Regional Universities Network

SMARTER REGIONS,SMARTER AUSTRALIAPOLIC Y ADVICE FOR AN INCOMING GOVERNMENT

CQUniversity

Southern Cross University

University of Ballarat

University of New England

University of Southern Queensland

University of the Sunshine Coast

Regional Australia plays a key part in Australia’snational prosperity and productivity. Sixty-sevenper cent of the nation’s economic assets andproductive activity are located outside Australia’scapital cities.

Regional universities enable the best use of regionalhuman capital and resources and contribute toeducational opportunities, economic prospects andcommunity capabilities for the 30% of Australianswho live in non- metropolitan Australia.

Regional Australia and its universities performstrongly.

The teaching and learning, research and communityengagement undertaken by regional universitiesare essential to the national identity, its prosperityand our future as a nation.

RUN, the Regional Universities Network, analliance of Australian regional universities, isdedicated to further enhancing the role thatregional universities play in contributing to theeconomic, social, cultural and environmentaldevelopment of their regions.

The network consists of CQUniversity, SouthernCross University, University of Ballarat, University ofNew England, University of Southern Queensland,and University of the Sunshine Coast. All institutionsare headquartered in, and therefore have afundamental commitment to, regional Australia.

Regional Australia has relatively low levels ofeducational attainment. By improvingopportunities for people to access highereducation, RUN universities help unlock the fullhuman potential of regional Australia. Thiscontributes to Australia achieving the level ofgraduate skills needed to ensure its internationalcompetitiveness.

RUN universities teach more than 100,000students across 29 campuses or 9% of enrolmentsin Australian public universities. They educate 25%

of Australia’s regional higher education students,34% of its distance education students, 16% of itslow socio-economic students, 15% of itsIndigenous students and 32% of its students inenabling courses.

Overall in 2011, RUN contributed $2.1 billion ingross domestic product, $1.2 billion in householdincome and more than 14,000 full-time-equivalentjobs to the Australian economy.

RUN research focuses on pressing regional, national(and indeed global) concerns associated with foodand water security, climate change, social cohesion,health and wellbeing, environmental and resourcemanagement, and technology because these arethe realities confronting regional communities. It ispractical and urgent research, much of which wouldnot be undertaken without RUN universitiescontributions and provides a model for research inregional areas globally.

RUN universities are working with schools andTAFEs demonstrating commitment to working inpartnership at a community level for betterpathways and educational outcomes for students.RUN universities are also leaders in mature ageand professional education, educating peoplethroughout their lives, and contributing tochanging skills needs in the workplace.

Distance education can play a significant role in theprovisions of regional higher education. It diversifiesregional economies, runs counter to the cycles ofother regional industries (e.g. agriculture) andreduces pressure on infrastructure in capital cities.

The network is committed to strengthening itsinstitutions, their sustainability, engagement,performance and contribution to regional andnational development. It is working towards thesegoals in a variety of ways, and proposes furtherinitiatives to contribute to realising the full potentialof RUN universities and regional Australia.

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WHAT DO REGIONAL UNIVERSITIESDO FOR AUSTRALIA?

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RUN considers that the economic, social, culturaland environmental development of Australia willbe enhanced by further building human, social andcultural capital, employment, entrepreneurship,productivity and industry diversification withinAustralia’s regions. This will contribute towards anAustralia which is healthy and safe, sociallyculturally and economically prosperous withincreased productivity and innovation.

RUN contends that regional universities providethe most direct and cost-effective way of furtherharnessing talent, developing skills andcontributing to knowhow to our regions for thebenefit of all Australians. The institutions play a keyrole in fostering vibrant, diverse and resilient communities.

To further contribute to regional communities andraise the aspiration of students for tertiaryeducation, RUN universities must continue ascomprehensive teaching, learning and researchinstitutions. They should be sustainable andengaged. They must continue to give students achoice of qualifications across the broad spectrumof professional and other qualifications needed inregional Australia. Many students should stay inregional Australia for university qualifications andregional institutions need to offer them theopportunities they require.

Regional research investigating resource andenvironmental management, economicrejuvenation and development, communityintegration and service provision is the best meansof advancing knowledge, sharing insights andbuilding capability in the national interest.

