VC’S CORNER
campusreview.com.au
ENGAGEMENT WITH INDUSTRY
If universities focus too strongly on the
pursuit of excellence, as measured through
self-reinforcing esteem indicators, this
creates a disincentive to genuinely engage
with industry and produce applied research
with practical benefit, or research that
delivers a public good.
Many universities become averse
to taking research to the next step of
intellectual property development because
it risks limiting publication and other
traditional measures of success. But I would
argue that, instead, universities need an
inclusive approach that recognises the
value of industry-engaged research that
benefits the entire community. At CSU,
for example, we currently derive a third of
our external research funding from direct
partnerships with industry, which is double
the sector average.
We have a responsibility to ensure our
research meets the genuine needs of
our regions, the nation and its industries.
CSU supports the federal government’s
efforts to ensure the next generation of
researchers undertake their studies in
an environment where there is active
collaboration between universities, local
communities and industries.
To do this, we should firstly better align
competitive grants with industry needs
through increased industry representation
in assessment and review. There is also the
opportunity to broaden the Rural Research
and Development Corporation model of
co-funding to other sectors. In this model,
industry has a say in guiding research
priorities and directing public investment to
priority areas.
Equally important is encouraging people
working in industry to engage with Higher
Degrees by Research programs and
supporting entrepreneurial skills for all
students. People are already keenly aware of
their industry’s challenges and will apply that
approach in research. They are also more
likely to apply the entrepreneurial skills that
can successfully commercialise research.
THE BENEFITS OF CO-LOCATION
The aforementioned government report
also revealed that co-location of research
activity with regional industry practitioners
and stakeholders through regional
university campuses is a strong driver
of regional business innovation. This is
certainly an approach CSU is looking to
embrace and expand upon.
In 2015, CSU announced a proposal
to develop an AgriSciences Research
and Business Park on our Wagga Wagga
campus. This aims to create an environment
for meaningful collaboration between the
agriculture industry, CSU staff and students,
and the wider regional, agricultural and
agriscience-based communities.
The park supports knowledge transfer
and innovation, drawing on the research
and development capabilities and facilities
the university and future tenants offer. It is
our ambition that it will help close the gap
between research discovery and the real
world impact of a knowledge economy.
The park will also help enhance students’
skills and knowledge through workplace
learning experiences and facilitate
continued professional development for
its industry employees, as well as driving
regional economic growth and expanding
employment opportunities for the Wagga
Wagga community.
PROVIDING OPPORTUNITY
Regional universities play a unique role
in providing opportunity to students and
researchers who otherwise might not have
the chance to attend university or pursue
further studies.
CSU has long been focused on improving
the educational outcomes and lives of
Indigenous, regional, rural and remote
Australians. Our Indigenous Education
Strategy has been underway since 2009
and we are pleased to have one of the
highest proportions of Indigenous students
of any Australian university, at 2.8 per cent
of our total population.
This strategy guide is crucial for the
university and addresses the key areas
affecting Indigenous education, including
student access, participation, retention and
success, human resources, teaching and
learning, Indigenous research, community
engagement and governance.
As a result, I can say CSU has been
at the top of the sector for Indigenous
enrolments – first in 2013 data and second
in 2014. Even more important than our
Indigenous enrolments are our completion
and graduation numbers, which indicate
students are getting the support and
teaching they need. In 2014, the univerisity
was pleased to have 144 Indigenous
graduates. In 2015, we also awarded a PhD
to Wiradjuri elder Yalmambira and our first
cohort completed the Graduate Certificate
of Wiradjuri Language, Culture and Heritage.
SKILLING REGIONAL WORKFORCES
Regional universities’ key challenge
is to provide courses that meet the
needs and desires of their communities
and the skills required to make those
communities thrive economically, socially
and environmentally.
This role in providing a skilled regional
workforce should not be underestimated,
particularly when it comes to critical
infrastructure and service provision. It will
be no surprise to hear that CSU’s course
priorities are closely aligned to the needs of
rural Australia and the demands of students
in our key locations, from Wangaratta in
north-east Victoria to Port Macquarie on
the NSW mid-North Coast.
This has driven our recent focus on
healthcare and is the reasoning behind CSU
and La Trobe University jointly establishing
the Murray Darling Medical School initiative,
to provide a solution to the shortage of
doctors in rural and regional New South
Wales and Victoria.
Universities such as CSU and La Trobe
have consistently demonstrated their ability
to get 75–85 per cent of health graduates
to enter employment in rural and regional
locations. This stands in stark contrast to
the fact that 84.5 per cent of graduating
domestic medical students, who are
studying in urban-based universities, report
a preference for working in a major city.
As outlined in the Medical Deans of
Australia and New Zealand Medical Schoo