TheHonJohnBrumby

Chair

RegionalEconomicDevelopmentandServicesReviewEmail:

May2015

DearMrBrumby

ItiswithgreatpleasurethatIforwardtoyouDeakinUniversity’ssubmissiontotheRegionalEconomicDevelopmentandServicesReview.

Thechallengeoftransitioningtotheknowledgeindustryandthedigitaleconomyishighlightedalmostdaily,asbusinessesstruggletosurviveinaneconomicparadigmwhichturnsonitsheadlongacceptedwaysofdoingbusiness.EducationandinnovationwilldrivetheproductivityandeconomicgrowthregionalVictorianeedstothriveandregionaluniversitiesgeneratethenewideas,newtechnologiesandnewknowledgewhichwillensureVictoriagetstheskillsmixrightfortheworkforceofthefuture.

DeakinUniversitybelievesthatstrongercollaborationbetweenVictoria’sregionaluniversities,governmentandindustryisintegraltoachievingtheoutcomeswhichwilldrivejobs,investmentandgrowthinregionalVictoria.

Deakinhasplayedaleadershiproleintheregionsitrepresentsandoursubmissionoutlinesanumberofinitiativesascaseexamples.

IcommendthissubmissiontotheReviewandtherecommendationscontainedwithinourresponsestotheTermsofReference.

Yourssincerely

ProfessorGarySmith

DeputyVice-­‐Chancellor(GlobalEngagement)

Deakin University Submission

DEDJTRRegionalEconomicDevelopmentandServicesReview

11May2015

Preamble

DeakinUniversityispleasedtocontributetotheRegionalEconomicDevelopmentandServicesReview.Victoria’sregionaluniversitiesunlockthehumanpotentialoftheirregionandtheydrivesocial,economicandculturaldevelopmentinthecommunitiestheyserve.Universitiesarecatalystsforinnovation,creativityandproductivity,drivingjobs,newbusinessopportunitiesandimportantly–generatingoptimismintheirregion.

DeakinsupportstheMinisterforRegionalDevelopment’scommitmenttoreviewRegionalDevelopmentVictoria’sstrategicprioritiestodrivejobs,investmentandgrowthinregionalVictoria.

Newindustriesareemergingandtraditionalindustriesareshrinking–developinganeducated,nimbleworkforcewillbecriticaltosustainingstrongeconomicgrowth.Tomeetfutureworkforceexpectations,Victoriawillneeddeliverymodelsthataresufficientlyflexibletoaccommodateanincreasinglydiversecohortandswiftlychangingworkforcerequirements.

Inafastchangingandunequivocallyglobalknowledgeeconomy,effectiveregionalplanningwillrequirenewthinkingandalongtermvision.Wemustlookbeyondjobstargetsandfocusontheexecutionandachievementofdeliverables,ashiftwhichwillnecessitategreaterclarityandaccountability.

DeakinUniversitybelievesthatstrengtheningcollaborationbetweenVictoria’sregionaluniversities,governmentandindustryisintegraltoachievingtheoutcomeswhichwilldrivejobs,investmentandgrowthinregionalVictoria.

Deakinhasplayedaleadershiproleintheregionsitrepresentsandoursubmissionoutlinesanumberofinitiativesascaseexamples.

Deakin’sresponsestotheReviewTermsofReferencefollow.

DeakinUniversity’sresponsestotheTermsofReference

a)Identifybestpractice,evidence-­‐basedpolicydirectionstofosterregionalgrowthandjobcreation

Universities’ role in driving regional growth and knowledge economies

Victoria’sregionaluniversitieshaveakeyroletoplayindirectlydrivingregionalgrowth.Theyprovidetheplatformforopen-­‐endedconversationsaboutindustrydevelopmentpathwaysandnewtechnologicalandmarketopportunities.Universitiespartnerwithgovernmentandemployerstoimprovecompetivenessandbuildnewmarketsandtheyhaveanimportantroletoplayindevelopingentrepreneurial,innovationandleadershipcapabilityintheirregion;aroleascatalystsforinvestment.Theeducationandtrainingsectoralsohasroleinnewjobcreation,assistingindustryintheregionstogrowtheirbusinessthroughincreased productivityandenhancedworkforcecapability.

