The Department is examining research workforce issues such as the need to meet the impact of an ageing academic workforce and wider workforce demands for people with higher degree by research (HDR) qualifications. As an initial piece of work, in May 2009, the Department has commissioned a research study on the “Future supply of and demand for higher degree by research (HDR) qualifications”.

The final report of this study is now available. The report presents a snapshot of Australia’s current HDR supply and its characteristics as well as projected supply and demand of HDR qualifications between now and 2020. The findings of the report will inform further analysis of research workforce issues in Australia.

The Australian Government’s response to Building Australia’s Research Capacity – the final report of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Innovation inquiry into research training and research workforce issues in Australian universities – was tabled on 17 September 2009.

The report included 38 recommendations across a wide range of issues relating to Australia’s research workforce. The issues the recommendations address include the role of education in promoting Australia’s research capacity, funding and support arrangements for research students and research career pathways.

The digital economy is the global network of economic and social activities that are enabled by platforms such as the internet, mobile and sensor networks. A successful digital economy is essential for Australia’s economic growth and our ability to maintain our international standing. It offers new opportunities for businesses to a larger, potentially global, audience and for individuals to connect and collaborate.

The Australian Government released the Australia’s Digital Economy: Future Directions paper on 14 July 2009 which outlines:

why the digital economy is important for Australia
the current state of digital economy engagement in Australia and why current metrics point to a need for strategic action
the elements of a successful digital economy
the role for the Government in developing Australia’s digital economy, and
case studies of Australians who have successfully engaged with the digital economy from a diversity of industries including content, e-health, maps, banking, education, smart technology and citizen journalism.
Advancing Australia’s digital economy requires action by government, industry and the community. The Australia’s Digital Economy: Future Directions paper identifies the key areas of focus to maximise the benefit of the digital economy for all Australians. For background on the development of this paper, please see the Future Directions of the Digital Economy page.

Structure of the paper
The Australia’s Digital Economy: Future Directions paper is published in two versions:

Snapshot (35 pages): this provides an overview of the key areas of focus for government, industry and the community and a summary of some of the case studies.
Final report (104 pages): this provides more detailed discussion of government and industry initiatives and an in–depth look at 12 case studies which showcases examples of Australians successfully engaging with the digital economy.

On 27 February 2008 the Committee received the Terms of Reference for the Inquiry into Improving Access to Victorian Public Sector Information and Data from the Legislative Assembly. The Terms of Reference required the Committee to examine a range of issues surrounding the application of open content and open source licensing to improve access to Victorian government information and data.

The Committee tabled the FINAL REPORT of the Inquiry in the Parliament of Victoria on 24 June 2009. The final report can be downloaded here. Copies of the report can also be requested from the Committee secretariat.

This paper builds on investigations and policy work undertaken throughout 2008.
It responds to the recommendations of Venturous Australia — Building Strength in Innovation: Review of the National Innovation System.
It draws on Collaborating to a Purpose: Review of the Cooperative Research Centres Program; Building Innovative Capability: Review of the Australian Textile, Clothing and Footwear Industries; the Final Report of the Review of Australia’s Automotive Industry; the Final Report of the Pharmaceuticals Industry Strategy Group; the Final Report of the Review of Australian Higher Education; and the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Innovation’s Inquiry into Research Training and Research Workforce Issues in Australian Universities, Building Australia’s Research Capacity.
It is also informed by the conclusions of the Australia 2020 Summit held in April last year, as outlined in the summit’s Final Report.

The Minister released the Expert Panel’s final report on 17 December 2008. The report can be accessed below in the following formats:

Final Report in one document (PDF 2.55MB)
Executive summary, Recommendations and Findings only (PDF 182KB)
Final Report in four parts:
Part A – Title page to Chapter 2 (PDF 383KB)
Part B – Chapter 3 (PDF 1.2MB)
Part C – Chapter 4 (PDF 784KB)
Part D – Acronyms to Index (PDF 445KB)

Report on research issues in Australian universities tabled

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Innovation has completed its inquiry into research training and research workforce issues in Australian universities. The associated report, ‘Building Australia’s Research Capacity,’ was tabled on 1 December 2008 and highlights three key issues:

the importance of primary and secondary education, particularly in the fields of maths and sciences, to prepare potential researchers for further education at the tertiary level;
the need for greater collaboration between universities and research institutes, schools and industry more broadly; and
the inadequacy of current funding for research training and research careers.

The report makes 38 recommendations aimed to address these and related issues.

source: IPRIA

Research infrastructure can range from institutional or local level investments in an individual piece of equipment through to landmark infrastructure investments with long time frames and major national and international impact. While smaller infrastructure investments can be pursued by a single institution or partnership, larger investments with national implications benefit from a more strategic and
collaborative approach. This Roadmap focuses primarily on describing Australia’s major national and systemic infrastructure investment priorities and on arrangements for the assessment and implementation
of landmark infrastructure projects.

The report, ‘Stepping Higher: Workforce development through employer-higher education partnership’ was produced jointly by the CBI, Universities UK and HEFCE. It highlights the contribution that higher education can make to workforce development through 13 case studies that explore the challenges and benefits of collaboration between higher education and employers, whether from business and industry or from the public and not-for-profit sectors.

Drawing on the case studies, together with the findings of a recent CBI/Edexcel survey of employers, the report makes recommendations for employers, higher education institutions and Government to improve partnerships and deliver benefits both for employers and for higher education.

The study shows how higher education is changing to be more responsive to employers’ needs – through increased flexibility of courses and involvement of employers in curriculum development. It also highlights that there are still barriers to greater collaboration. Not all employers have an up-to-date understanding of what higher education can offer their existing workforce, and higher education needs to make it easier for employers to understand how to work with them. The report also identifies 12 key themes that appear in successful employer engagement activity.

Stepping Higher: Workforce development through employer-higher education partnership