Legislation to establish an independent National Student Ombudsman is an important step toward ensuring current and future university students are fully supported while they study.
11 September 2024 | Universities Australia Chair Professor David Lloyd
TOPICS: International education, international student caps, migration, housing
The Albanese Government’s move to slow student visa processing under Ministerial Direction 107 continues to hurt the economy.
TOPICS: International education, international student caps
TOPICS: International education, international student caps, migration
The Albanese Government’s proposed National Planning Level for international student commencements will apply a handbrake to Australia’s second biggest export industry.
Universities Australia is calling on the Albanese Government to revoke Ministerial Direction 107 in light of the significant effect it continues to have across the university sector.
The Albanese Government’s National Science Statement and Research Priorities are important frameworks to drive Australia’s industrial transformation through new knowledge and ideas.
TOPICS: Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment (Quality and Integrity) Bill 2024, international education, international student caps, migration, housing
UA Chief Executive Officer Luke Sheehy Tuesday, 6 August 2024
Senate Inquiry ESOS (Quality and Integrity) Bill 2024 [Provisions]
Universities Australia congratulates the Hon Andrew Giles MP on his appointment as Minister for Skills and Training.
Australia’s universities have a key role in supporting the Government to deliver a Future Made in Australia, with skills and research central to its success.
UA is now accepting entries for the 2024 Shaping Australia Awards from university teams and individuals driving impactful solutions to the country’s biggest challenges and making a difference to the lives of all Australians.
Universities Australia welcomes the newly appointed independent Australian Research Council Board.
Consultation with universities will be key to ensuring the Australian Tertiary Education Commission and a new funding system can properly and adequately support a growing higher education sector and deliver on the objectives of the Australian Universities Accord.
TOPICS: International education and housing
5 June 2024
Professor Zlatko Skrbis, Vice-Chancellor and President of Australian Catholic University, has been appointed to the Universities Australia Board for a two-year term, commencing today.
Australian university graduates are earning more and securing jobs faster with record employment levels within six months of graduation, according to the 2023 Graduate Outcomes Survey.
Tuesday 21 May 2025
TOPICS: 2024-25 Federal Budget and international students
The establishment of the Government’s Implementation Advisory Committee to help design and implement the Australian Universities Accord recommendations is crucial to ensuring universities are funded and supported to deliver on the expansive reforms needed to support Australia’s future.
TOPICS: 2024-25 Federal Budget, international students, student protests
The Albanese Government’s $3.8 billion downpayment on the Australian Universities Accord through the 2024-25 Budget recognises the importance of university graduates and research to Australia’s future.
Universities Australia notes the Albanese Government’s intention to manage growth in the international education sector under new legislation to be introduced to Parliament next week.
TOPICS: HECS debt indexation, paid work placements and student protests
Payments for students undertaking compulsory work placements across teaching, nursing, midwifery and social work disciplines is another important action by the Albanese Government to ease financial pressures facing Australians.
Universities Australia supports the Albanese Government’s move to make HELP repayments simpler and fairer for more than three million Australians as cost-of-living pressures continue to bite.
Universities Australia welcomes Dr Mary Russell’s permanent appointment as Chief Executive Officer of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA).
Universities Australia welcomes the Albanese Government’s significant investment in a new National Health and Medical Research Strategy to boost our research workforce and improve the lives of Australians.
Published in The Australian (29 April 2024)
Universities Australia acknowledges the outcomes of yesterday’s Education Ministers Meeting.
The Albanese Government’s consideration of changes to make HELP repayments simpler and fairer is welcome in light of today’s increase in the Consumer Price Index.
The Albanese Government’s 2024 National Defence Strategy recognises the need for a highly skilled workforce and research to meet Australia’s defence and strategic needs.
Universities will play a major role in powering the development and growth of new industries, technologies and jobs under a legislated Future Made in Australia Act.
The Albanese Government’s focus on establishing more Regional University Study Hubs across Australia will help open the door to a university education for more Australians.
