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USC is Regional Universities Network partner
The University of the Sunshine Coast has joined forces with five other regional universities across Australia in a bid to create a stronger voice for regional tertiary institutions and their communities.
The Regional Universities Network (RUN) was launched today, with USC as a core partner alongside the University of Ballarat, University of Southern Queensland, Southern Cross University, University of New England and Central Queensland University.
USC’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Hill said the RUN cluster would work in a similar way to existing networks of universities – like the Group of Eight and the Intensive Research Universities – as a voice for regional Australia.
“I am confident this is a very sensible strategic decision for USC, particularly given the reactions in Canberra from the Government and the Opposition to the concept,” Professor Hill said.
“There is currently a vacuum with regard to policy in the regional education space and both sides of parliament are keen to engage with a consortium that can provide advice and a voice.”
Professor Hill said the Regional Universities Network would have three key objectives:
- To provide policy advice to government, particularly with regard to tertiary education and regional development;
- To strengthen and promote the contributions of regional universities to regional and national development; and
- To build institutional capacity and sustainability through the sharing of best practice in educational delivery, training, research and organisational management, particularly with reference to regional contexts.
“The network also will emphasise the assets and strengths that regional universities and their communities have, and highlight the current and potential contribution of regional universities and their communities to national prosperity and wellbeing,” he said.
Professor Hill said USC already had projects and policies in place to enable collaborative research efforts with its RUN partners, and would be seeking to establish similar arrangements in areas like learning and teaching and community engagement as the network is formalised.
— Terry Walsh