Inafastchangingandunequivocallyglobalknowledgeeconomy,effectiveregionalplanningrequiresnewthinkingandalongtermvision.Weneedtolookbeyondjobstargetsandpayattentiontoanoptimummixofemploymentprofile(age,gender,qualificationandskillsrequirements). Weneedtofocusparticularlyonareaswheretherearetheresourcestosupporteconomicgrowth.Andcriticallywemustfocusontheimplementationofgreatprograms,lookingbeyondinitialplanningandstartup.Universitieshavetwoofthemostvaluableassetsinourchangingeconomy–educated,skilledpeopleandnewideas.

Thefocusonregionalplanningneedstoshiftmoretotheexecutionandachievementofdeliverables.Thisshiftwillrequiregreaterroleclarityandaccountability.DeakinUniversityisverywellpositionedtotakealeadershiproleintheregionsitrepresents.Theeffectivenessofthiswillbegreatlyenhancedifanewregionaldevelopmentgovernancemodelsupportsthisleadershiproleandprovidesfunding.

Case example 1 – Deakin’s direct contribution to the Geelong and Warrnambool economies

Deakin University's Waterfront and Waurn Ponds campuses are worth $426 million annually to the Geelong region's economy. A 2014 report by Deloitte Access Economics shows the University contributes about $313 million a year to the local economy while student expenditure adds a further $112 million. The University's Geelong operations account for5.3percentofthe$8billionlocaleconomy.Representingabout4.3percentoftheGeelongregion'stotalpopulation,Deakinstudentspayforaccommodation,foodandtransportandin2013,eachdomesticundergraduatestudentspentonaverageover$23,600ongeneraland study-­‐related expenses.DeakinUniversityisoneoftheGeelongregion'slargestemployers,creating3,124full-­‐timeequivalentjobsinthelocalcommunity,including1,539directlyattheWaterfrontandWaurnPondscampuses.

DeakinUniversityhasplayedapivotalroleinWarrnamboolandthesurroundingregion,drivingeconomicgrowthandsocialdevelopmentintheregion.Deakin’soperationscontributed$39milliontotheWarrnambooleconomywithstudentexpenditurecontributinganadditional$14million.TheWarrnamboolcampus’seconomiccontributionrepresents2.5percentofthelocaleconomy,whichhadgrossregionalproductofapproximately$2billion in 2012-­‐13,and isequivalentto approximately 384full-­‐time equivalent(FTE)jobs.

Deakinbelievesitcanmakeanevenstrongercontributiontotheregionandhasinvestedinanewrole,CEOWarrnambool2020.TheUniversitywilldevelopanewstrategyandmodelstoincreaseitsoutcomesandperformanceintheregion.Akeycomponentwillbetoensureourproductsmeetlocalindustryneedsandassisttraditionalindustriesinremainingcompetitiveandsupportnewandemergingindustries.

TheUniversitywillprovideleadershipinthedevelopmentofafutureworkforceplanfortheregionandbuildnewmodelsofregionaleducation.Thismayincludethecreationofneweducationprecinctsthatbringtogethersecondaryschooling,TAFEandhighereducationunderpinnedbyseamlesstransitionswithstrongindustryinputandpotentialphysicalpresence.

Anequallyimportantelementistheuniversity’sintangiblecontributionstoGeelong and Warrnambool.TheUniversity’scommitmentstohighqualityresearch,innovationandtosustainableindustryengagementprovidesaclimateforgrowth,aswellasprovidingthetoolsbywhichhigh-­‐wage,high-­‐skilljobsarebeingcreatedintheGeelongandWarrnamboolregions.

