Research Education and Research Workforce Issues 2010

 

Research Workforce Strategy

The Federal Government's Research Workforce Strategy represents and integrated approach to tackling some of the key sustainability issues facing Higher Education in Australia.  Key aspects of the strategy are outlined below:

 
  • The strategy will look ahead to 2020 and will ensure that Australia is able to meet expected shortfalls in the supply of research qualified people. The strategy will also address concerns regarding the lack of clear career paths for research students and the adequacy of the research training system to effectively prepare them for varied career outcomes.
  • Three subgroups of the Reference Group have additionally been established to support a detailed examination and understanding of issues in key areas:
    • Employer Demand
    • Research Training Experience
    • Research Career Pathways
  • Work on the strategy is expected to be completed by the second half of 2010.

Full details are available from DIISR's Research Workforce Issues Page. 

 

Background 

 

2009-10 Federal Budget Announcements

The 2009-10 Federal Budget announcements included several measures relevant to Australia's research and innovation capacity.  The announcements were outlined in Powering Ideas: An Innovation Agenda for the 21st Century, which was also the Federal Government's White Paper response to the Innovation Review final report.

2008-09 Inquiry Reports and Responses

On Friday 24 October 2008, the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Innovation, tabled its interim report on the inquiry into research training and research workforce issues in Australian universities.  On Monday, 1 December 2008, the Committee tabled its final report on the Inquiry: Building Australia's Research Capacity. 

2008 House of Representatives Inquiry into Research Training and Research Workforce Issues in Australian Universities

On 23 April 2008 the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator the Hon Kim Carr, referred terms of reference to the House of Representatives for an inquiry into research training and research workforce issues in Australian universities.  The Inquiry coincided with the Federal Government's Review of the National Innovation System.