, equity and choice are at risk from potentially poor political decisions related to funding.

In 2013, the Go8 provided Australia with 89,950 graduates. They benefited from much lower student staff ratios than at other Australian Universities, and through our position as the most research-intensive group of Australian Universities they had access to unique research-based learning. That quality experience which delivers Australia’s economy a quality graduate outcome cannot be allowed to be compromised.

As Chair I am also vehement that the Go8 must be able to continue to provide our undergraduates from disadvantaged backgrounds with the support and education that currently delivers them better outcomes in terms of retention and success than at other Australian Universities.

Quality students come from all walks of life. Ensuring every quality student can have a quality outcome at the University

of their choice requires realistic political policies, and community support.

Yet teaching is only one component of our contribution. In 2013 the Go8 received research income of $2.4 billion. Its global value in terms of impact is immeasurable. Our pride that this has come from dedication to quality research at a group of Australian Universities is immense.

As a group of Universities we are facing an uncertain funding future at this point, but what the Go8 is certain of is that everything we ask of Canberra’s politicians, and every decision we make relating to fees and student support mechanisms, concentrates solely on being able to continue delivering the highest quality teaching and research in Australia.

Professor Ian Young

GOE_001 Newsletter_A4 PRINT_FINAL.indd 1 17/02/2015 11:22 am

FEBRUARY 2015 | EDITION 1 02

GO8.EDU.AU

CEO’S MESSAGE

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Vicki Thomson

Welcome to the first Go8 newsletter of 2015, and also my first newsletter since joining the Go8 as CEO last month.

As Federal Parliament resumes for its first session of the year, the final makeup of its Higher Education reform agenda, currently stalled in the Senate, will define the future of every Australian University for at least two generations.

2015 is therefore a pivotal and extremely challenging year for our sector, and for Australia’s economic future; for without a robust and quality higher education sector, one of excellence in both graduates and research, our economy can only wither.

Sadly there remains too little community – and dare I say political – understanding of just how much the strength or otherwise of our sector affects a nation’s future.

The Universities which make up the Go8, in particular, have much at stake in the current funding debate as we seek a funding formula and methodology that can enable us to deliver at the demanding level we wish to, and as Australia’s future requires us to.

As a group we celebrate excellence and are proud to be known as Australia’s group of elite Universities. However we must illustrate more clearly to politicians and to the taxpayers who part-fund us, that while we may be elite we are not elitist – and there is a world of difference between the two.

Equally while we are proud also to have the long traditions of being Australia’s first and still premier group of Universities, we must illustrate more clearly that we do not allow those traditions to stop us embracing change. Traditions deliver a valued and valuable foundation, but they

alone can never deliver a viable future.

We also all love to hear that Go8 Universities have educated every Nobel Prize winner educated in an Australian University – but our quest is to be sure we can continue to do so.

During the next year, it will be how much the Go8 can convince the politicians and taxpayers that our sights are set firmly on a future for ourselves that can deliver an elite, value for money, education for any student with the capability of graduating, that will assist us make our case for a funding model that can work for us.

As Australia’s most research-intensive group of Universities we must ensure the funding model that is finally decided upon takes this level of research into consideration. Research equals the future. We owe it to ourselves and to the Australian community to better “sell” the positive effects of our research and its impact on the lives of every Australian, every day. Its global impact also must be better understood. For a nation of just 23.7 million our research punches well above our weight!

So in a year of much to be proud of, and much to do to better share our values and

determination, bluntly, we have a fight ahead of us.

While there is much agreement the current higher education funding model is broken – largely as a result of the uncapping of student places without the funding to pay for the additional numbers – there is no political consensus on how to repair it.

The Go8 will be fighting for the right to deliver quality – of teaching and of research. We owe that to the community, as do our politicians.

I will keep you informed each month of what 2015 brings for the Go8.

“ We also all love to hear that Go8 Universities have educated every Nobel Prize winner educated in an Australian University – but our quest is to be sure we can continue to do so.”

GOE_001 Newsletter_A4 PRINT_FINAL.indd 2 17/02/2015 11:22 am

VC VIEWS

MARCH 2015 | EDITION 2 06

Professor Glyn Davis VICE CHANCELLOR UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE

“the question whether markets work in higher education has been much debated and remains an arcane and technical subject. It is worth noting that two out of three parts of the higher education sector are already deregulated; that is, the graduate and international markets. And in neither international nor graduate education, which have been operating for 25 years, do you see the extraordinary price increases people confidently assert will happen in the undergraduate market if deregulated. Deregulation seems an approach that works in practice, but apparently not in theory.”

Professor Warren Bebbington VICE CHANCELLOR UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE

“I think the concept of what a university is has been shredding for some time. We’re beyond making efficiency cuts. From here on in, the question is just how inadequate the income is going to be.”

Professor Peter Høj VICE CHANCELLOR UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND

“…as wise heads in both industry and research have said, we need to make an impenetrably strong case that the nation needs research. More clearly than ever, we must show how high-priority research saves and improves lives, creates jobs, builds productivity and offers solutions to urgent environmental problems. The NCRIS near-miss has done at least two things: it has served as a

wake-up call and it has highlighted that many people in industry and the non- research community really do ‘get it’. Let’s seize this opportunity to re-engage with the community, to interlock with industry, and to leave no doubt that a vibrant, secure research culture makes Australia smart and prosperous.”

Professor Michael Spence VICE CHANCELLOR UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY

“Australia has two resources – things in the ground and clever people. We do research really well, the future is about innovation, and investment in core facilities is absolutely crucial to the nation’s future.”

