The past week has been a significant one for ANU. Last Friday we reopened the repaired and renovated Llewellyn Hall with a concert that showcased the talents of our students and staff, and the new acoustics of our Hall. The Hall looks and sounds wonderful, and is a performance, teaching and ceremonial venue the University can be proud of.

Budget night on Tuesday saw a boost to University funding that I hope will be the first step along the path to the Government’s promised “Education Revolution.”  As I told The Australian on the night, all in all it's an excellent package particularly because it is heading in the right direction and in a significant way – setting out the path and taking the initial steps.

ANU will receive an additional $10 million boost.  It was allocated to us in recognition of our unique research capabilities and profile.  The Minister acknowledged that I would doubtless say it was partial compensation – I did.  But not churlishly.  I welcomed it then and now; its symbolism extends beyond the dollar value.  We received in addition a $14 million portion of the once-off Universities renewal fund for upgrade of campus infrastructure.  So, $24 million overall with a few guidelines as to how it can be spent. 

I also welcomed $11 billion Education Innovation Fund that replaces the Higher Education Endowment Fund. Unlike the endowment fund, we will be able to draw down the capital and that will make an enormous difference to the size and scope of the projects we seek to support.

However, the real test of the new Governments commitment to the sector will come once the Higher Education Review and the Innovation Review are complete. There is much that must be done to restore and reinvigorate our sector.  

If the Government is going to make a large and new investment in universities, we are going to have to offer something as well. Yesterday, along with the Vice-Chancellor of the University of South Australia, I signed a Memorandum of Understanding that gives practical voice to the notion of a new approach to cooperation between intuitions of differing missions – what we might call the ‘hub and spokes’ model that was part of ALP policy taken to the election.  While it may be an expression that cause the odd frisson amongst Vice Chancellors, the imaginative will see it as opportunity and the two of us as an example of what can be done when you try.

The MOU provides expanded opportunities for students to study and move between the universities and builds a framework for working together in undergraduate education, in research and research training, and the first programs are will commence in the 2009 academic year.

ANU and UniSA will be working together to play to our respective strengths for the benefit of students.

We could call it a practical example of how hubs and spokes can work – and I am proud and pleased that we have done it with our colleagues at UniSA .

Professor Ian Chubb AC
Vice-Chancellor

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