Where to now for university research?
9 August 2000
Sections of the Government’s contentious reforms to university research have been held up until after the next Federal Election.
Confirmation from DETYA that the Research Training Scheme and the Institutional Grants Scheme would be deferred until 2002 was welcomed by the National Tertiary Education Union, which represents university staff. However, NTEU President Carolyn Allport warned that research staff were deeply concerned about the funding instability created by the Government’s plans.
`The Government has been playing blind man’s bluff with university research, bumbling around looking for a solution while funding continues to decline,’ said Dr Allport. `The Government has responded to sectoral concerns by delaying implementation of these schemes until after the Federal election, but we would like to see them scrapped altogether.’
Dr Allport said that the Institutional Grants Scheme and Research Training Scheme would open up public funding for postgraduate places and operating grant money to private providers.
`Why should Government money go to support private universities, especially as our public universities are suffering funding cuts?’ queried Dr Allport. `Commonwealth investment in research has fallen by nearly 6% since 1996-97. We should refocus on adding value to higher education institutions serving the public good, rather than increasing the contestability of funding.’
`After years of policy bumbling, the challenge for an incoming Federal government will be to deliver an efficient and sustainable research strategy with long-term outcomes.’