Professor Paul Johnson VICE CHANCELLOR UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

“The University of Western Australia has been running the Perth International Arts Festival for 63 years and we are proud to have created the oldest arts festival in the southern hemisphere. All Universities extend beyond teaching and research to community engagement. For UWA an important part of this engagement with our community is delivering the arts and culture brought by one of the largest festivals in the world. In valuing the university’s contribution we cannot stop what we do in the classroom or laboratory but need to count and value what we do on the streets, campus, and virtually with our broad community.”

FEBRUARY 2015 | EDITION 1 01

“ Quality students come from all walks of life. Ensuring every quality student can have a quality outcome at the University of their choice requires realistic political policies, and community support.”

FROM THE CHAIR

The Go8 enters 2015 dealing with recurring themes to the fore – quality, funding, results, values, equity, choice – each one reliant on others to achieve.

To our group of Universities, those themes go to the heart of who we are and what we do.

Our standards, of teaching and research, are absolute.

As our new CEO Vicki Thomson says, 2015 is the year we will have to fight to ensure they are protected into the future, because everyone living in Australia benefits if they can be, and faces detrimental consequences if they are not.

I see being Chair of the Go8 as an enormous privilege, never more so than at a time when our future ability to maintain quality, funding, results, values, equity and choice are at risk from potentially poor political decisions related to funding.

In 2013, the Go8 provided Australia with 89,950 graduates. They benefited from much lower student staff ratios than at other Australian Universities, and through our position as the most research-intensive group of Australian Universities they had access to unique research-based learning. That quality experience which delivers Australia’s economy a quality graduate outcome cannot be allowed to be compromised.

As Chair I am also vehement that the Go8 must be able to continue to provide our undergraduates from disadvantaged backgrounds with the support and education that currently delivers them better outcomes in terms of retention and success than at other Australian Universities.

Quality students come from all walks of life. Ensuring every quality student can have a quality outcome at the University

of their choice requires realistic political policies, and community support.

Yet teaching is only one component of our contribution. In 2013 the Go8 received research income of $2.4 billion. Its global value in terms of impact is immeasurable. Our pride that this has come from dedication to quality research at a group of Australian Universities is immense.

As a group of Universities we are facing an uncertain funding future at this point, but what the Go8 is certain of is that everything we ask of Canberra’s politicians, and every decision we make relating to fees and student support mechanisms, concentrates solely on being able to continue delivering the highest quality teaching and research in Australia.

Professor Ian Young

GOE_001 Newsletter_A4 PRINT_FINAL.indd 1 17/02/2015 11:22 am

FEBRUARY 2015 | EDITION 1

GROUP OF EIGHT | Level 2, 101 Northbourne Ave, Turner ACT 2612 | T. +61 2 6239 5488 | F. +61 2 6239 5808

05

The University of Western Australia’s childcare facility Unicare has achieved recognition as a Centre of Excellence, with much thanks to Macca the big pig.

Kids at the University’s innovative Unicare Early Childhood Centre, who share their playground with the large docile pet pig, experience what it’s like caring for a farm animal by feeding, cleaning and walking him. This is only one of the many innovative programs within the centre which is also used for teaching new early childhood educators.

When Macca’s not uploading selfies to his very own Facebook page, you can often see Macca roaming around campus with several kids in tow.

Macca is toilet trained and has exemplary hygiene – washing his snout in one bucket, drinking from another and bathing in a third small trough.

Unicare is a community based not-for-profit facility, and thanks to innovations like Macca, the Centre has just received the excellent rating after an assessment by the Australian Children Education and Care Quality Authority.

SMALL FRIES LOVE PIG MAC

Macca

VC VIEWSUniversity of Melbourne Vice Chancellor Prof. Glyn Davis

Fee deregulation is to fund a quality education for students

“Current funding rates mean the tertiary education offered to Australians at times falls short of global practice. In the absence of public appetite to invest in public education, a measure of fee deregulation is the only way left to fund education policy to a reasonable standard.”

Australian National University Vice Chancellor Prof. Ian Young

Status quo not a pleasant place to be

“…..……because remember that Universities are still trying to recover from the very significant cuts in the latter days of the Labor Government; these are multi-billion

dollar cuts across our universities which institutions are still responding to”

University of Queensland Vice Chancellor Prof. Peter Høj

No deregulation will obstruct opportunity for deserving students

“Our University has already grown enormously and should in my view not get bigger. The worst case scenario would therefore be, that deserving Australian students are denied places because the University by necessity must attract more full-fee paying international students instead. The risk is therefore that Australian students who are prepared to pay for a UQ education effectively are barred by legislation from doing so. Under that scenario, legislation that fails to reflect differences in quality and cost is legislation that could be said to obstruct opportunity”.

University of Adelaide Vice Chancellor Prof. Warren Bebbington

The current system is unfair to students

“There has been much talk of unfairness in the reform proposals. Yet no-one should think that the current system is fair; some students pay as much as 400% of the cost of their education, others as little as 8%.”

University of Western Australia Vice Chancellor Prof. Paul Johnson

Political debate is avoiding reality

“I have not heard anyone on the Government side or from the Opposition coming out saying ‘this is the tax increases we are prepared to put to the Australian people in order to fund the higher-education sector’. If the Senate turns round and says there is no fee flexibility, the only thing we can do is cut, and every University will retreat to its core activities”.

GOE_001 Newsletter_A4 PRINT_FINAL.indd 5 17/02/2015 11:22 am

MARCH 2015 | EDITION 2 09

207mm 210mm 210mm

anu.edu.au

Vice Chancellor Professor Peter Høj

No. of Students 51,071

Campus Locations 3

GO8.EDU.AU

2015: OUR GOALS FOR THE YEAR AHEAD › PAGE 2

PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IS WORTH DEFENDING › PAGE 3

OUR STANDARDS OF TEACHING AND RESEARCH, ARE ABSOLUTE › PAGE 1

FEBRUARY 2015 | EDITION 1

GOE_001 Newsletter_A4 PRINT_FINAL.indd 1 17/02/2015 11:22 am

MARCH 2015 | EDITION 2

THE WORLD’S MOST NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES› PAGE 2

GO8’S NEWEST VICE CHANCELLOR › PAGE 3

CEO’S MESSAGE

› PAGE 1

FEBRUARY 2015 | EDITION 1 01

“ Quality students come from all walks of life. Ensuring every quality student can have a quality outcome at the University of their choice requires realistic political policies, and community support.”