FurtherintangiblebenefitsarisefromtheverysignificantandmaterialsupportDeakinprovidestoahostoforganisationsandactivitiesinitscommunities.InadditiontothemajorsupporttheUniversityprovidestokeycommunitygroupsincludingtheGeelongPerformingArtsCentre,theDeakinCommunityCatsCentreattheGeelongFootballClub,theBioLabatBelmontHighSchool,theGeelongChamberofCommerce,CommitteeforGeelongandG21activities,itisasponsorofmanysmalleractivitiesthatenableacommunitytothrive.DeakinisamajorsponsoroftheartsinWarrnambool,includingtheLighthouseTheatreandtheHamiltonPerformingArtsCentre,andworkscloselywiththeWarrnamboolArtGallerytopromoteculturalandsocialopportunitiesthroughoutthesouth-­‐westdistrict.

Whatlinksgreatcitiestoeachotheristrade,commerceandinvestment,butwhatdifferentiatesthemisculture.Culturemakesacityappealingtopeopleandhencetothebusinessesthatemploythem.DeakinUniversityrecognisesitsresponsibilitytofosterknowledgeeconomiesandunderstandsthatinaknowledgeeconomy,theabilitytoattractandretaincreativetalentisacriticalingredientforeconomicgrowth.

Case example 2 – Deakin leverages its research and development capacity to directly benefit the regional economy

Overthepasttenyears,DeakinUniversity’sResearchdivisionhasdevelopedasubstantialinnovationprecinctatitsWaurnPondscampustogenerateideas,newtechnologiesandnewknowledgeanddriveinnovationandproductivityintheeconomy.

OneexampleofthisistheAustralianFutureFibresResearchandInnovationCentre(AFFRIC)whichispositioningtheregiontotransitiontowardsmoreadvancedandcompetitiveforms ofmanufacturing.AFFRIC’sworkledtothedevelopmentofCarbonNexus,theworld’sleadingcarbonfibreresearchfacility.Thishas,inturn,securedGeelongasthelocationforCarbonRevolution,theworld’sleadingproducerofcarbonfibrewheelsforglobalexportmarkets.CarbonRevolutionislocatedwithintheGeelongTechnologyPrecinctandemploysover100full-­‐timeproductionworkers,manyfromtraditionalmanufacturingtradessuchasthecarandaluminiumindustries.Othercompaniesarelocatingtothecampusforsimilarreasonsprovidingthegreenshootsofanewcarbonfibrebasedindustry.

AworldclasshealthprecinctisemerginginGeelongthroughdevelopmentofhealthtrainingandresearchfacilitiesatWaurnPondsandBarwonHealthandconstructionofthenew+200bedEpworthGeelongHospital.

ThedevelopmentoftheinnovationprecinctatWaurnPondshasledtothecreationofover1,000jobs–aclearindicationofthevalueofresearchinstimulatingregionaleconomicgrowth.EpworthHealthCareandCarbonRevolution’sdecisiontolocatewithinoradjacenttotheWaurnPondscampusisadirectresultofthevalueofsituatinganeducationandinnovationprecinctinaregionalcapital.

Thenextplannedphaseofdevelopmentwithintheinnovationprecinctaimstoacceleratejobcreationandthecommercialisationofresearch.ManuFutureGeelongwillbeastate-­‐of-­‐the artproductincubator thatlinks Deakin Research capabilities,local industry andtheCentreforAdvancedDesignandEngineeringTraining(CADET).TheUniversityiscurrentlyseekingfundingsupportfromtheCommonwealthandVictorianGovernmentsforthisinvestmentthatwillcreate118directjobsandanother299indirectjobsforatotalregionalboostof417ongoingjobs.

Case example 3 -­‐ Regional health: Regional Post Graduate Medical Training

ThereisacontinuingandseveremisdistributionofdoctorsinAustralia.Thereare250doctorsper100,000residentsworkinginruralandregionalAustraliabutmorethan400doctorsper100,000residentsworkinginAustraliancapitalcities,oneofthehighestratesintheworld.

