Higher Education Key To Economic Growth

Feb. 8, 2009 - PRLog -- Professor Milbourne says the seven billion dollar reforms proposed by the Bradley review on higher education are realistic and effective because Australia can no longer rely on traditional sectors to drive its economic growth.

“In a carbon constrained future it is quite clear that renewable energy and other things other than mining are going to be the things that determine the economic progress of countries,” says Professor Milbourne.

“If you don’t have a highly educated population that matches the highly educated populations of our major competitors we are not going to be able to compete in terms of the use of products and services.”

Professor Milbourne will address the 7th Annual Higher Education Summit on April 2 and 3 in Melbourne.

He will discuss the institutional changes that have taken place in the sector over the last decade and highlight the substantial changes made by universities.

“I know the previous government had the view we weren’t changing and weren’t moving with the times and I want to show that that is absolutely not correct and that data doesn’t support that view.”

Professor Milbourne will also focus on the changes that might occur and the institutional changes that will be acquired because of the government’s response to the Bradley review.

Other speakers attending the summit include Julia Gillard, Minister for Education; Jacinta Allan MP, Minister for Regional and Rural Development; and Minister for Skills and Workforce Participation, Victoria; Martin Williams, Director for Higher Education Strategy & Implementation, Department for Innovation and Universities & Skills, UK; and Professor David Skegg, Vice Chancellor of University of Otago, NZ.

http://www.highereducationsummit.com.au/pr

To arrange a media pass, request more information or arrange speaker interviews at the Higher Education summit please contact:
John Wilson on 02 9080 4107 or john.wilson@informa.com.au

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