Universities Australia welcomes the passage of legislation to strengthen the Australian Research Council.
Thursday 21 March 2024
Universities Australia, in partnership with Suicide Prevention Australia, today released a new e-learning tool to help university staff and students build the skills they need to help prevent suicide.
Universities Australia has launched a new communications campaign to build broader and deeper community support for the amazing work universities do for the country.
Published in The Australian (13 March 2024)
Universities Australia welcomes the Albanese Government’s recognition of the role education will continue to play in supporting a stable and prosperous Southeast Asian region into the future.
Universities Australia Chief Executive Officer Luke Sheehy will this week join senior business leaders at the CEO Forum as part of the 2024 ASEAN-Australia Special Summit.
UA is today bringing together senior government officials from AUKUS partner countries to drive deeper collaboration to support the delivery of the AUKUS initiative.
Address to the Universities Australia Solutions Summit, 28 February 2024
Fireproof paint to protect homes from bushfires, improving beach accessibility for people with a disability, and programs to build pipelines of teachers are some of the winning initiatives selected in the 2023 Shaping Australia Awards.
An innovative scholar who has made a distinctive contribution to teaching media theory and practice, a passionate leader renowned for mentoring the next generation of learning and teaching professionals, and a dedicated teacher committed to empowering young Indigenous people to embrace career paths in business are among the recipients of the 2023 Australian Awards for University Teaching.
UA Chair Professor David Lloyd and Chief Executive Officer Luke Sheehy Monday, 26 February 2024
Universities Australia acknowledges the extensive work undertaken by the expert panel, along with universities, TAFE and industry, to deliver the Australian Universities Accord final report.
UA welcomes the decision by Education Ministers to establish an independent National Student Ombudsman to better support current and future university students.
Published in The Australian (21 February 2024)
Universities Australia warmly welcomes the appointment of Professor Barney Glover AO, a former UA Chair, as the new Commissioner of Jobs and Skills Australia.
Universities Australia has called on the Albanese Government to match its $493 million funding commitment for 180,000 fee-free TAFE places to provide some fee-free university places for disadvantaged students in areas of skills need to drive enrolments and future economic growth
Published in The Australian (22 December 2023)
Any changes to Australia’s international education policy settings must have an eye firmly on maintaining our global reputation, economic prosperity and social progress, according to a new report that emphasises the importance of international education to our future.
The Universities Australia Board has appointed Mr Luke Sheehy as the peak body’s new Chief Executive for a five-year term, commencing 7 February 2024.
Universities Australia welcomes the second round of funding for microcredentials to help Australians upskill and reskill to help meet Australia’s skills needs in priority areas.
The Albanese Government’s Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook reinforces the importance of universities to the economy and Australia’s prosperity.
TOPICS: Migration review, international students
Topics: New migration strategy
Universities Australia welcomes the release of the Albanese Government’s migration strategy.
On behalf of the sector, we are sad to see the news of Judi Zielke’s resignation as Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Research Council,” Universities Australia Chief Executive Catriona Jackson said.
Education added a further $12.1 billion to the economy in the September quarter as it continued its strong performance despite challenging conditions affecting other key export markets.
Universities Australia welcomes the allocation of additional Commonwealth supported places to support universities to educate more doctors in regional and rural Australia.
Universities Australia notes the introduction of the Defence Trade Controls Amendment Bill 2023.
Universities Australia welcomes the introduction of legislation to bring forward necessary reforms to the Australian Research Council.
Today the Australian community is invited to vote for their favourite university initiative in Universities Australia’s inaugural Shaping Australia Awards.
Universities Australia welcomes the allocation of additional Commonwealth supported places to support the delivery of the AUKUS submarine program.
Australia’s universities have a crucial role to play in helping the Albanese Government achieve its aim of making Australia the most cyber secure nation by 2030.
Universities Australia welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the development of new initiatives to support the safety and wellbeing of students and staff on university campuses.
Today Universities Australia, with the support of the University Chancellors Council, released a Charter on sexual harm to support the ongoing work universities and other organisations in the community do to address sexual harm.
