Postgrads and Mid-Career Researchers Top Agenda in ALP Launch

The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) has applauded higher education policy announcements by the ALP today. “The higher education sector needs a long term vision to reverse 11 years of neglect. All of the opposition parties have now made pubic investment in education a priority. The ALP have confirmed the link between education, equity, opportunity and long term prosperity in Australia” CAPA President, Nigel Palmer said.

Clear highlights today were ALP announcements on doubling the number of postgraduate scholarships, and the introduction of new fellowships for mid-career researchers. “Doubling the number of scholarships to nearly 10,000 and introducing 1,000 new fellowships for mid-career researchers clearly indicates commitment to a long term vision for higher education, and supporting the next generation of researchers is one of the best places to start.”

Details released today include:

• Under Scholarships for a Competitive Future, an increase in the number of Australian Postgraduate Awards (APA’s) offered to commencing research students from 1,580 awards in 2008 to 3,500 in 2012. This would effectively double the number of research students in receipt of a scholarship by 2012.

• Under a new Future Fellowships program, 1,000 four-year Fellowships for mid-career researchers valued at $140,000 per year, with an associated $50,000 project and infrastructure grant to go to the institution for the duration of the Fellowship.

“CAPA applauds Labor for recognising today’s postgraduates as central to Australia’s future. Clearly the ALP is adopting a long term view in building a foundation for their “Education Revolution”. We look forward to further announcements on aspects of a sustainable higher education sector, including a sustainable model for sector funding and improvements in quality and equity in higher education” Nigel Palmer concluded.

Further background on CAPA's 2007 election priorities is available at www.capa.edu.au/election-2007. A link to further details on the ALP announcements and a .pdf version of this release are also available.