Universities Australia

Universities Australia (formerly the "Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee") is an organisation founded in Sydney in May 1920, which attempts to advance higher education through voluntary, cooperative and coordinated action. After being based for a time in both Sydney and Melbourne, its offices relocated to Canberra in 1966. It is a private company whose members are the Vice-Chancellors of 39 Australian universities.

Transition from the AVCC

In September 2006, the AVCC announced an overhaul of the organization following a review by consultant David Phillips, Director of PhillipsKPA. The AVCC will change its name to Universities Australia and will restructure to become a peak industry body. All universities will be eligible for membership of Universities Australia, and will be represented by the CEOs. [cite web | url = http://www.feast.org/?article&ID=359 | title = Overhaul for AVCC | date = September 6, 2006 | work = FEAST | accessdate = 2007-01-30 ]

In October, the committee decided the current President, Deputy President and Board of Directors would leave their current positions by June 2007, and the CEO would leave the position on 31 December 2006. [cite web | url = http://www.avcc.edu.au/content.asp?page=/news/media_releases/2006/avcc_media_35_06.htm | title = AVCC moving forward with Universities Australia | work = AVCC Media Release | date = October 10, 2006 | accessdate = 2007-01-30 ]

The new organisation will appoint a full time President who is not a serving ViceChancellor as spokesperson and advocate, and a Chair of the Board who is a Vice Chancellor. A full time CEO will support the President and Chair. [cite web | url = http://www.acu.ac.uk/policyandresearch/vcnet/vcnet67.pdf | title = No 67: Vice Chancellors Reorganising Themselves | month = October | year = 2006 | work = VC-NET | format = pdf | accessdate = 2007-01-30 ]

Objectives

Universities Australia is non-partisan and exists exclusively for educational purposes. Its continuing aim is to serve the best interests of the universities, and through them, the nation. According to its website, [http://www.avcc.edu.au/content.asp?page=/about_avcc/index.htm] its aims are to
*Support Vice-Chancellors in the performance of their roles;
*Promote the needs, interests and purposes of Australian universities and their communities to government, industry and other groups;
*Develop policy positions and guidelines on higher education matters through discussing higher education issues, including teaching, research and research training;
*Advance internationalisation of Australian universities;
*Provide information for and about Australian universities; and
*Provide services and programs to universities including the negotiation of common purchasing arrangements.

Universities Australia has representatives, or nominated people, on some 67 external national and international bodies of importance to higher education. These include the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council, the Association of Commonwealth Universities Council, the Australian Qualifications Framework Advisory Board, the Research Quality Framework Development Advisory Group, the Australian Medical Council, and the National Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee.

Universities Australia represents (and is funded by contributions from) 39 Australian universities.

Higher Ed Systems

Higher Ed Systems (HES) is a not-for-profit, professional services company owned by Universities Australia. [cite web |url=http://www.hes.edu.au/page/about-hes/ |title=About HES |accessdate=2008-09-17 |publisher=Higher Ed Services] It specialises in the provision of management services for collaborative development projects for the universities in Australia.

The business consultants of HES collaborate with collaborative groups in developing common strategies to address the business challenges facing the sector. It designs innovative business and contractual models to realise the outcomes required, capitalising on the opportunities initiated by collaborating universities.

References

External links

* [http://www.universitiesaustralia.edu.au Official Site]
* [http://www.universitiesaustralia.edu.au/content.asp?page=/about/current_office_holders/avcc_history.htm List of Presidents & Vice Presidents of the AVCC] (since 1920)