Eight leading Australian and UK universities signed a landmark alliance at UNSW Sydney to accelerate skills, research and innovation in security and defence.
The UK Education Secretary Rt Hon. Bridget Phillipson and Australia’s Education Minister the Hon. Jason Clare visited UNSW Sydney this week to witness the signing of a landmark UK-Australia university pact.
The UK-Australia Advanced Skills Alliance sees eight leading universities join forces to fast-track the skills and research needed to build security, defence and resilience capability as part of the UK-Australia Geelong Treaty and to support delivery of the AUKUS innovation program.
The Alliance members include UNSW Sydney, Curtin University and Adelaide University in Australia, and Cranfield University, King’s College London, Imperial College London, University of Southampton and University of Strathclyde in the UK.
The UK’s Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson welcomed the signing of the pact.
“Education and innovation are the backbone of the AUKUS partnership, and the UK and Australia are home to incredible universities driving cutting-edge research,” she said.
“By joining forces, our countries are investing in our future security, technology and above all people – opening up opportunity for students, boosting industry, and building a stronger workforce ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow.”
From left: Curtin University Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research Prof. Melinda Fitzgerald, Federal Education Minister Jason Clare, UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President Prof. Attila Brungs, UK Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and Adelaide University Deputy Vice-Chancellor External Engagement Prof. Jessica Gallagher.Photo: Richard Freeman/UNSW Sydney
The new Alliance will support both the Australian and UK governments’ plans to develop a highly skilled workforce to support the full range of innovation under the AUKUS Agreement.
“AUKUS is not just about submarines, it’s about people,” said Australia’s Education Minister, the Hon. Jason Clare.
“Having universities work together, PhD students working together, is what this is all about.
“In addition, having key businesses in our two countries work together is in the interests of both our nations for the decades ahead.”
One key initiative is the creation of a joint UK-Australia Centre for Doctoral Training focusing on security, defence and resilience. PhD students will undertake research in areas such as nuclear engineering and safety, systems design and cybersecurity. A major innovation will see students spending up to 12 months in the partner country to share expertise and build lasting ties between the nations’ education, defence and security sectors.
The Alliance will also educate and train the broader workforce, including specialised short courses, micro-credentials and new programs designed to meet the needs of the Nuclear Powered Submarine Partnership and Collaboration (Geelong) Treaty, opens in a new window and the AUKUS Agreement, opens in a new window. It is intended to expand the Agreement to colleges in both countries in the future, including TAFE in Australia.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for our universities to lead in high-impact innovation,” said UNSW Sydney Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs.
“The Alliance not only unites world-class research institutions. It strengthens the training pipeline that will produce the highly skilled experts of the future. Our postdoctoral researchers will go on to found new companies, create jobs and build the innovation, security and resilience our nations depend on.”
The Alliance will seek funding from the UK and Australian governments and industry partners to support the delivery of its objectives.
