Chapter 1 Research training in Australian universities – an Interim Report
Introduction
1.1
Planning for the Australian Government’s 2009-2010 Federal Budget is
currently underway. The committee has decided to release this interim report so
that particular recommendations arising from the inquiry may be considered for
that Budget period.
1.2
The committee will prepare a full report with further recommendations in
due course.
1.3
Some of the major issues raised during the inquiry included:
n Increased funding is
needed for research and development;
n Funding is needed for
the full cost of research;
n Financial support for
postgraduate students is inadequate; and
n Career pathways for
researchers are limited.
1.4
This report simply outlines some of the key recommendations for the Australian
Government’s consideration. The committee’s final and more comprehensive report
will feature full discussion of the issues and arguments raised throughout the
submissions made to the inquiry and the evidence gathered during the
committee’s series of public hearings.
National funding for research and development
Recommendation 1
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The committee recommends that the Australian Government
increase funding for research and development by raising incrementally the
Gross Expenditure on Research and Development as a percentage of Gross
Domestic Product over a ten year period until it equals the Organisation for
Economic Cooperation and Development average.
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Full cost of research to be funded in a timely manner
Recommendation 2
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n the
provision and maintenance of a minimum standard of supervision,
infrastructure and resources;
n expenses
associated with supporting national and international mobility of Australian
PhD students; and
n the
removal of the high cost/low cost funding differential that currently exists
between research disciplines, subject to interim arrangements to ensure that
no discipline is disadvantaged.
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Recommendation 3
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The committee recommends that research training funding be
allocated, partially prospectively, to institutions according to a staggered
formula: 30 per cent on enrolment, 20 per cent at a specified benchmark and
50 per cent on conferral.
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Research Training Scheme
Recommendation 4
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The committee recommends that the Australian Government
apply a weighting to research training funds for regional universities and
regional campuses of metropolitan universities, taking into account the
additional burden of travel and accommodation, and the capacity of regional
universities to support a researcher’s career path.
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Recommendation 5
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The committee recommends that the Australian Government
introduce a National Priority Postgraduate Research Scholarship Scheme that
provides competitive stipends to outstanding students in areas of national
significance and skills shortage.
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Recommendation 6
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The committee recommends that the Australian Government
apply a weighting to research training funds for universities that increase
higher degree by research completions by minority or under-represented
students.
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Research grant programs (Australian Research Council and National Health
and Medical Research Council)
Recommendation 7
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The committee recommends that the Australian Government double
the funding pool for Australian Research Council and National Health and
Medical Research Council grants to enable a 40 per cent success rate for
applicants.
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Recommendation 8
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The committee recommends that the Australian Government
specify that National Health and Medical Research Council grants fund the
full cost of research in the program to which it has been allocated.
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The Australian PhD
Period of candidature
Recommendation 9
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The committee recommends that the Australian PhD candidature
period be extended to three and a half years (full time equivalent), with the
possibility of two six-month extensions.
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Recommendation 10
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The committee recommends that the Australian PhD candidature
be nominally extended beyond thesis submission until degree conferral.
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Scholarships and awards
Duration
Recommendation 11
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Commensurate with an extension in the period of PhD
candidature, the committee recommends that the duration of all federal
postgraduate awards with stipends for PhD students be increased to three and
a half years (full time equivalent) with the option of two six-month extensions.
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Rate
Recommendation 12
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The committee recommends that stipend rates for all
federally funded postgraduate awards be increased by 50 per cent.
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Indexation
Recommendation 13
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The committee recommends that stipends for all federally
funded postgraduate awards be fully indexed with CPI.
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Post-submission scholarships
Recommendation 14
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The committee recommends that all federally funded postgraduate
awards feature an additional scholarship period for students, covering the
period between thesis submission and degree conferral, thereby providing
income support to students so that they may publish papers, prepare grant
applications and complete generic skills training.
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Flexibility
Recommendation 15
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The committee recommends that federally funded scholarship
and award guidelines be amended to give award recipients greater flexibility
in studying part time.
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Tax
Recommendation 16
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The committee recommends that all scholarships and awards be
exempt from assessable income for taxation and income support purposes
including, importantly, part time awards.
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Additional income support
Recommendation 17
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The committee recommends that the Australian Government work
with State Governments to support postgraduate students through the reduction
of certain living expenses, in particular, through the provision of
concessions for public transport travel. Access to transport concessions
should be made available to all full time students, regardless of type of
enrolment or the level of course in which they are enrolled.
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International students
Recommendation 18
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The committee recommends that the Australian Government
review, rationalise and simplify the suite of international student
scholarship programs, thereby improving accessibility and international
competitiveness of the programs, while recognising that Australian students
must remain our priority.
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Recommendation 19
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The committee recommends that the Australian Government
double the number of International Postgraduate Research Scholarships to
reflect the growth in the international student cohort.
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Recommendation 20
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The committee recommends that the Australian Government
increase the value of International Postgraduate Research Scholarships so
that each award fully funds living and research training costs for
international students.
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Recommendation 21
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The committee recommends that visa conditions for
international postgraduates be amended to allow greater flexibility and
opportunity, especially in cases where those students conclude a course of
study in Australia.
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Industry links with research training
Recommendation 22
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The committee recommends that the Australian Government
retain the Commercialisation Training Scheme for a minimum of three years,
and conduct a review of the effectiveness of that scheme during the latter
part of that period.
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Recommendation 23
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The committee recommends that the Australian Government
develop and implement an additional industry partnership program, modelled on
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, that will further facilitate connection
between business and research institutions.
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Recommendation 24
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The committee recommends that the Australian Government
waive Fringe Benefits Tax incurred by businesses or institutions that employ
staff undertaking higher degrees by research.
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Maria Vamvakinou MP
Committee Chair
October 2008
Statement by the Deputy Chair
1.5
Opposition Members supported the Chair’s wish to publish an interim
report in order to bring forward recommendations that have budget implications.
We therefore support recommendations 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 21.
We do not believe that other recommendations needed to be included in an
interim report until a full committee discussion has taken place.
1.6
This is a vital report and deserves the scrutiny of the full committee.
It is disappointing that the Government members (some of whom had never
attended a public hearing outside Parliament House) insisted on voting on party
lines on a day when neither the Chair nor the Deputy Chair could be present.
This is not in the spirit of the long-held tradition of the Standing Committee
being a Committee of the Parliament and not a rubber stamp of the Government of
the day.
1.7
The issues being reviewed and analysed by the committee are vital to the
future success of Australia’s role in innovation and research and we regard it
as imperative that there should have been an opportunity for at least one
discussion by the full committee. There has been no committee meeting held to
discuss these recommendations.
1.8
Recommendations 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23 and 24 have
been included in the interim report in haste and deserve a more thorough
analysis. It is for these reasons that Opposition members reserve their right
to further review these recommendations and do not believe that with such
limited discussion and lack of scrutiny by the committee that they should be
included in this “interim” report.
Hon Fran Bailey MP
Deputy Chair
October 2008