FROM THE CHAIR

The Go8 enters 2015 dealing with recurring themes to the fore – quality, funding, results, values, equity, choice – each one reliant on others to achieve.

To our group of Universities, those themes go to the heart of who we are and what we do.

Our standards, of teaching and research, are absolute.

As our new CEO Vicki Thomson says, 2015 is the year we will have to fight to ensure they are protected into the future, because everyone living in Australia benefits if they can be, and faces detrimental consequences if they are not.

I see being Chair of the Go8 as an enormous privilege, never more so than at a time when our future ability to maintain quality, funding, results, values, equity and choice are at risk from potentially poor political decisions related to funding.

In 2013, the Go8 provided Australia with 89,950 graduates. They benefited from much lower student staff ratios than at other Australian Universities, and through our position as the most research-intensive group of Australian Universities they had access to unique research-based learning. That quality experience which delivers Australia’s economy a quality graduate outcome cannot be allowed to be compromised.

As Chair I am also vehement that the Go8 must be able to continue to provide our undergraduates from disadvantaged backgrounds with the support and education that currently delivers them better outcomes in terms of retention and success than at other Australian Universities.

Quality students come from all walks of life. Ensuring every quality student can have a quality outcome at the University

of their choice requires realistic political policies, and community support.

Yet teaching is only one component of our contribution. In 2013 the Go8 received research income of $2.4 billion. Its global value in terms of impact is immeasurable. Our pride that this has come from dedication to quality research at a group of Australian Universities is immense.

As a group of Universities we are facing an uncertain funding future at this point, but what the Go8 is certain of is that everything we ask of Canberra’s politicians, and every decision we make relating to fees and student support mechanisms, concentrates solely on being able to continue delivering the highest quality teaching and research in Australia.

Professor Ian Young

GOE_001 Newsletter_A4 PRINT_FINAL.indd 1 17/02/2015 11:22 am

FEBRUARY 2015 | EDITION 1 02

GO8.EDU.AU

CEO’S MESSAGE Im

age

By:

Ray

Str

ange

/New

spix

Vicki Thomson

Welcome to the first Go8 newsletter of 2015, and also my first newsletter since joining the Go8 as CEO last month.

As Federal Parliament resumes for its first session of the year, the final makeup of its Higher Education reform agenda, currently stalled in the Senate, will define the future of every Australian University for at least two generations.

2015 is therefore a pivotal and extremely challenging year for our sector, and for Australia’s economic future; for without a robust and quality higher education sector, one of excellence in both graduates and research, our economy can only wither.

Sadly there remains too little community – and dare I say political – understanding of just how much the strength or otherwise of our sector affects a nation’s future.

The Universities which make up the Go8, in particular, have much at stake in the current funding debate as we seek a funding formula and methodology that can enable us to deliver at the demanding level we wish to, and as Australia’s future requires us to.

As a group we celebrate excellence and are proud to be known as Australia’s group of elite Universities. However we must illustrate more clearly to politicians and to the taxpayers who part-fund us, that while we may be elite we are not elitist – and there is a world of difference between the two.

Equally while we are proud also to have the long traditions of being Australia’s first and still premier group of Universities, we must illustrate more clearly that we do not allow those traditions to stop us embracing change. Traditions deliver a valued and valuable foundation, but they

alone can never deliver a viable future.

We also all love to hear that Go8 Universities have educated every Nobel Prize winner educated in an Australian University – but our quest is to be sure we can continue to do so.

During the next year, it will be how much the Go8 can convince the politicians and taxpayers that our sights are set firmly on a future for ourselves that can deliver an elite, value for money, education for any student with the capability of graduating, that will assist us make our case for a funding model that can work for us.

As Australia’s most research-intensive group of Universities we must ensure the funding model that is finally decided upon takes this level of research into consideration. Research equals the future. We owe it to ourselves and to the Australian community to better “sell” the positive effects of our research and its impact on the lives of every Australian, every day. Its global impact also must be better understood. For a nation of just 23.7 million our research punches well above our weight!

So in a year of much to be proud of, and much to do to better share our values and

determination, bluntly, we have a fight ahead of us.

While there is much agreement the current higher education funding model is broken – largely as a result of the uncapping of student places without the funding to pay for the additional numbers – there is no political consensus on how to repair it.

The Go8 will be fighting for the right to deliver quality – of teaching and of research. We owe that to the community, as do our politicians.

I will keep you informed each month of what 2015 brings for the Go8.

“ We also all love to hear that Go8 Universities have educated every Nobel Prize winner educated in an Australian University – but our quest is to be sure we can continue to do so.”

GOE_001 Newsletter_A4 PRINT_FINAL.indd 2 17/02/2015 11:22 am

FEBRUARY 2015 | EDITION 1 01

“ Quality students come from all walks of life. Ensuring every quality student can have a quality outcome at the University of their choice requires realistic political policies, and community support.”

FROM THE CHAIR

The Go8 enters 2015 dealing with recurring themes to the fore – quality, funding, results, values, equity, choice – each one reliant on others to achieve.

To our group of Universities, those themes go to the heart of who we are and what we do.

Our standards, of teaching and research, are absolute.

As our new CEO Vicki Thomson says, 2015 is the year we will have to fight to ensure they are protected into the future, because everyone living in Australia benefits if they can be, and faces detrimental consequences if they are not.