Medicalpractitioners:FTEper100,000population(Australia’sHealth2012,AIHW)

OverthelastdecadetherehasbeenamajorexpansionofAustralianmedicalschools.Graduatesofnewregionalmedicalandruralclinicalschoolsarenowcompletinginternshipsandthesecondandthirdyearsofpostgraduatetraininginregionalhospitalsandgeneralpracticesbuttheruralandregionalworkforceshortagepersists.ThisexemplifiestheproblemregionalVictoriafaces: itisnotashortageoftraineddoctors per se butashortageinregionalVictoria.Oneofthemajorcausesofthisshortageistheabsenceofopportunitiesforpostgraduatemedicaltraining.Withtheexceptionofgeneralpractice,postgraduatetrainingopportunitiesinregionalAustraliaareextremelylimited.Specialtytrainingtakesfourto sevenyearstocompleteandregionalgraduateswhowanttotraininsurgery,internalmedicine,psychiatry,obstetricsandotherspecialtiesareforcedbacktocapitalcitiesintheirlatetwentieswheretheymarry,buyahouse,beginafamilyandarelockedintocitylife.Theirtraininghasasubspecialtyfocusandtheylosethegeneralistskillsneededforregionalpractice.

Expandedregionalgeneralpracticetrainingandestablishmentofregionalspecialtytrainingprogramsareurgentlyrequiredtokeepruralandregionalgraduateswheretheywanttowork;theruralworkforceshortagecannotbesolvedwithoutregionalpostgraduate training programs1.

Undergraduatemedicaltrainingisinhand–therehasbeenamajorexpansionofAustralianmedicalschoolsoverthelastdecade.In20051,320domesticand250internationalstudentsgraduatedfromAustralianmedicalschools.Projectednumbersfor2015are3,177domesticand555internationalgraduates.Graduatesofnewregionalmedicalandruralclinicalschools

1

ThiswasakeyrecommendationofHWA’sHealthWorkforce2025,therecentAustralianGovernmentReviewofHealth

WorkforcePrograms(theMasonreport)andtheVictorianDepartmentofHealth’sRegionalMedicalWorkforceStrategy.

arenowcompletingforinternshipsandthesecondandthirdyearsofpostgraduatetraininginregionalhospitalsandgeneralpracticesbuttheruralandregionalworkforceshortage persists.

There is a solution…..

Victoria’smedicalschoolshavedevelopedaproposaltoworkwithourprimarycareandhospitalpartnerstodevelophighquality,sustainableregionalpostgraduatetrainingprogramsingeneralpracticeandkeymedicalspecialties,theVictorianRegionalMedicalTrainingNetwork. TheseprogramswillbebasedonahubandspokemodelcentredonexistingRuralClinicalSchoolfacilitiesinGeelong,BallaratandWarrnambool;BendigoandTraralgon;andSheppartonandWangaratta.Regionalgraduateswillbeabletocompletemostoralloftheirtraininginregionalsettings.Theywilldevelopandmaintainthegeneralistskillsneededforruralgeneralpractice,generalmedicine,generalsurgery,paediatrics,psychiatry,anaestheticsandemergencymedicine.

Deakin-­‐Monash-­‐Melbourneplantoexpandregionalpostgraduatetrainingplaces

b)Identifytheapproachtoregionalservicedeliverybestabletodeliverregionalgrowthandjobcreation. Thiswillinclude:

Aligning education and training to Victoria’s workforce needs

DeakinsupportsafutureskillsdrivensectorthatalignseducationwiththesixkeygrowthareasidentifiedbytheVictorianGovernmentforeconomicgrowth.Asskillrequirementsmovefromoldmanufacturingtoaknowledgeeconomy,futureworkrequirementscanbeexpectedtoincludenetwork-­‐oriented,project-­‐basedandincreasinglytechnology-­‐intensivework.

Theeducationskillsnexuswillbecomeincreasinglyimportantwithaninterdisciplinaryapproachtoinnovationintheworkplaceandthegrowinginfluenceoftechnologycentraltotraininganddelivery.Greaterlevelsofconsultationwithindustryisessentialtobetterunderstandfuturejobopportunitiesandfutureskillrequirements.Modelsshouldbedevelopedandincentivesprovidedtofosterindustryparticipation.

