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OECD Report Nears Completion
30 June 2006
Last November we were visited by a panel of reviewers from the
Paris-based OECD. We had been chosen as the only Australian
University, among thirteen others from around the world, as the
subject of study because of our level of engagement with the local
regional community.
The OECD review eventually ended up as a Sunshine-Fraser Coast
review, and last week the regional committee chaired by SunROC CEO,
Graham Pearce, met at Gympie to discuss the initial report,
focusing on the University and the Region, and how we could
contribute together economically and culturally to the further
development of the region.
One of the main findings of the Report is that there is little
funding for regional engagement. Despite this, USC has contributed
operationally and financially more than any other university in
this country, relative to its size and stage of development.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars annually are spent on supporting
or sponsoring events of community benefit. The Innovation Centre,
the evolving Health and Sports precincts and the Art Gallery which
principally benefit the community, have cost USC millions of
dollars to establish and hundreds of thousands annually to
maintain.
The OECD panel felt that both USC and USQ on the Fraser Coast
'have a strong culture of responsiveness and an entrepreneurial
attitude'. USC is continuing to refine and evaluate its
contributions to the local shires, through a Regional Engagement
Advisory Committee which reports directly to the
Vice-Chancellor.
The OECD Report has also reported criticisms of the University
by some civic leaders, who feel the University could do more, but
the authors acknowledge that there are limitations on USC's
capacity to engage because of restricted funding regimes. The
Reviewers suggest more lines of communication being established
between local government Councils and the University so that
knowledge of each others actions can result in a more coordinated
regional approach.
They also concede, however, that there is an absence of a clear
regional vision, and that governance structures are fragmented,
making concerted, collective actions for the benefit of the whole
region more difficult.
The findings across the fourteen countries will be discussed in
Copenhagen in October, and be published early in 2007. At that
point there will be wide circulation of the report to National,
State and Local Governments worldwide. The Sunshine Coast will
never have had its international visibility so high, not even for
tourism.
All of us involved hope the Report will lead to further open and
frank discussion and advancement of a regional agenda.
Professor Paul Thomas is Vice-Chancellor of University of
the Sunshine Coast