Commonwealth boost to ACT tertiary education

Minister for Education and Training, Dr Chris Bourke, has today welcomed the Commonwealth Government's injection of $25.9 million to tertiary education in Canberra, made through a Structural Adjustment Fund Grant to the University of Canberra.

Dr Bourke said this is a timely and welcome investment, with the University of Canberra (UC) and the ACT Government currently involved in discussions about greater collaboration between the University and Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT).

"The ACT Government welcomes the injection of $25.9 million to the University of Canberra which, thanks to the University's expressed intention to work more collaboratively with the Canberra Institute of Technology, will benefit not only UC students but CIT students as well," Dr Bourke said.

"The ACT Government is currently reviewing options for future collaboration between the UC and the CIT. A strategy group was established in August 2011 to consider options for UC and CIT collaborations proposed by Emeritus Professor Denise Bradley.

"I will be making announcements shortly on a proposed way forward."

It is understood that Professor Stephen Parker, UC Vice-Chancellor, and Mr Adrian Marron, CIT Chief Executive, have agreed to certain underlying principles for increased collaboration. The Commonwealth will finalise details of the $25.9 million funding once it has considered the outcomes of the ACT Government's review.

Twitter: @chrisbourke