Prime Highlights
- Australia launched the 2050 Alliance to expand tertiary education access.
- The group supports the target of 80% tertiary qualifications by 2050.
Key Facts
- Nine universities are part of the newly formed 2050 Alliance.
- The member institutions educate over 285,000 students nationwide.
Background
Nine Australian universities have launched the 2050 Alliance, a new higher education group aimed at supporting the Federal Government’s target of ensuring 80 per cent of working-age Australians hold a tertiary qualification by 2050. The alliance was launched in the last week of May by Education Minister Jason Clare.
The new group replaces the Innovative Research Universities (IRU) organisation and plans to act as both a policy voice and reform partner during a period of major changes in Australia’s higher education sector following the Universities Accord process.
The founding members include Australian Catholic University, Flinders University, Griffith University, James Cook University, La Trobe University, Murdoch University, University of Canberra, Victoria University and Western Sydney University. Together, the institutions educate more than 285,000 students across over 65 campuses nationwide.
The Alliance will focus on improving higher education participation among students from outer suburban, regional and under-represented communities. Discussions around the Accord reforms, including the creation of the Australian Tertiary Education Commission, have increased pressure on universities to improve access and student outcomes.
Jason Clare stated that the Alliance would help expand university participation in regional and outer suburban areas, where access to higher education remains lower. The Alliance also estimated that achieving the 2050 qualification target could add AUD 240 billion to the Australian economy.
2050 Alliance Chair George Williams described the current phase as the biggest transformation in higher education since the 1980s. He stated that universities must work together to support public welfare, productivity growth and equal opportunities.
Chief Executive Officer Paul Harris said the Alliance was already working with the Australian Tertiary Education Commission to support a larger and fairer university system for the future.
