UA broadly supports the areas of focus and policy design principles proposed in the Phase 1 report and recommends that Phase 2 includes actionable policy recommendations at the local, jurisdictional and sectoral level, with recognition of the funding required to deliver on these outcomes.

Universities are central to the success of the jobs and skills system in regional Australia – they train nurses, teachers, engineers and health professionals locally, and embed work-integrated learning with regional employers to align graduates with workforce needs. They deliver research and innovation that drives regional industries and serve as major employers and key drivers of local economies. In 2020, the Regional Universities Network (RUN) grouping, who represent 7 of our members, reported that their universities accounted for approximately 14,000 staff across Australia and contributed over $2 billion annually to regional economies – these numbers are considerably more if we consider all universities active in the regions.