BuildingskilledcommunitiesbeginslongbeforestudentscommenceTAFEoruniversity,andregionally-­‐baseduniversitieshaveaparticularrelationshipwiththeschoolsintheirregions.InGeelong,asisthecaseinmanyregionalcapitals,thereisahigherpercentageoflowersocioeconomicstatusstudentsandsignificantlylowerretentionratesandparticipationinvocationalandhighereducation.UniversitiessuchasDeakinarewellplacedtocontributetoanimprovementinparticipationandtheeconomicbenefitsthatflowfromthatparticipation.

ThroughtheDeakinEngagementandAccessProgram(DEAP),Deakinworkswithstudentsfromgrade4toyear12tobuildaspirationsofpost-­‐secondaryeducationasbothadesirableandanachievablegoal.Deakin’suniquecommunity-­‐basedIndigenousprograms,enableIndigenousstudentstopursuestudywithoutleavingtheircommunityforlongperiods.DeakinisthethirdlargestproviderofIndigenouseducationinAustraliaandwith715students,byfarthelargestinVictoria.

The 2014 report from Australia’s Chief Scientist2notesthat75percentofthefastestgrowingoccupationswillrequireSTEMskillsandknowledge.Deakin’s Skilling the Bay Successful Students projectisdesignedtoincreasethecapacityofsecondaryschoolsandscienceteachers.TheprojectbuildsonGreaterGeelong’sstrengthsinresearch,industry,andtechnologytoleverageGeelong-­‐basedworldclassresearchcentres(AustralianFutureFibresResearchandInnovationCentre,CSIROAustralianAnimalHealthLaboratory,CSIROMaterialsScienceEngineering).

Building skilled communities case example 1 – Deakin’s Centre for Advanced Design in Engineering Training

DeakinUniversity'sCentreforAdvancedDesigninEngineeringTraining(CADET)willprovidesomeofthebestfuture-­‐focusedengineeringanddesignfacilitiesintheAustralianuniversitysectorandinregionalAustralia.CADETwillenablestudentstoexploreendlesspossibilitiesthroughdesktopmanufactureandcomputermodelling,virtualrealityenvironments,3Dprintingandworld-­‐leadingrapidprototypingcapabilities.Studentswillgainpracticalexperienceinnextgenerationcomputercontrolledmanufacturingsystemsandprocessesallowingthemtoexperiencetomorrow'smanufacturingtoday.The CADET on the Move initiativewilltakeDeakin’sresearchandlearningcapabilitiestoregionalVictoria.ItwillsupportSTEMdevelopmentandengagementwithfacilitiesthatarenormallywellbeyondthereachofmostSMEsandregionaleducationalinstitutions,participantswillgainpracticalexperienceinnextgenerationcomputercontrolledmanufacturingsystemsandprocessesallowingthemtoexperiencetomorrow'smanufacturingtoday.

Building skilled communities case example 2 – Deakin University’s partnership with the Australian Bureau of Statistics

Thedecentralisationofgovernmentemployeesoffersanumberofopportunities,butasthissubmissionargues,whenconsideredintermsofuniversitycontributionstoregionalresilienceandsustainability,thegreatestutilityofsuchinitiativesliesnotsomuchinshorttermtrainingopportunitiesforoneormoreuniversitiesasinleveragingsuchemploymentrelocationtomaximisejobsecurityandprivatesectoreconomicgrowth.

Equally,therelocationofCommonwealthemployeesoffersequivalentopportunitiestostateprograms -­‐ oftenthepotentialgainscanbeevengreater.AcaseinpointisDeakinUniversity'spartnershipwiththeAustralianBureauofStatistics,whichwillbeestablishingaGeelongfacilityinthenextyear. Concentratingontheinitialstagesofdatacollectionandorganisation,thisfacilityanditsstaffwillobviouslycontributedirectlytotheGeelongeconomy.Butmoresignificantlyinthelongterm,theresearchpartnerships,thedevelopmentofnewstatisticalmethodologieswithinternationalapplicationsandtheextensionofthispartnershiptoembracesupportforstatisticalandeconomicmodellinginemergingPacificandAsianstates,translatingintointernational

2OfficeoftheChiefScientist,2014,Science,Science,Technology,EngineeringandMathematicsAustralia’sfuture.AustralianGovernment,Canberra.

studentprogramsandtraining,willallprecipitatenewemploymentopportunitiesandjobsgrowth,withthebenefitsaccruingtoancillaryprivatesectorpartners.

