Policy Submissions

The IRU has made a written submission to the Senate Inquiry into the Higher Education Support Legislation Amendment (Student Loan Sustainability) Bill 2018. The Bill proposes four changes to the Higher Education Loans Program (HELP), of which the lower first repayment threshold and the inclusion of HECS-HELP within a lifelong loan cap are the most Read more

Innovative Research Universities (IRU) has responded to the Department of Education & Training discussion paper about revamping and simplifying student data collection processes. The IRU supports efforts to improve the efficiency and quality of the Higher Education Data Collection. However we recommend careful consideration of the costs and timeframe required for implementing these changes, some Read more

Future-Proof, the Business Council of Australia’s case for a coherent secondary and tertiary education system, is a valuable articulation of the reality that all Australians need to complete year 12 and then complete at least one further qualification, whether vocational or higher education, to be confident of a successful working life. The BCA deserves praise Read more

The Innovative Research Universities objects to the imposition of substantially higher costs through the proposed Skilling Australia Fund on the recruitment of staff with higher education qualifications who require visas to enter Australia. Changing the charges for skilled visas: the Skilling Australia Fund The Migration (Skilling Australians Fund) Charges Bill 2017 and Migration Amendment (Skilling Read more

Regional development and decentralisation will be strengthened through Government programs ensuring an intentional national distribution of resources and services. The creation of the next stage of national research infrastructure is a lead case where this approach should apply. The IRU is the peak policy and development body for a coalition of seven comprehensive universities, located Read more

IRU Submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Economics Inquiry into the Medicare Levy Amendment (National Disability Insurance Scheme Funding) Bill 2017 and 10 related bills Key recommendation to the Committee The IRU strongly opposes the abolition of the Education Investment Funds (EIF). The EIF is the only Commonwealth investment in research and education infrastructure Read more

The Report of the Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee into the Government’s higher education package sheds little new light but it does include a notably dodgy chart that undermines, not supports, the Minister’s rhetoric about higher education funding growing faster than Australia’s gross domestic product. Total higher education funding is increasing. If we want Read more

The Innovative Research Universities (IRU) supports the development of a national universities precincts’ strategy that encourages local level stimulation of existing and new businesses through better industry-research collaboration. The paper sets out the broad concept of a ‘precinct’, rightly keeping this general against the aim of  being a means to bring together the innovative players Read more

The Government case that universities can sustain further reductions in revenue rests on false assertions about the financial robustness of universities and over egged claims about the value of Government funding over the past decade and its additional expenditure over the coming four years. Far from rolling in rivers of gold, IRU Members assess they Read more

The Innovative Research Universities (IRU) welcomes the informed perspectives this discussion paper adds to the discussions on student success in higher education and current metrics. IRU members echo statements that the reported “crisis of attrition” is an exaggerated response, yet acknowledge there is more the sector can and should do to support students to complete Read more