Union warns against `One-way street' approach to university-industry links
25 July 1997
The National Tertiary Education Union, representing staff in Australian universities, has criticised recommendations of the Mortimer Report on Business Programs which would increase direct Government assistance to industry at the expense of programs generating a considerable public benefit.
`There is no question that industry investment in Australian universities is low by international standards, despite significant increases over the past decade, and needs to be encouraged’ said NTEU General Secretary Grahame McCulloch. `However, we would question the wisdom of doing away with Cooperative Research Centres and the Commonwealth’s contribution to R&D corporations in order to provide direct assistance to industry.’
He was referring to the Report’s recommendation that funding for CRCs and R&D corporations be phased out in favour of providing a direct tax concession and rebate for industry investment in research and development.
`While the Union welcomes initiatives to encourage industry to invest in public sector research and education services, it should not be a one-way street,’ said Mr McCulloch. `Industry must accept that if it wants subsidised access to university infrastructure and expertise, the relationship has to also benefit universities and the public sector generally.’
Mr McCulloch said that he was aware that some CRC partners regarded the Centres as yielding insufficient benefit within a short time -frame.
`However, given that many CRCs have generated good short-term outcomes for industry and long-term benefits in terms of strategic research and graduates with specialist skills, surely it’s worth considering re-casting the program before we drop it altogether,’ he said.
Mr McCulloch also warned that the Report’s suggestions that industry should `drive’ education and training in Australia could have negative implications for the medium to long term.
`Industry is a vital stakeholder in education, training and research, but it’s not the only stakeholder,’ he said. `If we replace public funding for education with subsidies for industry investment, we risk narrowing the knowledge base by focusing education and research on specific, short-term outcomes.
`It’s also important to remember that discipline-driven research, which will never attract much industry funding, will nevertheless yield long-term economic and social benefits. Health and medical research is a good example. Better to invest now in research which leads to understanding causes and cures for disease rather than spend more money dealing with the social and economic consequences of those diseases.’
Further comment contact Julie Wells (NTEU National) on 03 9254 1910 (bh) or jwells@nteu.org.au