I see being Chair of the Go8 as an enormous privilege, never more so than at a time when our future ability to maintain quality, funding, results, values, equity and choice are at risk from potentially poor political decisions related to funding.

In 2013, the Go8 provided Australia with 89,950 graduates. They benefited from much lower student staff ratios than at other Australian Universities, and through our position as the most research-intensive group of Australian Universities they had access to unique research-based learning. That quality experience which delivers Australia’s economy a quality graduate outcome cannot be allowed to be compromised.

As Chair I am also vehement that the Go8 must be able to continue to provide our undergraduates from disadvantaged backgrounds with the support and education that currently delivers them better outcomes in terms of retention and success than at other Australian Universities.

Quality students come from all walks of life. Ensuring every quality student can have a quality outcome at the University

of their choice requires realistic political policies, and community support.

Yet teaching is only one component of our contribution. In 2013 the Go8 received research income of $2.4 billion. Its global value in terms of impact is immeasurable. Our pride that this has come from dedication to quality research at a group of Australian Universities is immense.

As a group of Universities we are facing an uncertain funding future at this point, but what the Go8 is certain of is that everything we ask of Canberra’s politicians, and every decision we make relating to fees and student support mechanisms, concentrates solely on being able to continue delivering the highest quality teaching and research in Australia.

Professor Ian Young

GOE_001 Newsletter_A4 PRINT_FINAL.indd 1 17/02/2015 11:22 am

FEBRUARY 2015 | EDITION 1 02

GO8.EDU.AU

CEO’S MESSAGE Im

age

By:

Ray

Str

ange

/New

spix

Vicki Thomson

Welcome to the first Go8 newsletter of 2015, and also my first newsletter since joining the Go8 as CEO last month.

As Federal Parliament resumes for its first session of the year, the final makeup of its Higher Education reform agenda, currently stalled in the Senate, will define the future of every Australian University for at least two generations.

2015 is therefore a pivotal and extremely challenging year for our sector, and for Australia’s economic future; for without a robust and quality higher education sector, one of excellence in both graduates and research, our economy can only wither.

Sadly there remains too little community – and dare I say political – understanding of just how much the strength or otherwise of our sector affects a nation’s future.

The Universities which make up the Go8, in particular, have much at stake in the current funding debate as we seek a funding formula and methodology that can enable us to deliver at the demanding level we wish to, and as Australia’s future requires us to.

As a group we celebrate excellence and are proud to be known as Australia’s group of elite Universities. However we must illustrate more clearly to politicians and to the taxpayers who part-fund us, that while we may be elite we are not elitist – and there is a world of difference between the two.

Equally while we are proud also to have the long traditions of being Australia’s first and still premier group of Universities, we must illustrate more clearly that we do not allow those traditions to stop us embracing change. Traditions deliver a valued and valuable foundation, but they

alone can never deliver a viable future.

We also all love to hear that Go8 Universities have educated every Nobel Prize winner educated in an Australian University – but our quest is to be sure we can continue to do so.

During the next year, it will be how much the Go8 can convince the politicians and taxpayers that our sights are set firmly on a future for ourselves that can deliver an elite, value for money, education for any student with the capability of graduating, that will assist us make our case for a funding model that can work for us.

As Australia’s most research-intensive group of Universities we must ensure the funding model that is finally decided upon takes this level of research into consideration. Research equals the future. We owe it to ourselves and to the Australian community to better “sell” the positive effects of our research and its impact on the lives of every Australian, every day. Its global impact also must be better understood. For a nation of just 23.7 million our research punches well above our weight!

So in a year of much to be proud of, and much to do to better share our values and

determination, bluntly, we have a fight ahead of us.

While there is much agreement the current higher education funding model is broken – largely as a result of the uncapping of student places without the funding to pay for the additional numbers – there is no political consensus on how to repair it.

The Go8 will be fighting for the right to deliver quality – of teaching and of research. We owe that to the community, as do our politicians.

I will keep you informed each month of what 2015 brings for the Go8.

“ We also all love to hear that Go8 Universities have educated every Nobel Prize winner educated in an Australian University – but our quest is to be sure we can continue to do so.”

GOE_001 Newsletter_A4 PRINT_FINAL.indd 2 17/02/2015 11:22 am

VC VIEWS

MARCH 2015 | EDITION 2 06

Professor Glyn Davis VICE CHANCELLOR UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE

“the question whether markets work in higher education has been much debated and remains an arcane and technical subject. It is worth noting that two out of three parts of the higher education sector are already deregulated; that is, the graduate and international markets. And in neither international nor graduate education, which have been operating for 25 years, do you see the extraordinary price increases people confidently assert will happen in the undergraduate market if deregulated. Deregulation seems an approach that works in practice, but apparently not in theory.”

Professor Warren Bebbington VICE CHANCELLOR UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE

“I think the concept of what a university is has been shredding for some time. We’re beyond making efficiency cuts. From here on in, the question is just how inadequate the income is going to be.”

Professor Peter Høj VICE CHANCELLOR UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND

“…as wise heads in both industry and research have said, we need to make an impenetrably strong case that the nation needs research. More clearly than ever, we must show how high-priority research saves and improves lives, creates jobs, builds productivity and offers solutions to urgent environmental problems. The NCRIS near-miss has done at least two things: it has served as a

wake-up call and it has highlighted that many people in industry and the non- research community really do ‘get it’. Let’s seize this opportunity to re-engage with the community, to interlock with industry, and to leave no doubt that a vibrant, secure research culture makes Australia smart and prosperous.”

Professor Michael Spence VICE CHANCELLOR UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY

“Australia has two resources – things in the ground and clever people. We do research really well, the future is about innovation, and investment in core facilities is absolutely crucial to the nation’s future.”