Building skilled communities case example 3 – enhancing digital connectivity

DeakinUniversityunderstandsthatdigitalconnectivityiskeytoboostingbothretentionratesandpreparingregionalstudentsforthecomplexityoffuturejobgrowth.Deakinhasworkedwithlocalgovernment,schoolsandindustrytodeveloptwoinnovativedigitalconnectivityprojectstoleveragethebenefitoftheUniversity’sAARNetnetworkandtheVictorianGovernment’s$10MVicFibreinvestmentforWarrnamboolthroughDSDBI.

TheUniversity’se-­‐SolutionsDivisionhasconsultedwidelytodesigncost-­‐effectiveDigitalLearningHubsthatwilloperateatgreaterspeeds,lowercostsandmanyyearsinadvanceoftheNationalBroadbandNetworkinbothcities.

InGeelong,theHubwillconnect40,000studentsin24localschoolsandCouncil’slocallibraries.InWarrnambool,4,000studentsinfivelocalschoolswillbenefit.BusinessplansarecurrentlybeingdevelopedtoseekfundingsupportforbothprojectsthroughRDV.

The need for innovative new delivery models to prepare for the jobs and skills of the future Developing an educated, nimble workforce is critical to sustaining strong economic growth. New industries are emerging and traditional industries are shrinking. UK researchers Frey and Osborne3 predict that almost 47 per cent of jobs will be computerised within one or two decades, and Deloitte’s 20144 report on global human capital suggests skills will have a half-­‐life of only–5years.

Wecanexpecttoseeanoldercohortasstudentsre-­‐entereducationmultipletimestokeeppacewithchangingworkforceskillrequirements.Educationmustbesufficientlyflexibletomeettheneedsofmatureagestudentsjugglingworkandfamilyaswellasschoolleaversfromdiversebackgroundsandwithdivergentinterestsandskills.

Wecanexpecttoseeanincreasingdemandforahighskill,postsecondaryqualifiedworkforcewithreducednumbersoflowskilljobs.TheMcKinseyGlobalreport5 tellsustheworldfacesapotentialshortageof38-­‐40millionhighskillworkers(13percentofdemand)andapotentialsurplusof90-­‐95millionlowskillworkers(10percentofsupply).

DeakinisexploringnewtertiaryeducationmodelswithBendigoCommunityBanks,TAFEpartnersandlocalgovernmentstoprovideflexiblealternativestotraditionalcampusbasededucation.

Deakin’s‘cloudcampus’providespersonalisedinteractivelearningwhereverstudentsarelocatedandonmultipledevices(mobile,tabletandlaptop)–educationatyourownpaceandinyour ownplace.WholeofcommunityregionaleducationplansarebeingpilotedinBuloke/Loddonregionsalongwithlocalcouncils,TAFEandindustrygroups,whileapilotplace-­‐basedmodelisbeingdevelopedinBendigowiththeBendigoManufacturingGroup,AIG,CommunityFoundationforCentralVictoria,BendigoCityCouncilandBendigoTAFE.

Deakin’spartnershipwithTAFEsareprovidingseamlesspathwaysbetweenTAFEanduniversity.Over2,000studentscommencedatDeakinwithaTAFEawardin2014,upfrom1,800in 2013. ThecombinationofTAFEanduniversitystudyprovideamixofvocationalandhighereducation

3

Frey.BFOsborne.MA2013‘TheFutureofEmployment:howsusceptiblearejobstocomputerisation?OxfordMartin

programmeon theImpactsofFuturetechnology.OxfordSeptember17

4GlobalHumanCapitalTrends2014:Engagingthe21stcenturyworkforceDeloitte2014

5India’sTechOpportunity:Transformingworkempoweringpeople

skillshighlyregardedbyemployers.Itfacilitatesastagedapproachtolearningmuchvaluedby‘secondchance’learnersaswellasschoolleaversrequiringadditionalsupport.

