Archived Publications

Fact Sheet (for latest Fact Sheets please go to Fact Sheets 2004)

13. Enhancing Collaboration

• Collaboration and Structural Reform Fund

• Contact Details

A major theme of the review was the call by higher education stakeholders for more collaboration between universities and other education providers, industry, business, regions and communities. A number of elements of the higher education reforms have the goal of increasing the level of university collaboration with the education sector and broader community.

Collaboration between individual higher education institutions can promote survival of low-demand but nationally or regionally important courses, and can enhance efficiency of operations for the institutions concerned, for example, in some administrative services. Cross-sectoral collaboration between sectors of the education and training system can respond to labour market demand for new and flexible skill sets, and result in more efficient delivery of education, for example, through shared facilities, and seamless pathways for students. Close relationships with business and industry ensure graduates are prepared for the labour market and that the commercial potential of research and innovation is maximised. Regional initiatives recognise the significant role of universities, particularly those in regional areas, in the economic and social lives of their communities.

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Collaboration and Structural Reform Fund

A Collaboration and Structural Reform (CASR) Fund will be established for three years from 2005, to provide competitive funds to foster collaboration between universities and other education providers, business, industry, professional associations, community groups or other relevant organisations; and to encourage innovation within the higher education sector. This Fund will absorb the current Higher Education Innovation Programme (HEIP), with new guidelines and funding. The new Fund will honour existing HEIP commitments, and the remaining HEIP funds will become CASR funds.

National priority areas for collaboration will be identified for each round of the programme. The initial priorities will focus on collaboration:

• in course provision between two or more institutions;

• between vocational education and training provider/s and an institution in course provision or an area related to teaching and learning;

• between universities and their communities, particularly but not exclusively, regional communities; and

• between universities and business/industry/employers or professional associations.

A total of $36.6 million will be allocated to the Collaboration and Structural Reform Fund between 2005 and 2007, which will combine $16.6 million of existing Higher Education Innovation Programme (HEIP) funds with new funds of $20 million.

The reforms outlined in this Fact Sheet are subject to the passage of Commonwealth legislation. Full implementation details for the reforms will be provided over the coming months.

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Contact Details

Media inquiries:

Ross Hampton
Dr Nelson’s Office
Telephone: 0419 484 095

Jane Smith
Department of Education, Science and Training
Telephone: 0412 973 411

Other inquiries:

Brendan Sheehan
Director, Collaboration Unit
Higher Education Group
Department of Education, Science and Training
Telephone: 02 6240 9986

Website: http://www.backingaustraliasfuture.gov.au
Email: highered@dest.gov.au

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Any comments or queries should be sent to: highered@dest.gov.au
This page was last updated on Monday, 04 August 2008

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