Professor Paul Johnson VICE CHANCELLOR UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

“The University of Western Australia has been running the Perth International Arts Festival for 63 years and we are proud to have created the oldest arts festival in the southern hemisphere. All Universities extend beyond teaching and research to community engagement. For UWA an important part of this engagement with our community is delivering the arts and culture brought by one of the largest festivals in the world. In valuing the university’s contribution we cannot stop what we do in the classroom or laboratory but need to count and value what we do on the streets, campus, and virtually with our broad community.”

FEBRUARY 2015 | EDITION 1 01

“ Quality students come from all walks of life. Ensuring every quality student can have a quality outcome at the University of their choice requires realistic political policies, and community support.”

FROM THE CHAIR

The Go8 enters 2015 dealing with recurring themes to the fore – quality, funding, results, values, equity, choice – each one reliant on others to achieve.

To our group of Universities, those themes go to the heart of who we are and what we do.

Our standards, of teaching and research, are absolute.

As our new CEO Vicki Thomson says, 2015 is the year we will have to fight to ensure they are protected into the future, because everyone living in Australia benefits if they can be, and faces detrimental consequences if they are not.

I see being Chair of the Go8 as an enormous privilege, never more so than at a time when our future ability to maintain quality, funding, results, values, equity and choice are at risk from potentially poor political decisions related to funding.

In 2013, the Go8 provided Australia with 89,950 graduates. They benefited from much lower student staff ratios than at other Australian Universities, and through our position as the most research-intensive group of Australian Universities they had access to unique research-based learning. That quality experience which delivers Australia’s economy a quality graduate outcome cannot be allowed to be compromised.

As Chair I am also vehement that the Go8 must be able to continue to provide our undergraduates from disadvantaged backgrounds with the support and education that currently delivers them better outcomes in terms of retention and success than at other Australian Universities.

Quality students come from all walks of life. Ensuring every quality student can have a quality outcome at the University

of their choice requires realistic political policies, and community support.

Yet teaching is only one component of our contribution. In 2013 the Go8 received research income of $2.4 billion. Its global value in terms of impact is immeasurable. Our pride that this has come from dedication to quality research at a group of Australian Universities is immense.

As a group of Universities we are facing an uncertain funding future at this point, but what the Go8 is certain of is that everything we ask of Canberra’s politicians, and every decision we make relating to fees and student support mechanisms, concentrates solely on being able to continue delivering the highest quality teaching and research in Australia.

Professor Ian Young

GOE_001 Newsletter_A4 PRINT_FINAL.indd 1 17/02/2015 11:22 am

FEBRUARY 2015 | EDITION 1

GROUP OF EIGHT | Level 2, 101 Northbourne Ave, Turner ACT 2612 | T. +61 2 6239 5488 | F. +61 2 6239 5808

05

The University of Western Australia’s childcare facility Unicare has achieved recognition as a Centre of Excellence, with much thanks to Macca the big pig.

Kids at the University’s innovative Unicare Early Childhood Centre, who share their playground with the large docile pet pig, experience what it’s like caring for a farm animal by feeding, cleaning and walking him. This is only one of the many innovative programs within the centre which is also used for teaching new early childhood educators.

When Macca’s not uploading selfies to his very own Facebook page, you can often see Macca roaming around campus with several kids in tow.

Macca is toilet trained and has exemplary hygiene – washing his snout in one bucket, drinking from another and bathing in a third small trough.

Unicare is a community based not-for-profit facility, and thanks to innovations like Macca, the Centre has just received the excellent rating after an assessment by the Australian Children Education and Care Quality Authority.

SMALL FRIES LOVE PIG MAC

Macca

VC VIEWSUniversity of Melbourne Vice Chancellor Prof. Glyn Davis

Fee deregulation is to fund a quality education for students

“Current funding rates mean the tertiary education offered to Australians at times falls short of global practice. In the absence of public appetite to invest in public education, a measure of fee deregulation is the only way left to fund education policy to a reasonable standard.”

Australian National University Vice Chancellor Prof. Ian Young

Status quo not a pleasant place to be

“…..……because remember that Universities are still trying to recover from the very significant cuts in the latter days of the Labor Government; these are multi-billion

dollar cuts across our universities which institutions are still responding to”

University of Queensland Vice Chancellor Prof. Peter Høj

No deregulation will obstruct opportunity for deserving students

“Our University has already grown enormously and should in my view not get bigger. The worst case scenario would therefore be, that deserving Australian students are denied places because the University by necessity must attract more full-fee paying international students instead. The risk is therefore that Australian students who are prepared to pay for a UQ education effectively are barred by legislation from doing so. Under that scenario, legislation that fails to reflect differences in quality and cost is legislation that could be said to obstruct opportunity”.

University of Adelaide Vice Chancellor Prof. Warren Bebbington

The current system is unfair to students

“There has been much talk of unfairness in the reform proposals. Yet no-one should think that the current system is fair; some students pay as much as 400% of the cost of their education, others as little as 8%.”

University of Western Australia Vice Chancellor Prof. Paul Johnson

Political debate is avoiding reality

“I have not heard anyone on the Government side or from the Opposition coming out saying ‘this is the tax increases we are prepared to put to the Australian people in order to fund the higher-education sector’. If the Senate turns round and says there is no fee flexibility, the only thing we can do is cut, and every University will retreat to its core activities”.

