Press Release

20 September 2004

Australian R&D: In Desperate Need of Resuscitation

The Business/Higher Education Round Table (B-HERT) has repeatedly raised the issue of the dismal and worsening situation with respect to the level or R&D in Australia.

Ashley Goldsworthy, Executive Direct of B-HERT said today’s R&D is the future and Australia’s current level of investment in its future makes it a bleak future indeed.

Figures recently released show that Business Expenditure on R&D (BERD) in 2002-03 has dropped to 0.79% of GDP. This places Australia 14th out of 21 OECD nations.

He pointed out that we are half the level of the United States and one-third the level of Japan and Finland.

Australia’s public sector spending is at a much more satisfactory level, but however we look at it we are languishing.

Government Expenditure on R&D (GERD) is 1.55% of GDP. The United Kingdom has set itself a goal of 2.5% of GDP by 2014. The European Union has set a goal for member nations of 3.0% by 2010. Canada has set itself a similar goal by 2016. The average of all OECD countries is 1.81%. What target have we set ourselves? None. And without a goal we also lack a strategy.

Australia has to set itself goals of at least 2% by 2010 and 3% by 2020 and put in place strategies to achieve those goals. One thing is certain that without specific policy directions we will continue to slip. We have to recognize that R&D is an investment in the future and not just “expenditure”.

Whilst expenditure in absolute terms may have increased, the real concern is that we are not keeping pace with our global competitors.

Goldsworthy emphasized that the growth economies of the future will be knowledge-based economies. In such economies R&D becomes even more important. Innovation drives growth. R&D drives innovation.

As these figures relate to 2002-03 it is yet to be seen what effect the increased funding of innovation through the Government’s Backing Australia’s Ability program will have, but it alone will not be enough.

He believes the sort of thing that needs to be done is to emphasise the need for and benefits of more effective linkages between public-sector research and the private sector through sector specific policies, such as we have seen in the mining and the wine industries, and initiatives such as “clustering”, which has proved successful in other economies.

For further details contact: Professor Ashley Goldsworthy
Executive Director, Business/Higher Education Round Table Ph: +61 3 9419 8068

Press Release

13 September 2004

Quality in Higher Education

The Business/Higher Education Round Table argues that higher education is, and must remain, a key issue for Government, of whatever political persuasion.

In its response to the recent (Nelson) review of higher education the Business/Higher Education Round Table argued that:

• The status quo in higher education in Australia is not sustainable if we as a nation want to be at the forefront of a knowledge-based society.
  Universities of global excellence will emerge from a framework of diversity and flexibility that can only be built when underpinned by coherent policy and a funds base that recognizes a new priority for higher education in this country.
  Australia’s universities are under-resourced in international terms.
  Education and training are key ingredients in growing and developing the Australian economy.
  Higher education is critical to the future of this country; in creating a “learning society” in which all Australians, of whatever social, cultural and economic background, have access to a post-compulsory education of excellent value.

Quality of teaching, quality of research, quality of learning, quality of infrastructure and a supporting governmental policy framework are the fundamental prerequisites for this to be achieved.

Present levels of funding are inadequate to propel Australia to the forefront to achieve the levels of excellence required to take this nation forward. International comparisons repeatedly underline this deficiency.

Student teacher ratios continue to rise while the level of funding per student remains static.

The Round Table has argued strongly for effective indexation of government funding, but indexing an inadequate base does not solve the problem.

The Government has recognised the need to renew the level of core funding through its commitment to a 7.5% increase to the base Commonwealth funding, worth an additional $209 million in 2007, or some $500 per student.

Labor proposes to introduce a “Universities for the 21st Century Fund” worth $250 million in 2007, some 5% of existing core funding or about $560 a student.

The Round Table says that $500-600 per student is not enough. It needs to be at least double that.

For further details contact: Professor Ashley Goldsworthy AO OBE
Executive Director, Business/Higher Education Round Table Ph: 0414 952 273

Press Release

10 September 2004

Regional Engagement between Higher Education, Business and the Community

On Wednesday (8 Sept) the Business/Higher Education Round Table (B-HERT), in conjunction with La Trobe University, hosted a most successful Regional Engagement Forum in Bendigo.

It attracted over 170 participants from all over Australia (as far away as Perth). John Brumby, Treasurer, Minister for Industry and Regional Development, and Minister for Innovation, and Jacinta Allan, Minister for Educational Services participated as did the Mayor of Bendigo, Professor Michael Osborne Vice-Chancellor and several academics from La Trobe, the CEO of Bendigo Council and a number of business and community leaders

Professor Ashley Goldsworthy, Executive Director of B-HERT, said one of the most useful outcomes was to learn about many exciting projects being undertaken as a result of effective community engagement in Bendigo, which could provide a model for initiatives elsewhere.

