OECD project
Supporting the contribution of higher education institutions to regional development
In 2005 and 2006, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) selected 14 regions across the world to participate in a project designed to strengthen the contributions of universities to their regions. A significant factor in the OECD selecting this region for the project was USC's reputation as an engaged university.
To explore issues in inter-university cooperation, the region was extended beyond the Sunshine Coast to encompass the Fraser Coast and the University of Southern Queensland campus located at Wide Bay. A Regional Steering Committee was established to coordinate the project.
Three key documents, available from the OECD website, were developed during the project:
- a regional self-evaluation report (two lead authors Ron Neller and Sharon Hall were from USC)
- a report from the OECD International Peer Review Team assessing the region, and
- a response by the region to the Peer Review Team report
In October 2006, representatives of each participating region met in Copenhagen to discuss outcomes of the project and to identify international best practice examples. The OECD invited Professor Paul Thomas, USC's Vice-Chancellor, to present on the Sunshine/Fraser Coast.
The launch of the final project report for all regions was in Valencia, Spain in September 2007.
As a direct result of the OECD Project, USC applied for and was granted a total of $1.77M in funding from the Australian Government under what was previously the Collaboration and Structural Reform Program (CASR). The largest of the three projects, the Optimisation Project, looks at matching education provision to the current and future needs of the region. One of the key project outcomes being the development of a regional human capital plan. The CASR project concluded at the end of 2009.
The reports of the projects were submitted on the 18 December 2009 and are currently being considered by the Department. For more information on this project, refer to the Regional Projects Management Hub.
Back to top