GOE_001 Newsletter_A4 PRINT_FINAL.indd 5 17/02/2015 11:22 am

MARCH 2015 | EDITION 2 09

207mm 210mm 210mm

uq.edu.au

Vice Chancellor Dr Michael Spence AC

No. of Students 61,224

Campus Locations 10

sydney.edu.au

Go8 Chair Vice Chancellor

Professor Ian Jacobs

No. of Students 56,090

Campus Locations 8

unsw.edu.au

Go8 Deputy Chair Vice Chancellor

Professor Dawn Freshwater

No. of Students 25,200

Campus Locations 3

uwa.edu.au

Vice Chancellor Professor

Duncan Maskell

No. of Students 61,938

Campus Locations 7

GO8.EDU.AU

2015: OUR GOALS FOR THE YEAR AHEAD › PAGE 2

PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IS WORTH DEFENDING › PAGE 3

OUR STANDARDS OF TEACHING AND RESEARCH, ARE ABSOLUTE › PAGE 1

FEBRUARY 2015 | EDITION 1

GOE_001 Newsletter_A4 PRINT_FINAL.indd 1 17/02/2015 11:22 am

MARCH 2015 | EDITION 2

THE WORLD’S MOST NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES› PAGE 2

GO8’S NEWEST VICE CHANCELLOR › PAGE 3

CEO’S MESSAGE

› PAGE 1

FEBRUARY 2015 | EDITION 1 01

“ Quality students come from all walks of life. Ensuring every quality student can have a quality outcome at the University of their choice requires realistic political policies, and community support.”

FROM THE CHAIR

The Go8 enters 2015 dealing with recurring themes to the fore – quality, funding, results, values, equity, choice – each one reliant on others to achieve.

To our group of Universities, those themes go to the heart of who we are and what we do.

Our standards, of teaching and research, are absolute.

As our new CEO Vicki Thomson says, 2015 is the year we will have to fight to ensure they are protected into the future, because everyone living in Australia benefits if they can be, and faces detrimental consequences if they are not.

I see being Chair of the Go8 as an enormous privilege, never more so than at a time when our future ability to maintain quality, funding, results, values, equity and choice are at risk from potentially poor political decisions related to funding.

In 2013, the Go8 provided Australia with 89,950 graduates. They benefited from much lower student staff ratios than at other Australian Universities, and through our position as the most research-intensive group of Australian Universities they had access to unique research-based learning. That quality experience which delivers Australia’s economy a quality graduate outcome cannot be allowed to be compromised.

As Chair I am also vehement that the Go8 must be able to continue to provide our undergraduates from disadvantaged backgrounds with the support and education that currently delivers them better outcomes in terms of retention and success than at other Australian Universities.

Quality students come from all walks of life. Ensuring every quality student can have a quality outcome at the University

of their choice requires realistic political policies, and community support.

Yet teaching is only one component of our contribution. In 2013 the Go8 received research income of $2.4 billion. Its global value in terms of impact is immeasurable. Our pride that this has come from dedication to quality research at a group of Australian Universities is immense.

As a group of Universities we are facing an uncertain funding future at this point, but what the Go8 is certain of is that everything we ask of Canberra’s politicians, and every decision we make relating to fees and student support mechanisms, concentrates solely on being able to continue delivering the highest quality teaching and research in Australia.

Professor Ian Young

GOE_001 Newsletter_A4 PRINT_FINAL.indd 1 17/02/2015 11:22 am

FEBRUARY 2015 | EDITION 1 02

GO8.EDU.AU

CEO’S MESSAGE

Imag

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ewsp

ix

Vicki Thomson

Welcome to the first Go8 newsletter of 2015, and also my first newsletter since joining the Go8 as CEO last month.

As Federal Parliament resumes for its first session of the year, the final makeup of its Higher Education reform agenda, currently stalled in the Senate, will define the future of every Australian University for at least two generations.

2015 is therefore a pivotal and extremely challenging year for our sector, and for Australia’s economic future; for without a robust and quality higher education sector, one of excellence in both graduates and research, our economy can only wither.

Sadly there remains too little community – and dare I say political – understanding of just how much the strength or otherwise of our sector affects a nation’s future.

The Universities which make up the Go8, in particular, have much at stake in the current funding debate as we seek a funding formula and methodology that can enable us to deliver at the demanding level we wish to, and as Australia’s future requires us to.

As a group we celebrate excellence and are proud to be known as Australia’s group of elite Universities. However we must illustrate more clearly to politicians and to the taxpayers who part-fund us, that while we may be elite we are not elitist – and there is a world of difference between the two.

Equally while we are proud also to have the long traditions of being Australia’s first and still premier group of Universities, we must illustrate more clearly that we do not allow those traditions to stop us embracing change. Traditions deliver a valued and valuable foundation, but they

alone can never deliver a viable future.

We also all love to hear that Go8 Universities have educated every Nobel Prize winner educated in an Australian University – but our quest is to be sure we can continue to do so.

During the next year, it will be how much the Go8 can convince the politicians and taxpayers that our sights are set firmly on a future for ourselves that can deliver an elite, value for money, education for any student with the capability of graduating, that will assist us make our case for a funding model that can work for us.

As Australia’s most research-intensive group of Universities we must ensure the funding model that is finally decided upon takes this level of research into consideration. Research equals the future. We owe it to ourselves and to the Australian community to better “sell” the positive effects of our research and its impact on the lives of every Australian, every day. Its global impact also must be better understood. For a nation of just 23.7 million our research punches well above our weight!

So in a year of much to be proud of, and much to do to better share our values and

determination, bluntly, we have a fight ahead of us.

While there is much agreement the current higher education funding model is broken – largely as a result of the uncapping of student places without the funding to pay for the additional numbers – there is no political consensus on how to repair it.

The Go8 will be fighting for the right to deliver quality – of teaching and of research. We owe that to the community, as do our politicians.

I will keep you informed each month of what 2015 brings for the Go8.

“ We also all love to hear that Go8 Universities have educated every Nobel Prize winner educated in an Australian University – but our quest is to be sure we can continue to do so.”