The forum was sponsored by the Victorian Government, and leading organisations involved in the Forum, included Bendigo Bank, Central Victorian Business Network, City of Greater Bendigo, Bendigo Healthcare Group, Bendigo Manufacturing Group, Australian Industry Group, Lead On Australia, Bendigo Community Telco, Bendigo TAFE, and a number of others.

Goldsworthy said it was this broad level of active participation of senior people that helped make the day so productive.

B-HERT has focused on Regional Engagement as an important issue and over the past 12 months has conducted five very successful one-day fora, which have attracted some 600 local business people and post-compulsory education providers.

• at Shepparton co-hosted with the Greater Shepparton City Council. Hon John Brumby, Treasurer and Minister for State and Regional Development presented a paper. The forum was attended by over 80 people and generated a good deal of interest and follow-up action among the business community.

• at Parramatta co-hosted by the University of Western Sydney. The Chancellor (John Phillips) and Vice-Chancellor (Prof. Janice Reid) both participated. Hon David Campbell, Minister for Regional Development, for the Illawarra, and for Small Business participated and the forum was sponsored by the NSW Dept. for State and Regional Development and Lend Lease Corporation. Over 120 attended and the day was marked by vigorous debate and discussion.

• at the University of the Sunshine Coast at Mooloolaba hosted by the university and sponsored by the Queensland Dept. for State Development and Innovation. Mrs Linda Lavarch MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Queensland Minister for State Development and Innovation, gave the Keynote Address. Over 80 attended.

• at the University of Newcastle hosted by the university and sponsored by the NSW Dept. of State and Regional Development, Gloucester Coal and Minerals Council NSW. Senator John Tierney and Bryce Gaudry MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Education, Training and Aboriginal Affairs, and Member for Newcastle, delivered addresses. Over 120 participated and it was a successful event.

• at Bendigo hosted by La Trobe University in conjunction with the City of Greater Bendigo, Bendigo Bank, the Central Victorian Business Network and the Victorian Government, Department of Education and Training. Keynote addresses were given by the Hon. John Brumby, Treasurer & Minister for Innovation, Industry & Regional Development and the Hon. Jacinta Allan, Minister for Education Services, and Member for Bendigo East and Professor Michael Osborne, Vice-Chancellor of La Trobe. More than 170 participated and a number of follow-up initiatives were identified.

Further activities being planned over coming months are –

• Albury-Wodonga Campus of Charles Sturt University
  Mackay campus of Central Queensland University.
  Whyalla with the University of South Australia
  Perth with Murdoch University
  Port Macquarie with Southern Cross and Hastings Council

Goldsworthy said a number of outcomes have been identified-

• There must be support for an increased level of engagement between all stakeholders.
  There must be sustained support for the regional communities’ need for access to high quality post-compulsory education.
  There must be explicit support for collaborative initiatives between business/industry, the community and post-compulsory education providers which provide a socio-economic benefit to the region.
  There must be clearer identification and communication of the benefits for increased engagement between business/industry, the community and post-compulsory education in regions.
  There must be increased awareness of the pivotal role the relationship between business/industry and post-compulsory education plays in the retention of youth in regional areas and the importance of career pathways.
  More involvement by education providers in community discussions would lead to better outcomes.

He said that what is clear is that many of the regional areas are being proactive in their pursuit of a viable future. Integrated into this is the critical role post-compulsory education plays in the development of their local region.

B-HERT sees these fora as valuable to the ongoing development of linkages between regional business/industry and post-compulsory education. Such linkages will invariably lead to appropriate skill enhancement of regional youth, greater entrepreneurial endeavour, accelerated commercial awareness and increased economic activity in the regions.

For further details contact: Professor Ashley Goldsworthy
Executive Director, Business/Higher Education Round Table Ph: +61 3 9419 8068

Press Release

31 August 2004

Indexation

The investment in Australia’s Higher Education sector each year amounts to over $11 billion, of which the Commonwealth Government contributes some $5 million and students some $2 million.

Each year the impact of inflation sees the value of that investment decline.

The Business/Higher Education Round Table (B-HERT) is strongly of the view that in order to maintain the real value of that investment, indexation of future Government funding must be implemented, otherwise the system will simply fall back into the same underfunded level of recent years before the recently approved Nelson reforms.