DeakinUniversity’sTeachforAustraliapathwayisaFederalGovernmentinitiativedesignedtorecruitandtraintalentedgraduatesfromindustrytoteachindisadvantagedcommunities.Itisabenchmarkforqualityschool-­‐basedteachereducationwithbenefitsbothfortheindustry/educationnexusandforitsabilitytobringtopteachingtalenttoregionalareasthatmightotherwisestruggletoattractteachers.

Conclusions and recommendations

Universitiesarecatalystsforinnovation,creativityandproductivity,theyfosterjobsgrowthandnewbusinessopportunities;andtheyprovideindustrywiththeskilledandproductiveworkersnecessarytocapitaliseontheopportunitiesofthefuture.StrengtheningcollaborationbetweenVictoria’sregionaluniversities,governmentandindustryisintegraltoachievingtheoutcomeswhichwilldrivejobs,investmentandgrowthinregionalVictoria.

DeakinUniversityrecommendsthat:

1.TheRegionalEconomicDevelopmentandServicesReviewincorporatesVictorianuniversitieswithastrongregionalpresenceandcommitmentintostrategiesforregionalgrowthandjobcreation.

a.Thatthisbeachievedbyincludinguniversitiesinanygovernancestructureadoptedforthedeliveryofsuchstrategies.

2.AnyprogramorauthorityestablishedbytheVictorianGovernmentshouldmakespecificprovisiontofacilitatecollaborationbetweenuniversitiesandregionalindustrytofacilitateinnovationandjobcreation.

3.Anyregionalgovernancemodelormodeofdeliveryberequiredtoestablishatransparent,regularmethodologytoensurethatstrategictargetsarebeingachievedandthattheappropriatelevelofcollaborationbetweenregionalpartnershasbeenestablished.

4.UniversitiesbeincludedaseligibleapplicantsforfundingunderanyregionalsupportorjobsgrowthprogramestablishedbytheVictorianGovernment.

5.Inregardtoprovisionofmedicalservices,thattheVictorianGovernmentworkwithexistingVictorianuniversitymedicalschools(Deakin,MelbourneandMonash)to establishaprogramofcollaborationbetweentheseuniversitiesandtheirprimarycare andhospitalpartnerstodevelopsustainableregionalpostgraduatetrainingprogramsasameansofimprovingtheretentionrateofdoctorsinregionalVictoria.

6.SupportbeprovidedtouniversitiesdevelopinginnovativeregionalskillsdeliveryinareasoftheeconomyimportanttoVictoria’sstrategicinterestsi.e.manufacturing,healthandeducation services.

7.WhenconsideringtherelocationofpublicsectoragenciestoregionalVictoria,theVictorianGovernmentincludeuniversitiesinthisplanningtoensurethattheeconomicandeducationalbenefitsofsuchtransferaremaximised.Universities’involvementshouldextendbeyondtherelativelylowvalueservicessuchastheprovisionofadditionalstafftrainingandinstead,focusontheintegrationofsuchstateagenciesandjobswithinacomprehensiveeducational,economicandsocialframework.

8.TheVictorianGovernmentpilotsthedevelopmentofaneducationalprecinctonauniversitycampusinasub-­‐50,000regionalcity(suchasWarrnambool)tomodelonepathwayfromschooltouniversityincludingvocationaltraining.Thismodelwillconnectallstudentsandinstitutionsphysicallyanddigitallydeployingtraditionallearningandpremiumclouddeliverywithafocusontheskillsandjobsoftheregion.

a.Theseregionaleducationalprecincts,incollaborationwithuniversities,willdevelopstrategiestoenablethedevelopmentofplatformsforthedeliveryof“cloudcampus”servicestosmallregionalandremotecommunities.