GOE_001 Newsletter_A4 PRINT_FINAL.indd 2 17/02/2015 11:22 am

FEBRUARY 2015 | EDITION 1 01

“ Quality students come from all walks of life. Ensuring every quality student can have a quality outcome at the University of their choice requires realistic political policies, and community support.”

FROM THE CHAIR

The Go8 enters 2015 dealing with recurring themes to the fore – quality, funding, results, values, equity, choice – each one reliant on others to achieve.

To our group of Universities, those themes go to the heart of who we are and what we do.

Our standards, of teaching and research, are absolute.

As our new CEO Vicki Thomson says, 2015 is the year we will have to fight to ensure they are protected into the future, because everyone living in Australia benefits if they can be, and faces detrimental consequences if they are not.

I see being Chair of the Go8 as an enormous privilege, never more so than at a time when our future ability to maintain quality, funding, results, values, equity and choice are at risk from potentially poor political decisions related to funding.

In 2013, the Go8 provided Australia with 89,950 graduates. They benefited from much lower student staff ratios than at other Australian Universities, and through our position as the most research-intensive group of Australian Universities they had access to unique research-based learning. That quality experience which delivers Australia’s economy a quality graduate outcome cannot be allowed to be compromised.

As Chair I am also vehement that the Go8 must be able to continue to provide our undergraduates from disadvantaged backgrounds with the support and education that currently delivers them better outcomes in terms of retention and success than at other Australian Universities.

Quality students come from all walks of life. Ensuring every quality student can have a quality outcome at the University

of their choice requires realistic political policies, and community support.

Yet teaching is only one component of our contribution. In 2013 the Go8 received research income of $2.4 billion. Its global value in terms of impact is immeasurable. Our pride that this has come from dedication to quality research at a group of Australian Universities is immense.

As a group of Universities we are facing an uncertain funding future at this point, but what the Go8 is certain of is that everything we ask of Canberra’s politicians, and every decision we make relating to fees and student support mechanisms, concentrates solely on being able to continue delivering the highest quality teaching and research in Australia.

Professor Ian Young

GOE_001 Newsletter_A4 PRINT_FINAL.indd 1 17/02/2015 11:22 am

FEBRUARY 2015 | EDITION 1 02

GO8.EDU.AU

CEO’S MESSAGE

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ewsp

ix

Vicki Thomson

Welcome to the first Go8 newsletter of 2015, and also my first newsletter since joining the Go8 as CEO last month.

As Federal Parliament resumes for its first session of the year, the final makeup of its Higher Education reform agenda, currently stalled in the Senate, will define the future of every Australian University for at least two generations.

2015 is therefore a pivotal and extremely challenging year for our sector, and for Australia’s economic future; for without a robust and quality higher education sector, one of excellence in both graduates and research, our economy can only wither.

Sadly there remains too little community – and dare I say political – understanding of just how much the strength or otherwise of our sector affects a nation’s future.

The Universities which make up the Go8, in particular, have much at stake in the current funding debate as we seek a funding formula and methodology that can enable us to deliver at the demanding level we wish to, and as Australia’s future requires us to.

As a group we celebrate excellence and are proud to be known as Australia’s group of elite Universities. However we must illustrate more clearly to politicians and to the taxpayers who part-fund us, that while we may be elite we are not elitist – and there is a world of difference between the two.

Equally while we are proud also to have the long traditions of being Australia’s first and still premier group of Universities, we must illustrate more clearly that we do not allow those traditions to stop us embracing change. Traditions deliver a valued and valuable foundation, but they

alone can never deliver a viable future.

We also all love to hear that Go8 Universities have educated every Nobel Prize winner educated in an Australian University – but our quest is to be sure we can continue to do so.

During the next year, it will be how much the Go8 can convince the politicians and taxpayers that our sights are set firmly on a future for ourselves that can deliver an elite, value for money, education for any student with the capability of graduating, that will assist us make our case for a funding model that can work for us.

As Australia’s most research-intensive group of Universities we must ensure the funding model that is finally decided upon takes this level of research into consideration. Research equals the future. We owe it to ourselves and to the Australian community to better “sell” the positive effects of our research and its impact on the lives of every Australian, every day. Its global impact also must be better understood. For a nation of just 23.7 million our research punches well above our weight!

So in a year of much to be proud of, and much to do to better share our values and

determination, bluntly, we have a fight ahead of us.

While there is much agreement the current higher education funding model is broken – largely as a result of the uncapping of student places without the funding to pay for the additional numbers – there is no political consensus on how to repair it.

The Go8 will be fighting for the right to deliver quality – of teaching and of research. We owe that to the community, as do our politicians.

I will keep you informed each month of what 2015 brings for the Go8.

“ We also all love to hear that Go8 Universities have educated every Nobel Prize winner educated in an Australian University – but our quest is to be sure we can continue to do so.”

GOE_001 Newsletter_A4 PRINT_FINAL.indd 2 17/02/2015 11:22 am

VC VIEWS

MARCH 2015 | EDITION 2 06

Professor Glyn Davis VICE CHANCELLOR UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE

“the question whether markets work in higher education has been much debated and remains an arcane and technical subject. It is worth noting that two out of three parts of the higher education sector are already deregulated; that is, the graduate and international markets. And in neither international nor graduate education, which have been operating for 25 years, do you see the extraordinary price increases people confidently assert will happen in the undergraduate market if deregulated. Deregulation seems an approach that works in practice, but apparently not in theory.”

Professor Warren Bebbington VICE CHANCELLOR UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE

“I think the concept of what a university is has been shredding for some time. We’re beyond making efficiency cuts. From here on in, the question is just how inadequate the income is going to be.”