Published in The Australian (15 November 2023)
University researchers from Australia and Germany will team up to tackle major global challenges in the latest round of the Australia-Germany Joint Research Cooperation Scheme.
Universities Australia welcomes the Albanese Government’s Statement of Expectations for the Productivity Commission.
Australia’s universities are ready to engage with government and industry to grow and sustain our defence industry workforce to build our sovereign capability and prepare Australia for the future.
Universities Australia welcomes further solid progress to strengthen the education and research links at the heart of Australia and India’s bilateral relationship.
“China is a very important partner for Australia, and we welcome the positive outcomes from Prime Minister Albanese’s visit to Beijing,” Universities Australia Chief Executive Catriona Jackson said.
Published in The Australian (8 November 2023)
Higher education and research are at the centre of the Australia-India relationship, according to new research by the Australia India Institute.
Universities Australia supports the government’s $160 million scholarship initiative to encourage more people to become teachers.
Universities Australia Chief Executive Catriona Jackson will join Education Minister Jason Clare and a delegation of Australian higher education leaders in India and Indonesia this week to promote the central role of education to both bilateral relationships.
Published in The Australian (1 November 2023)
The Australian Universities Accord is the Albanese Government’s opportunity to reverse a decade of poor policy decisions that are holding universities and the nation back.
Universities Australia supports the government’s new national campaign to encourage more Australians to become a teacher.
Thursday, 26 October 2023 | Beijing, China
Australia’s universities are central to the delivery of the new Australia-United States innovation alliance announced today by Prime Minister Albanese and President Biden.
Wednesday, 25 October 2023 | Sydney, Australia
Universities Australia supports the opportunities that will be offered to Australians through the government’s Universities Accord legislation passed today in the Senate.
Thursday, 19 October 2023 | Virtual
Universities Australia Chief Executive Catriona Jackson has today advised of her intention to resign, effective 22 December 2023.
Universities Australia supports the Albanese Government’s commitment to a national skills agreement with the states and territories to address the nation’s critical skills needs.
Australia’s new migration strategy must do more to harness the skills and talents of international students, as growing numbers of them continue to choose Australia as their study destination.
The government’s annual skills shortage analysis underscores the importance of universities to addressing the crisis plaguing Australia’s labour market and weighing down our economy.
Universities Australia has appointed Renee Hindmarsh as its new Deputy Chief Executive, effective 25 October 2023.
Published as a letter to the editor in The Australian (4 October 2023)
Jobs and Skills Australia’s ‘The Clean Energy Generation: Workforce needs for a net zero economy’ report confirms the central role of universities and vocational education in guiding Australia’s energy transition.
Universities Australia welcomes further actions announced today by the Albanese Government to protect and strengthen the integrity of Australia’s international education sector.
Universities Australia welcomes the government’s steps to broaden access to higher education with the opening of applications for new study hubs across the nation.
Australia’s universities are continuing to perform strongly on the world stage, with six institutions ranked in the top 100 of the Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings 2024.
Universities Australia welcomes the Albanese Government’s Employment White Paper.
Universities Australia welcomes the Albanese Government’s plan to progress a national skills passport.
Universities Australia has launched the Shaping Australia Awards – a new program to celebrate the significant contribution universities and the people within them make to the nation.
Universities Australia’s response to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee’s report into current and proposed sexual consent laws in Australia.
Demand for university-educated workers across the economy continues to grow, according to Jobs and Skills Australia’s latest Labour Market Update.
More than double the number of international students arrived in Australia this July when compared to the same time last year – fuelling the nation’s economic prosperity and growth.
Universities Australia Chief Executive Catriona Jackson’s opening statement at the Education and Employment Legislation Committee hearing into the Higher Education Support Amendment (Response To The Australian Universities Accord Interim Report) Bill 2023.
Using a predicted Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) or school results, universities will assess a student’s application for a particular course against a range of criteria.
Universities Australia welcomes the release of the draft national science and research priorities.