A REGIONAL ACCORD

RUN universities are committed to enhancing theircapacity and sustainability and positioningthemselves for the future through greatercollaboration as a network of like-mindeduniversities.

In a national first for Australia, RUN is committing toa multi-lateral Accord which covers the following:

• making subjects available to students acrossthe RUN universities;

• collaborating to support improved policydevelopment for the regions;

• collaborating in research and research training,including in joint supervision of higher degreeby research students;

• collaboration in international activities;

• funding joint appointments;

• offering multi-badged degrees;

• formalising credit transfer arrangements forstudents between RUN universities;

• making internal staff vacancies andprofessional development activities availableto staff at other RUN universities; and

• consolidation of appropriate support functionsacross the RUN universities.

While RUN universities are investing to make thesegoals a reality, structural adjustment funding wouldfacilitate the consolidation of appropriate supportfunctions.

Other areas where RUN institutions are active butwhere further policy development and initiativeswould enhance performance are: regionaldevelopment; regional teaching and learningoutcomes; research; and attracting students toregional universities.

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CORE VALUES KEY POLICIES

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RUN calls for a new structural adjustmentfund to facilitate the consolidation ofappropriate support functions acrossregional universities.

Australia’s regional universities play a key role indeveloping regional economies, and contributingto the social, cultural and environmentaldevelopment of the regions.

Regional universities are important to any futureregional or industry development strategy.Economic diversification can take regional Australiainto new economy challenges including newservice industries, niche manufacturing, creativetechnology, sustainability, green jobs etc.

While the current approach to regionaldevelopment brings together various players in theregions, RUN calls for a new systematic strategythat puts regional universities at the centre offacilitating and strengthening regional economicdevelopment.

Such a strategy would sit outside the currentfunding arrangements for universities and regions.It would further facilitate bringing universitiestogether and engaging with local communitiesand industry to fund specific regional partnershipsor initiatives to diversify the economic base ofregional Australia, develop and maximise thecontribution of regional human capital, encourageinvestment and deploy technology and research.

Regional Development

RUN seeks the development of acomprehensive new strategy, theRegional Development and InnovationInitiative, that recognises the roleplayed by regional universities infacilitating and strengthening regionaleconomic development.

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Regional universities are recognised for humancapital development through the quality of theirteaching and learning outcomes as measured by arange of indicators including career enhancementand student satisfaction. RUN universities areamong the leaders in teaching to students withdiverse needs.

RUN teaching programs demonstrably meetregional needs, assist regional populations,engage with regional industries, and contribute toregional community wellbeing. Regional loading,paid to higher education providers in recognitionof the cost of providing places at regionalcampuses, is important in allowing regionaluniversities to effectively deliver higher educationin the regions.

The result is that 66% of those trained in regionaluniversities find employment in regional localities,thereby investing professional skills, qualificationsand knowhow to regional Australia. This outcomerepresents fundamental ‘value adding’ andcapacity building for the nation.

Such outcomes are possible only because regionaluniversities understand, are engaged with andrelate to regional communities. They havepioneered higher education access schemes thatenable low socio-economic status, regional orremote students, first-in-family, mature aged andIndigenous students to participate and succeed atuniversity. They provide programs with input fromlocal industries, consumers and communities thattarget local and regional skill needs. They areleaders in distance education.

Higher education at RUN universities transformslives. This is why RUN institutions are so focusedon judging ‘education quality’ on ‘outputs’ or‘outcomes’ that measure the end product oftertiary education programs rather than ‘inputs’that set eligibility criteria for entrance to university(such as ATAR scores which provide the basis onwhich most school leavers, but not the majority ofstudents, are admitted to university).

RUN supports collaboration among institutions inteaching and learning, particularly in areas wherethere is regional or national need (e.g. inmathematics, science and health), and where thecritical mass of students across two or moreregional universities provides greater efficienciesto offer courses of study. Through its Accord, RUNsupports making subjects available to studentsacross its universities, formalising credit transferarrangements for students between itsuniversities, and offering multi-badged degrees.

Further initiatives could enhance collaborativepartnerships between regional institutions acrossteaching and learning.

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Regional Teaching and Learning Outcomes

RUN proposes that the value of teachingand learning should be measured bymeeting agreed outcomes as a result ofeducation.

