The first steps in generational reforms to the nation’s higher education sector did not include action on research funding, despite R&D investment in Australia this year continuing a long-term slide to its lowest levels in decades, frustrating research groups on Wednesday.
Big changes to research, including funding, governance and sustainability will be considered for the final Universities Accord report, but it did not make the cut for an interim report released Wednesday.
The interim report unveiled by Education minister Jason Clare had five key recommendations for improving access, overall funding certainty and governance.
Mr Clare said the government had accepted all five, but wants further debate on around 70 more proposal being considered for the final version – including some “big spiky ideas”.
The second phase will consider the development of “a funding mechanism that explicitly recognises the importance of research, innovation and scholarship”, while a levy on international students has also been floated. The levy could be used to fund research and infrastructure while building a buffer for future shocks.
“[I want] a real debate here,” Clare said. “I want to build consensus for reform amongst universities, unions, business [and] students – everybody that’s got a stake in this.
“The opportunity we have now between July and December is to have a genuine, good constructive debate about these ideas.”
Parts of the sector were frustrated with another call for consultation after warning for years about the approaching research funding “crisis”.
This year, Commonwealth spending on research and development as a proportion of GDP is expected to be the lowest on record. Australia’s overall expenditure as a proportion of GDP has fallen to 1.79 per cent – below the OECD average and well behind global leaders.
The Albanese Government committed to raising the overall figure to “closer to three per cent of GDP” and has carried on the Coalition’s $2 billion research commercialisation package.
But it has not made any significant increases through new policies after two budgets.
The Accord process heard calls for an overhaul of research funding and warnings the current approach is unsustainable for universities.
But Wednesday’s report represented another missed opportunity, Science and Technology Australia chief executive Mischa Schubert said.
“The Accord’s interim report has spectacularly missed the mark on research investment. That’s an epic fail,” she said.
“It squibs a once-in-a-generation chance to set our nation on the path to prosperity by stepping up our investment in being first to bold breakthroughs. The final report must fix this fatal flaw.”
Ms Schubert, whose group represents around 115,000 scientists and technologists, said the final report should enshrine a commitment to a three per cent of GDP target and funding must flow from the next budget cycle.
“The report poses more questions than it attempts to answer. And waiting six months for the final report means any funding measures recommended will miss the cut-off for inclusion in the next Federal Budget.”
The Group of Eight, representing research heavy universities, issued a statement saying it is continuing to review the interim report but will also be advocating for major reforms to research funding to be in the final report.
“This will give universities certainty in research and research infrastructure investments, boost our global reputation for research excellence and help Australia retain and attract the world’s best and brightest,” it said.
