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INTERIM AGREEMENTS WITH UNIVERSITIES RELEASED
Joint media release with Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard

The Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, and the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr, announced the publication of interim agreements between the Australian Government and universities.
 
The interim agreements are the first step in the development of mission-based compacts, as part of the Australian Government’s $5.7 billion higher education and innovation reform agenda.
 
The Bradley Review of Australian Higher Education recommended that the Government provide performance funding for universities.
 
The universities have responded to the Government’s reform agenda and will use the compacts to position themselves to meet the Government’s higher education objectives and participation targets.
 
The compacts will allow universities to align their plans with national priorities, including the Government’s goal of 40 per cent of all 25 to 34-year-olds holding a qualification at bachelor level or above by 2025.
 
The Government welcomes universities’ focus on collaboration as an important step to improving the quality and excellence of research and research training.
 
Later this year, each university will negotiate a compact with the Government, which will define its individual mission and how it will contribute to the Government’s policy goals, including agreed performance targets.
 
From 2012, universities that meet their performance targets will share in additional Government funding of $135 million per year.
 
The interim agreements and a summary of the key issues that emerged during agreement negotiation are available at www.deewr.gov.au/interimagreements and www.innovation.gov.au
 
Deputy Prime Minister’s Press Office: 02 6277 7758
Minister for Innovation’s media contact: Aban Contractor 0457 989 842
DEEWR Media: media@deewr.gov.au   Non-media queries: 1300 363 079