RUN calls for initiatives and incentives tofacilitate partnerships among regionaluniversities in teaching and learning,including in areas of national andregional need.

Building student numbers at regional universitiesincreases the human capital and economicproductivity of the regions and facilitates regionaldevelopment.

Many of RUN’s universities are significantlygrowing domestic student numbers. Newcampuses are expanding, and new courses tailoredfor regional needs in high demand areas such ashealth and engineering are being rolled out.

For many students, RUN universities represent theonly option for higher education. It is in thenational interest to get these students touniversity in the regions.

RUN supports further incentives to encourageregional students to study at regional universitiesand to potentially attract metropolitan students tothe institutions. Such policies would increase thepool of skilled professionals to work in regionalAustralia. They would also ease demand on keyinfrastructure, such as student accommodation.

RUN supports incentives to encourage students tostudy at regional universities, such as regionaluniversity scholarships and allowing HECS-HELPloans to cover regional accommodation costs.

Continuing to attract Indigenous students to RUNuniversities and increase participation will furtherbuild human capital in the regions. RUNuniversities support dedicated, universityscholarships for Indigenous students to attendregional universities.

Initiatives such as the Higher EducationParticipation and Partnerships Program are key toaspiration building for students in the regions.

Year 12 completions in regional Australia are 20%less than in capital cities. Lifting Year 12 completionrates will increase participation at regionaluniversities. Initiatives to target regional schoolsthrough linkages with regional universities assistin building human capital in the regions.

RUN supports the targeting of Year 12 students tolift the completion rate for university eligiblestudents.

Affordable and reliable high speed internet accessmust be available to students. Distance educationis a sophisticated service industry exported fromregional Australia to around the nation and morewidely. Some of RUN’s institutions pioneereddistance learning – in 2010 RUN institutionsdelivered courses to 34% of all distance students.

Students who engage in distance learning withregional providers contribute to regionaleconomies and national cohesiveness. Distanceeducation and blended/flexible learning are idealfor regional universities as it overcomes theobstacle of students having to relocate in order tostudy. From a national perspective, it has the effectof contributing directly to regional prosperitythrough the decentralisation of wealth. Theregulatory environment needs to promote ratherthan stifle innovation in online delivery.

Means-tested subsidies would keep students inonline learning and accessing the internet viareliable, high speed connections in an environmentwhich is rapidly developing and changing.

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Attracting Students to Regional Universities

RUN supports incentives to attractstudents, including urban students, toregional universities. This would includeregional university scholarships,including dedicated scholarships forIndigenous students, and allowing HECS-HELP loans to cover regionalaccommodation costs, making regionaluniversities more accessible to studentsand increasing the pool of human capitalin the regions.

RUN calls for the development of aRegional University – Regional HighSchool Partnership and Linkage initiativeto improve the Year 12 completion ratesfor university-eligible students inregional communities.

RUN supports initiatives to keep studentsonline and accessing the internet viareliable, high speed connections.

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RUN supports greater international studentenrolment in regional universities. Such studentsdiversify regional communities, and facilitate andenrich cultural development. They also providestudents in disciplines not necessarily in demandfrom domestic students who can potentially fillareas of skills shortage in the regions.

Increasing student engagement and exchangewith Asia has been proposed in the Government’s“Australia in the Asian Century” report, andannouncement of the AsiaBound scheme tofacilitate university study in Asia by Australianstudents. The Opposition has advocated a newColombo plan which would encourage two-waystudent-staff exchanges with the Asia-Pacific.

RUN calls for implementation of incentives toenhance international student recruitment toregional campuses and implementation ofprograms to facilitate university study by Australianstudents in Asia including:

• Providing additional bonus points tostudents towards Australian residencyfor attending regional campuses,particularly for those studying in areasof regional skills need;

• Extending the work rights ofinternational students who study innon-metropolitan locations (RUN, forexample, supports provision of an extrayear on completion of undergraduate orpost-graduate study);

• Providing work rights to students whohave completed a bachelors or mastersat a regional campus regardless of theduration of study.

• Implementation of a 21st century planfor the Asia-Pacific which would act toencourage two-way student and staffexchanges from regional Australianuniversities to Asia-Pacific universities.