Professor Peter Høj VICE CHANCELLOR UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND

“…as wise heads in both industry and research have said, we need to make an impenetrably strong case that the nation needs research. More clearly than ever, we must show how high-priority research saves and improves lives, creates jobs, builds productivity and offers solutions to urgent environmental problems. The NCRIS near-miss has done at least two things: it has served as a

wake-up call and it has highlighted that many people in industry and the non- research community really do ‘get it’. Let’s seize this opportunity to re-engage with the community, to interlock with industry, and to leave no doubt that a vibrant, secure research culture makes Australia smart and prosperous.”

Professor Michael Spence VICE CHANCELLOR UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY

“Australia has two resources – things in the ground and clever people. We do research really well, the future is about innovation, and investment in core facilities is absolutely crucial to the nation’s future.”

Professor Paul Johnson VICE CHANCELLOR UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

“The University of Western Australia has been running the Perth International Arts Festival for 63 years and we are proud to have created the oldest arts festival in the southern hemisphere. All Universities extend beyond teaching and research to community engagement. For UWA an important part of this engagement with our community is delivering the arts and culture brought by one of the largest festivals in the world. In valuing the university’s contribution we cannot stop what we do in the classroom or laboratory but need to count and value what we do on the streets, campus, and virtually with our broad community.”

FEBRUARY 2015 | EDITION 1 01

“ Quality students come from all walks of life. Ensuring every quality student can have a quality outcome at the University of their choice requires realistic political policies, and community support.”

FROM THE CHAIR

The Go8 enters 2015 dealing with recurring themes to the fore – quality, funding, results, values, equity, choice – each one reliant on others to achieve.

To our group of Universities, those themes go to the heart of who we are and what we do.

Our standards, of teaching and research, are absolute.

As our new CEO Vicki Thomson says, 2015 is the year we will have to fight to ensure they are protected into the future, because everyone living in Australia benefits if they can be, and faces detrimental consequences if they are not.

I see being Chair of the Go8 as an enormous privilege, never more so than at a time when our future ability to maintain quality, funding, results, values, equity and choice are at risk from potentially poor political decisions related to funding.

In 2013, the Go8 provided Australia with 89,950 graduates. They benefited from much lower student staff ratios than at other Australian Universities, and through our position as the most research-intensive group of Australian Universities they had access to unique research-based learning. That quality experience which delivers Australia’s economy a quality graduate outcome cannot be allowed to be compromised.

As Chair I am also vehement that the Go8 must be able to continue to provide our undergraduates from disadvantaged backgrounds with the support and education that currently delivers them better outcomes in terms of retention and success than at other Australian Universities.

Quality students come from all walks of life. Ensuring every quality student can have a quality outcome at the University

of their choice requires realistic political policies, and community support.

Yet teaching is only one component of our contribution. In 2013 the Go8 received research income of $2.4 billion. Its global value in terms of impact is immeasurable. Our pride that this has come from dedication to quality research at a group of Australian Universities is immense.

As a group of Universities we are facing an uncertain funding future at this point, but what the Go8 is certain of is that everything we ask of Canberra’s politicians, and every decision we make relating to fees and student support mechanisms, concentrates solely on being able to continue delivering the highest quality teaching and research in Australia.

Professor Ian Young

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FEBRUARY 2015 | EDITION 1

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The University of Western Australia’s childcare facility Unicare has achieved recognition as a Centre of Excellence, with much thanks to Macca the big pig.

Kids at the University’s innovative Unicare Early Childhood Centre, who share their playground with the large docile pet pig, experience what it’s like caring for a farm animal by feeding, cleaning and walking him. This is only one of the many innovative programs within the centre which is also used for teaching new early childhood educators.

When Macca’s not uploading selfies to his very own Facebook page, you can often see Macca roaming around campus with several kids in tow.

Macca is toilet trained and has exemplary hygiene – washing his snout in one bucket, drinking from another and bathing in a third small trough.

Unicare is a community based not-for-profit facility, and thanks to innovations like Macca, the Centre has just received the excellent rating after an assessment by the Australian Children Education and Care Quality Authority.

SMALL FRIES LOVE PIG MAC

Macca

VC VIEWSUniversity of Melbourne Vice Chancellor Prof. Glyn Davis

Fee deregulation is to fund a quality education for students

“Current funding rates mean the tertiary education offered to Australians at times falls short of global practice. In the absence of public appetite to invest in public education, a measure of fee deregulation is the only way left to fund education policy to a reasonable standard.”

Australian National University Vice Chancellor Prof. Ian Young

Status quo not a pleasant place to be

“…..……because remember that Universities are still trying to recover from the very significant cuts in the latter days of the Labor Government; these are multi-billion

dollar cuts across our universities which institutions are still responding to”

University of Queensland Vice Chancellor Prof. Peter Høj

No deregulation will obstruct opportunity for deserving students

“Our University has already grown enormously and should in my view not get bigger. The worst case scenario would therefore be, that deserving Australian students are denied places because the University by necessity must attract more full-fee paying international students instead. The risk is therefore that Australian students who are prepared to pay for a UQ education effectively are barred by legislation from doing so. Under that scenario, legislation that fails to reflect differences in quality and cost is legislation that could be said to obstruct opportunity”.

University of Adelaide Vice Chancellor Prof. Warren Bebbington

The current system is unfair to students

“There has been much talk of unfairness in the reform proposals. Yet no-one should think that the current system is fair; some students pay as much as 400% of the cost of their education, others as little as 8%.”

University of Western Australia Vice Chancellor Prof. Paul Johnson

Political debate is avoiding reality

“I have not heard anyone on the Government side or from the Opposition coming out saying ‘this is the tax increases we are prepared to put to the Australian people in order to fund the higher-education sector’. If the Senate turns round and says there is no fee flexibility, the only thing we can do is cut, and every University will retreat to its core activities”.

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