Welcome Reforms for Research Education

The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) welcomes the release today of an Interim Report from the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Innovation on the Inquiry into Research Training and Research Workforce Issues in Australian Universities.

“We certainly applaud recommendations included in the Interim Report: these represent the right kind of vision if we are to sustain our capacity for teaching and research into the future. Reform in the area of research education and research workforce planning is long overdue. We commend the Committee on their commitment to an inclusive view of the challenges faced in this area,” CAPA President, Nigel Palmer said.

Long overdue reforms to the Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) scheme feature prominently in the report, including an increase for all federally funded postgraduate awards by 50%, indexed to CPI. Other important reforms include extending the duration of APA, and support for PhD candidates in between submission and conferral of their PhD.

Funding for minimum standards of supervision, infrastructure and resources feature in the Interim Report, along with a range of recommendations for adequate investment in supporting quality in research education.

Improvements for international research students also feature in the report, including a doubling of the number of International Postgraduate Research Scholarships (IPRS), and full funding for the living allowance and research training costs associated with each IPRS by the Commonwealth. International students will also welcome the call for the Commonwealth to work with the States in allowing access to transport concessions for all full time students, regardless of the type of enrolment or level of course in which they are enrolled.

“The Committee has made some very innovative recommendations for improvements in research education. These include, importantly, positive equity measures in support of research candidates. Exempting part time awards from assessable income for taxation and income support purposes is an important first step, as is allowing candidates greater flexibility in going part time. Notable also are calls for weighted funding not only for regional universities and campuses, but also for institutions who support research degree completions among minority and under-represented groups. Such measures are notable in that they are the first serious attempt to introduce equity measures in the area of research education, and the Committee should certainly be commended for this.

“We are optimistic that the Federal Government will seize on the opportunities outlined in the Interim Report, and capitalise on the efforts of the House of Reps. Committee in moving ahead on a range of important reforms.” CAPA President, Nigel Palmer concluded.