RUN members are strategically engaged withresearch. Research is a key part of being a university– without this, many benefits would be lost toregional Australia. Research at RUN institutionsattracts quality academics, builds institutionalquality and capacity, including in teaching andlearning, is essential for the training of researchstudents, creates a pool of research-trainedprofessionals, and supports and contributes toregional industries and commercial activities. Itbuilds inter-regional, national and internationalknowledge and information networks. The impactof research undertaken by regional universities onthe regions is significant. It contributes regionalproductivity and innovation.

RUN universities are increasing their collaboration inresearch, including with the formation of a RegionalDevelopment Network across areas such as:> economic development;> enterprise and innovation;> environment and sustainability;> health and wellbeing;> social impacts and education.

RUN institutions are strategically growing theirresearch effort to maximise their contribution toresearch and innovation in regional Australia.Results from the Excellence in Research in Australia2012 assessment show that RUN universitiesundertake research of well above, above, and atworld standard in a range of fields of strategicimportance, including geochemistry, forestrysciences, crop and pasture production, agricultureand land management, zoology, biological sciences,mathematics, law, policy and administration,health and clinical science and human movement.

The universities are relatively young and theresearch effort is increasing significantly. Fundinginvested in research will be highly productive,focused and yield a high return.

RUN is therefore seeking the continuation ofprograms and new initiatives to build the researchand research training capacity of the networkuniversities. It is committed to continuing andstrengthening higher degree by research trainingat its universities to enhance innovation andresearch in regional Australia.

Research

RUN supports continuation of the Collaborative Research Networks program beyond 2015 tofurther build research capacity in our institutions and to enable them to undertake regionally,nationally and internationally relevant research and research training.

RUN calls for development of an impact measure of research and community engagement andsupports the further use of Excellence in Research for Australia results in the research blockgrants only with the inclusion of an impact measure.

RUN is committed to strengthening higher degree by research training in regional Australia.

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1. RUN calls for a new structural adjustment fundto facilitate consolidation of appropriatesupport functions across regional universities.

2. RUN seeks the development of acomprehensive new strategy, the RegionalDevelopment and Innovation Initiative, thatrecognises the role played by regionaluniversities in facilitating and strengtheningregional economic development.

3. RUN proposes that the value of teaching andlearning should be measured by meetingagreed outcomes as a result of education.

4. RUN calls for initiatives and incentives whichfacilitate partnerships among regionaluniversities in teaching and learning, includingin areas of national and regional need.

5. RUN supports incentives to attract students,including urban students, to regionaluniversities. This would include regionaluniversity scholarships, including dedicatedscholarships for Indigenous students, andallowing HECS- HELP loans to cover regionalaccommodation costs making regionaluniversities more accessible to students andincreasing the pool of human capital in theregions.

6. RUN calls for the development of a RegionalUniversity-Regional High School Partnershipand Linkage initiative to improve the Year 12completion rates for university-eligiblestudents in regional communities.

7. RUN supports initiatives to keep studentsonline and accessing the internet via reliable,high speed connections.

8. RUN calls for incentives to enhanceinternational student recruitment to regionaluniversities including:

• Providing bonus points to students towardsAustralian residency for attending regionalcampuses, particularly for those studying inareas of regional skills need;

• Extending the work rights of internationalstudents who study in non- metropolitanlocations (RUN, for example, supportsprovision of an extra year on completion ofundergraduate or post-graduate study);

• Providing work rights to students who havecompleted a bachelors or masters at aregional campus regardless of the durationof study;

• Implementation of a 21st century plan forthe Asia-Pacific which would act toencourage two-way student and staffexchanges from regional Australianuniversities to Asia-Pacific universities.

9. RUN supports continuation of the CollaborativeResearch Networks program beyond 2015 tofurther build research capacity in our institutionsand to enable them to undertake regionallyrelevant research and research training.

10. RUN calls for development of an impactmeasure of research and communityengagement and supports the further use ofExcellence in Research for Australia results inthe research block grants only with theinclusion of an impact measure.

11. RUN is committed to strengthening higherdegree by research training in regionalAustralia.

SMARTER REGIONS, SMARTER AUSTRALIA

Regional development, quality teaching and learning as measured by outputs, enhancement of the researcheffort and increased student recruitment to regional institutions are key policy themes advocated by RUN.Adoption of RUN policies will build regional strength for national success.

The Policy Plan is: