The Group of Eight

At the recent Berlin meeting of the Global Research-Intensive Universities Network (GRIUN), which represents 168 top globally ranked universities from Australia, the European Union, United Kingdom, United States, Japan and Canada, the group jointly called for collaboration on shared global challenges. The Berlin Statement is a call to their Governments to work with them to ensure we can realise the full potential of the distinctive research, innovation, and partnerships our universities offer. Below are the principles reaffirmed in the Statement. Read the full Berlin Statement here: https://lnkd.in/gBn6r5RK The Group of Eight and our global network partners have consistently supported society through conflicts, health emergencies, and economic and social disruptions and we will continue to do so. Our collective expertise and resources are vital to this and to find solutions to global challenges. Our strength is our research intensity. Vicki Thomson Matthew Brown Association of American Universities (AAU) German U15 League of European Research Universities (LERU) Russell Group of Universities U15 Canada

From the Globe Lawn to the Village Green and down to the Roundhouse, UNSW was cheering "Keep the fire burning! Blak, Loud & Proud,” this NAIDOC Week. We kicked off with a Welcome to Country before the annual touch football game between The Kensington Colleges (TKC) and Nura Gili, and followed up with dance performances, art and weaving workshops, market stalls and student performances, along with a panel discussion of First Nations leaders Adam Goodes, Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts and Renee Wootton. The event was rounded-out with performances from students, Mitch Tambo, Zipporah Corser-Anu and Christine Anu 🥳

Horizon Europe – the world largest research fund at A$150 billion – has been back in the news with Canada being the latest non-EU country to sign up and recent discussion around Australia choosing not to last year. One of our three recommendations in The Group of Eight submission to the Senate Inquiry into the Understanding & Utilisation of Benefits Under Free Trade Agreements was that the Senate Committee recommends that the Government seek to engage with the European Union on Horizon Europe as a matter of urgency. In May we had a chat with the EU’s Ambassador to Australia, H.E. Gabriele Visentin for our Debate@Go8 podcast series. Horizon Europe was one of the hot topics of that discussion. In this clip from the episode, Go8 CE Vicki Thomson says that Australia is “dragging the chain” on Horizon Europe and the extra research funding it would provide to Australia. Watch the full Debate@Go8 episode with the EU Ambassador to Australia here: https://lnkd.in/d3X3pKNG Read the Go8 Submission to the Senate Inquiry into the Understanding & Utilisation of Benefits Under Free Trade Agreements here: https://lnkd.in/gec9HwSn Matthew Brown European External Action Service Ed Husic MP Steve Georganas Scott Buchholz MP U15 Canada #HorizonEurope #researchcollaboration

The Age reports that research commissioned by the University of Melbourne and Monash University has found if there were 30,000 fewer foreign enrolments at the state’s eight public universities it could cost the state $5.9 billion and at least 12,000 jobs by 2027. The analysis, carried out by SPP Consulting, estimated that every international student in Victoria generates an additional $44,000 in benefits to the state on top of their university fees. University of Melbourne Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Michael Wesley said Victorian public universities contributed $6.7 billion to the state’s gross domestic product in 2023. “The potential loss of income from the proposed caps will place an additional burden on our federal budget, which will in turn impact our state’s budget, and our ability to fund important services and infrastructure for all students,” he said. “Capping international students will deprive the sector of revenue and thereby undermine life-saving medical research. We depend on a flow of brilliant international students for this vital research to be funded and delivered,” Monash University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Craig Jeffrey said. Read the SPP report here: https://lnkd.in/gWEa8Kbx https://lnkd.in/gJ64a-gU Matthew Brown The Group of Eight Professor Duncan Maskell Sharon Pickering Professor Doron Ben-Meir Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Business Council of Australia Caroline Schelle #internationalstudents #internationaleducation

It's 25 years since the Australia’s leading research-intensive universities started working together on public advocacy through The Group of Eight. That advocacy work includes explaining to the Australian public the value to society of the research our universities undertake. Here, Professor Ian Young, AO, Go8 Chair 2014-15, VC of The Australian National University 2011-16 and now Kernot Professor of Engineering at the University of Melbourne, tells us that although it seems that the community holds universities and researchers in high regard, that’s not backed by the politicians they elect with adequate funding for university research. Vicki Thomson Professor Duncan Maskell University of Adelaide Monash University UNSW The University of Queensland University of Sydney The University of Western Australia

We are proud to announce the launch of the Mankurriapinthi (Bring Together) Strategic Plan for 2024-2025, an initiative dedicated to enhancing access, participation, and success for First Nations students and staff at the University ❤️💛🖤 NAIDOC Week, a time to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, is the ideal moment to unveil this strategic plan. The Mankurriapinthi Plan aims to honour and amplify First Nations voices, ensuring that Indigenous knowledge, culture, research, and achievements are recognised and celebrated. Find out more about the strategy here 👉🏼 https://lnkd.in/g-nBiQkp #NAIDOC2024 #BlakLoudProud #NAIDOCWeek #NAIDOC #IndigenousAustralia #CelebrateCulture #WirltuYarlu Wirltu Yarlu Aboriginal Education - The University of Adelaide

Senior Director, Research Missions and Impact Dr Matthew French says it's time for us to re-examine how Australian universities can work together to explore new models of collaboration that can lead to all the ‘moonshot’ solutions the world now desperately needs. Read more 📖: http://mona.sh/NLSE50SzjTr #MonashUni

In our submission to the Senate Inquiry into the Understanding and Utilisation of Benefits Under Free Trade Agreements, The Group of Eight says that whilst the primary domain of FTA’s remain largely services based and transactional, they are also increasingly important in signaling our values and strategic alignment, boosting innovation and outlining aspirations for longer term relationship development. The Group of Eight has made the following three recommendations to the Senate Committee: 1.      That an Innovation Chapter (as was included in the Australia-UK FTA) be included as standard in all new FTAs and included during the refresh processes of existing FTAs. 2.      That the Go8 be consulted early in the development of new and revised Agreements, to advise on how Australia’s leading research capacity can be leveraged in the development and strengthening of critical relationships. 3.      The Go8 urges the Committee to recommend that the Government seek to engage with the EU on Horizon Europe as a matter of urgency.   Go8 universities have extensive global connections, through research and academic collaborations and partnerships, often of long-standing duration. These connections support the nation to be engaged and active in global knowledge trade routes and shape and develop the next generation of thought leaders, all of which makes a significant contribution to the economy and the intellectual and knowledge capacity of our nation. Read the Go8 Submission to the Senate Inquiry into the Understanding and Utilisation of Benefits Under Free Trade Agreements here: https://lnkd.in/gec9HwSn Vicki Thomson Matthew Brown Steve Georganas Scott Buchholz MP Don Farrell Tim Dodd Julie Hare Daniella White Caitlin Cassidy Conor Duffy

In an op-ed in The Sydney Morning Herald, Business Council of Australia CEO Bran Black says that Australia needs to "stop fishing for red herrings and start fixing the real issues" – and he points to the current international education debate as a case in point. “Another red herring that’s been slapped on the Australian table is international students – supposedly driving our housing crisis,” he says, “Students make up about 4 per cent of the rental market (and, to a large degree, it’s the studio apartment market they’re interested in). Student visas are almost back to 2019 levels – a 36 per cent drop since the post-COVID influx last year”. The Group of Eight says The Government is making a critical mistake by using international students as a scapegoat to manage a short-term spike in migration and ease housing pressure. Read the op-ed here: https://lnkd.in/gG6YR6gi Vicki Thomson Matthew Brown International Education Association of Australia (IEAA) #internationeducation #internationalstudents

It is inexplicable that Australia would not - at the least - consider a preliminary discussion about the benefits of joining Horizon Europe - the world's largest research fund. Canada signed up last week, joining Japan and New Zealand to name but a few. As reported in The Australian by Tim Dodd it's a no from Government with a spokesperson quoted as saying: "Australia already has a strong existing relationship with Horizon Europe, we have no plans to reconsider associating.” As European Australian Business Council (EABC) CE Jason Collins notes - "A discussion which doesn’t necessarily commit to an outcome is the way forward." At a time when it has never been more important to align with our global research partners it is a significant missed opportunity. The Group of Eight The Australian Academy of Science Gabriele Visentin Horizon Europe Chad Gaffield German U15 U15 Canada Russell Group of Universities League of European Research Universities (LERU) https://lnkd.in/gPvnpEtb