Universities Australia is calling on the Albanese Government to establish more flexible funding arrangements to enable universities to continue delivering for the nation in the coming decades.
Education remains on track to surpass the record export earnings it generated prior to the pandemic after adding $10.8 billion to Australia’s export revenue in the June quarter.
Universities Australia welcomes the opening of applications for additional Commonwealth supported places to support the skills requirements of the AUKUS program.
Universities Australia welcomes measures announced today by the Albanese Government to protect and strengthen the integrity of Australia’s international education sector.
New data confirms Australia’s investment in research and development is going backwards, falling from 1.8 per cent of gross domestic product in 2019-20 to 1.68 per cent in 2021-22.
The 2023 Intergenerational Report confirms the central role universities will play in helping Australia navigate a changing economic landscape over the coming decades.
Universities Australia welcomes the government’s response to the review of the Australian Research Council Act 2001.
University, vocational education and industry representatives met in Canberra today to discuss our shared role in delivering the skilled workers the nation needs.
Universities Australia Chair Professor David Lloyd Wednesday, 8 August 2023
Attributable to Universities Australia Chair Professor David Lloyd:
Julie Hare from The Australian Financial Review has won the Journalist of the Year award, while Nicky Phillips from Nature News has been recognised for excellence in university research reporting.
Universities Australia Chair Professor David Lloyd | Wednesday, 9 August 2023
Universities Australia welcomes the appointment of Ms Patty Kinnersly as the expert adviser to the working group advising government on ways to strengthen university governance.
Universities Australia welcomes the introduction of legislation that will support universities to do their job for the nation.
Universities Australia congratulates Mr Chris Barrett on his appointment as Chair of the Productivity Commission.
Melbourne, Australia | Universities Australia Chair Professor David Lloyd
Topics: The Australian Universities Accord interim report
Topics: Sector response to the Australian Universities Accord interim report
Wednesday, 19 July 2023
Topics: Australian Universities Accord interim report
Australia’s universities welcome the release of the Australian Universities Accord interim report.
Universities Australia welcomes the government’s move to improve access to university through the creation of more study hubs across the nation.
Published in The Australian Financial Review (17 July, 2023)
More than 43,000 international students arrived in May, reinforcing the strength of education as a critical export to Australia’s economic growth and prosperity.
“The challenges facing Australia right now are greater than ever, which is why we need to get the funding settings for our universities right,” Universities Australia Chief Executive Catriona Jackson said.
Published as a letter to the editor in The Australian Financial Review (7 July 2023)
Universities Australia welcomes the release of the report of the Teacher Education Expert Panel.
Universities Australia welcomes additional university places and funding for new training facilities to boost the supply of doctors practicing in regional and rural areas.
Australia’s universities are calling on the Albanese Government to remove barriers to university participation by uncapping places for all Indigenous Australians, regardless of their postcode.
Australia’s universities continue to shine on the global stage, with three institutions featuring for the first time in the top 20 of the QS World University Rankings.
Student satisfaction with the quality of their university experience is up across all major indicators according to the latest Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching surveys.
The passage of legislation to establish the government’s Startup Year program locks in support for the next generation of skilled entrepreneurs to drive our economic growth.
Keynote Address, Symbiosis International University, Pune, Maharashtra, India
Universities Australia Chief Executive Catriona Jackson will travel to India this week to deliver the keynote address at the 2023 Universities20 Conference alongside Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Australia continues to benefit from the arrival of new and returning international students, spurring economic growth and driving ongoing COVID-19 recovery.
Entries are now open for the 2023 Universities Australia Higher Education Media Awards.
Universities welcome the allocation of funding under the first round of the Microcredentials Pilot in Higher Education program to support the nation’s skills needs.
International education is surging back to pre-pandemic levels, adding a new high of $11.1 billion to the economy in the March quarter.
Australia’s world-class universities are continuing to make their mark on the global stage in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2023.
Topics: HECS-HELP loans, Investiture of James Cook University’s sixth Chancellor Professor Ngiare Brown
