Recognition for the Sunshine Coast Remains a Battle
14 May 2005
The Federal Budget contained confirmation of funds already
promised to some individual universities but there was no new
funding for the sector as a whole.
The skills shortages issue has now assumed national centre-stage
and displaced the continued support for universities.
It is to be hoped that this does not signal a lack of long-term
interest in public universities, as their graduates will still be
the major architects of Australia's smart future this century. We
cannot as a nation afford to neglect the continuing need for
research support, for example, across the whole sector.
As the new Chancellor of the University of Technology Sydney
said last month: "Knowledge must be shared - everyone needs access
to it - be they rich or poor". Powerful research outcomes can
elevate health, welfare, and quality of life issues to a new higher
level.
50% of productivity growth in developed countries comes from
research and new knowledge, and most of that derives from
universities. For every dollar invested in research, the return to
society is conservatively estimated at $1.84.
It is for this reason that the European Community is investing
3% of GDP, almost double that of Australia, in research and
education, as the pillars of their case for world leadership by
2010.
It is also the reason why the State Government has invested so
heavily in its recently released Smart State Strategy 2005-2015.
From a parochial resident, the only significant weakness of that
document is the invisibility of the Sunshine Coast within it.
Griffith, University of Queensland, Queensland University of
Technology, Gold Coast, Toowoomba, Monto, Townsville, Cairns, and
others all get coverage, but the Sunshine Coast does not.
In trying to understand that, it was interesting to read a
report for the Federal Government this week which dealt with the
different ways universities can benefit the economy and
society.
Universities like University of Queensland would be expected to
have developed strong research centres over the last half century.
With further funding they promise measurable world-class results
quickly, viewed from the 'standard' model of knowledge production,
and turning that knowledge into commercial product. Examples
galore in the State document of such a model!
But the Federal report points out that there are at least four
types of research activity that benefit the economy and society,
and all should be supported and funded.
This University is still young, mirroring the relative youth of
the Sunshine Coast as a region. We have not yet obtained the
profile internationally of other regions and older universities,
but that is not to say that what we are doing together is
unimportant.
For example, the Federal report states that 'knowledge
engagement' and 'knowledge relationships' are also important
categories of research endeavour, and it is those that reflect
closely what is happening on the Sunshine Coast.
The emphasis in these categories is on cooperation between
agencies, and where universities generate useful economic outcomes
that transcend the University. Those are precisely the research
emphases that we promote, are recognised in the South-East
Queensland Urban Management Plan (where Sippy Downs is identified
as a 'knowledge hub'), but which are neglected in the Smart State
Strategy, presumably because they are not as visible or on a scale
to match those of Brisbane.
Nevertheless, within and for the region, they are vital research
and development activities that support 'Smart State' strategies,
and arguably make more of a quantum difference to the community
than do some of the many and varied Brisbane examples in the
2005-2015 strategy document.
The region needs and deserves a higher profile.
Professor Paul Thomas is Vice-Chancellor of University of
the Sunshine Coast.