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New partnerships signalled in Council Corporate Plan
28 March 2009
The deteriorating jobs situation on the Coast is a real concern, and even long-established and successful operations are now shedding quality staff. The economy here remains fairly vulnerable.
The first priority for the Coast is arguably the need to generate new jobs.
The Innovation Centre has been successful in supporting around 50 start-ups, and creating through those firms, over 400 jobs. Students, in particular are also getting experience and sometimes employment with these firms.
In a presentation to government, hospital and university leaders in Brisbane on Thursday, it was made clear that world-wide, the business/technology nodes around teaching hospitals, and universities are the centres that are most successful in generating new businesses.
Hence the critical importance of getting new firms into Sippy Downs to develop a technology node.
In this respect, it was also encouraging to read this week the Regional Council’s Draft Corporate Plan 2009-2014.
The eight foci outlined in the plan are broad ranging from the economy to ecological sustainability. There is a much heavier emphasis than ever before on regional strategic issues and new roles for Council, like innovation, health and well-being as well as the fundamentals such as governance.
It is a far cry from the heavy concern in a bygone era with just ‘roads, rates and rubbish’.
There are also clear signals that the future depends on partnerships and sharing responsibilities in a much more dynamic way.
The University is certainly committed to working with the Regional Council to advance this new vision that manages and supports both population growth and the economy on the one hand, and is environmentally responsible on the other.
To advance the University’s ‘engagement’ agenda, we this week interviewed for the new position of Pro Vice-Chancellor Regional Engagement, which itself signals our intention to take our regional role, especially with Council, even more seriously.
With these new partnerships, including those with the private sector, I am hopeful that we will together become increasingly successful in addressing the fragility of the economy.
Professor Paul Thomas AM is Vice-Chancellor and President at the University of the Sunshine Coast.