The investment in Australian universities, in the quality of their students, in their teaching and research, is vital to the future well-being of this nation.

Our university system needs and warrants a higher level of investment. Indexation of Government funding is a fundamental prerequisite.

The attached statement outlines B-HERT’s reasons in support of this argument.

For further info contact: Professor Ashley Goldsworthy, Executive Director
Business/Higher Education Round Table
Ph: +61 3 9419 8068

Press Release

12 August 2004

The FACTS: Higher Education in Australia

The Business/Higher Education Round Table (B-HERT) has just released its biennial report, THE FACTS on Australia’s higher education sector. THE FACTS provides a set of key statistics as the basis for constructive debate on the measures that need to be implemented to improve the state of higher education in this country.

Professor Ashley Goldsworthy, Executive Director of B-HERT, said that as Australia positions itself in an increasingly global and knowledge-based economy, we need to understand how the sector is performing, what are its strengths, and what are its weaknesses that we should be rectifying.

He said that some of the questions we should be seeking answers to include:

- Are the fundamentals in place to support higher education as a provider of innovative and leading edge research?
- Are there indicators which suggest the quality of higher education in Australia is under duress?
- Is the higher education sector in Australia meeting the needs of a knowledge-based economy?
- As a nation are we positioning ourselves to prosper as a highly skilled and educated service provider in the regional 

   and global context?
- As a nation are we investing enough in our higher education sector?

The B-HERT publication goes someway to providing those who work in or observe the sector with a comprehensive perspective of the sector’s performance.

This publication is an update to that which the Business/Higher Education Round Table produced and distributed in June 2002 (B-HERT Paper # 5).

The publication includes five sections – Sector Overview, Research Overview, Operational Overview including Internationally Where We Stand, and Supporting Statistical Tables.

ASHLEY GOLDSWORTHY
Executive Director

For further enquiries contact the B-HERT Secretariat:
Ph: - 03 9419 8068    Email – bhert@bhert.com

Press Release
26 April 2001

What do we have to do to celebrate entrepreneurial endeavour in the same way we celebrate sporting endeavour?

The Business/Higher Education Round Table (B-HERT) in conjunction with the Federal Government, the Victorian State Government, Shell Australia Ltd, Hewlett Packard Australia Ltd and the Australian Technology Network are hosting an event that aims to set in motion the changes needed for Australia to become a nation of Entrepreneurs.

On 30 and 31 May 2001, the event will bring together entrepreneurial success stories as well as leaders in education, research, business and government from around Australia to discuss and debate the issues facing an Entrepreneurial Australia.

Issues to be addressed include those identified in the recently released Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, Australia 2000, namely education, regulation and tax burden, lack of capital, short-term investment outlook and Australia's perceived anti-entrepreneurial culture.

Start-ups and high growth companies are the pacesetters of our economy. They generate prosperity and employment, they are a source of innovation, they extend consumer choice and they drive down prices.

Australia needs a much stronger and more vigorous entrepreneurial culture.

This issue crosses political boundaries as the involvement of both the Victorian and Federal governments demonstrates. The Hon Dr David Kemp, Minister for Education, Training and Youth Affairs and the Hon John Brumby, Minister for State and Regional Development will both be giving special addresses, while Senator the Hon Nick Minchin, Minister for Industry, Science and Resources will be hosting a gala dinner, "Backing Australia's Entrepreneurs", on the first evening.

B-HERT executive director, Prof Ashley Goldsworthy AO OBE, says, "Discussion panels will be made up from many popular identities and some less well-known (quiet) achievers. Roger Buckeridge from one of Australia's best-known venture capitalists, Allen & Buckeridge, will be contributing to the panel on "Where is the Money"? He will address questions about the supply and quality of capital and what skills are needed to find and raise it."

"On the other hand, Dr Jim Fox of Vision Systems Ltd (VSL) is a real Entrepreneurial Hero. Under his guidance, VSL has grown more than 30% annually and currently has over 600 employees and annual sales of $150 million - yet few people have heard of him or VSL."

Other Entrepreneurs to be featured include Lionel Barden of Fibrelight who began designing fibre optic lighting systems on his kitchen table and is now lighting up Broadway's largest theatre, and Greg Lane who created one of the worlds top selling computer games, Dark Reign.

Entrepreneurial Australia - Future Australia is being held on Wed 30th & Thur 31st May at the Park Hyatt, Melbourne. For more information and registration details, contact the B-HERT office on 03 9654 8824, email B-HERT@B-HERT.com or check out the website.