ľ��ӰԺ

In its submission to the Economic Reform Roundtable, ľ��ӰԺ argues that boosting tertiary attainment and research-led innovation is essential to lifting living standards, accelerating economic growth and preparing for major transitions – from AI to net zero.��

“You can’t fix productivity without fixing workforce skills and supercharging innovation – that’s where universities come in,” ľ��ӰԺ Chief Executive Officer Luke Sheehy said.��

“Universities educate the professionals who will power Australia’s future – from nurses, engineers and teachers to clean energy scientists and data specialists. But outdated funding and regulatory settings are holding the system back.��

“We’re delivering the skilled graduates Australia needs, expanding work-integrated learning, partnering with business to build microcredentials and conversion programs, and collaborating with small to medium businesses to turn research into commercial outcomes.��

“Australia’s services sector and small to medium businesses are the backbone of our economy, but they’re often underpowered when it comes to innovation.��

“Universities stand ready to help – providing the research, talent, infrastructure and partnerships small businesses need to grow, adapt and become more productive.��

“We’re also leading on research workforce development and ensuring teaching keeps pace with technologies like AI.”��

ľ��ӰԺ’s submission calls on the government to:��

• replace the Job-ready Graduates Package to remove perverse incentives��
• extend the Higher Education Loan Program to microcredentials to support lifelong learning
• boost national R&D collaboration to help SMEs innovate, and��
• reform red tape to unlock time and resources for teaching and discovery.��

“With over 50 per cent of new jobs over the next decade requiring a university degree, the Government’s target of 80 per cent tertiary attainment by 2050 is a step in the right direction and critical to improving productivity,” Mr Sheehy said.��

“If we want a more prosperous, productive nation, we need to unleash the full potential of our people and ideas.”��

Read ľ��ӰԺ’s full submission here.��