SCU boss backs universities' national education policy
SOUTHERN Cross University Vice Chancellor Peter Lee has spoken out in favour of a new education policy campaign by the nation's peak universities body.
Universities Australia has today released an education policy agenda, called "A Smarter Australia" along with a list of pointers for whoever wins government at the Federal election in September.
Prof Lee said Australia remained one of the poorest-performing countries in the OECD when it came to investment in universities, despite recent increases in government funding.
"While there has been an increase in the level of investment made in recent years, Australia remains in the bottom 20 per cent of OECD countries for public investment in universities," he said.
Prof Lee said the US and the UK were also turning their attention to its tertiary training sector, and wanted to expand their "international education industries".
"This is the university sector's first ever comprehensive policy agenda and is the culmination of 12 months' work, including extensive research which found very high levels of support for Australian universities amongst the public, community and business sectors," Professor Lee said.
"In our own case, Southern Cross University is a major contributor through the graduates we produce, and through the engaged teaching and research we conduct in partnership with our own communities."
'A Smarter Australia' and a five-point election manifesto 'Advice for an incoming government' are available at the Universities Australia website.
