Australian Technology Network of Universities (ATN Universities)

ATN Universities is celebrating 25 years of landmark achievements of higher education policy and advocacy. Curtin University Vice-Chancellor and ATN Universities Chair Professor Harlene Hayne CNZM reflects on the origins of the ATN group, and the important work we have undertaken over the past quarter-century to help build a more equitable higher education sector for all Australians, and tackle the biggest global challenges.

Fantastic to see The University of South Australia represented in the 2024 Women in Innovation_sa Awards. Best of luck to the UniSA finalists!

We are proud to announce that ATN Universities have finalists in the Universities Australia Shaping Australia Awards, with our member universities gaining recognition across all categories.  The awards highlight the outstanding contributions universities make to Australia, specifically recognising excellence in teaching, research and community service.  In the Problem Solver Award category RMIT University is in the running for their coffee-infused concrete innovation spearheaded by Dr Rajeev Roychand, Shannon Kilmartin-Lynch, Jie Li, Mohammad Saberian.  The University of South Australia has two scored finalist slots in the Future Builder Award, including the "Delivering the future of our space and security sectors" project which was led by Professor Lan Snell, Professor Andrew Beer, Peter Stevens, Stan Astachnowicz, Samantha Stengert, Leanne Steele, Jodie Walsh and Ling Ly.  And "An Australia-first university apprenticeship and pathway to a career in STEM" by Professor Tom Raimondo, Dr Jo Zucco, Associate Professor G Stewart Von Itzstein. From University of Technology Sydney, the team of Dr Gillian Smith, Dr Mehal Krayem, Maddy Langabeer, Grace Dulawan, Mary Valentin, Dr Cale Bain, Tegan O'Neill, Elisa Lee are also finalists in the Future Builder Award category for their UTS Shopfront Community Program.  And The University of Newcastle group of Dr Gwendalyn Webb, Megan Barr, Tina Imig, Debbie Swanson, Lillian Langford and Rhyann Roberts are in the running for the Community Champion Award. They are nominated for the "Giving a voice to rural Aboriginal children: Guyati Garraka wa Witing speech pathology project." Click to find our more about the incredible work ATN member institutions are doing and get behind them by voting for your favourites.  #ShapingAustraliaAwards24 

Applications are now open for the Australia India Women Researchers’ Exchange (AIWE) Program. The Australia India Institute has begun the applications process for their research exchange program, aimed at strengthening relations between the two countries, while also promoting women in STEM. These positions are available to Australian candidates. "Through the AIWE Program, we are opening doors for talented women researchers to advance their work in STEM disciplines across borders," said The Hon. Lisa Singh, CEO of the Australia India Institute. Applications close on 18 November. Click the link for more details:

As an Indo-Pacific country, it's essential that Australia, and Australians, understand our neighbours, their languages, their culture, and their ways of doing business. It's something ATN's member universities know well; with campuses, partnerships and research collaborations across the region, and it's something we want our students to experience too. The New Colombo Plan has been helping university students, including many from ATN institutions, get to know the region for the past decade. We have been pleased to participate in consultations with the External Advisory Group on how to best shape the program for the future and ensure that it contributes to growing Asia literacy and capability. Read our submission on the ATN website: https://lnkd.in/g4hZKnMJ

Congratulations from the ATN team to Deakin University's Dr Kate Lycett from Deakin's SEED Lifespan on becoming the Australian Institute of Policy and Science 2024 Victorian Young Tall Poppy of the Year.

From ATN to all who are celebrating, wishing you a very happy #Diwali.

ATN Universities is proud to announce a new partnership with Future Campus, building on our joint commitment to promoting thought leadership in the sector and to tell compelling stories from across higher education. The agreement is for the rest of 2024 and throughout 2025. ATN Executive Director, Dr Ant Bagshaw , said he looked forward to working in partnership with Future Campus and acknowledged the value the website and e-newsletter bring to the broader higher education discourse.  "Future Campus plays a vitally important role in sharing news and insight with the sector,” Dr Bagshaw said. “We're delighted to support its development, and we look forward to working with Tim Winkler and the team at Future Campus to share our perspectives.” The partnership means Future Campus can bring new dialogue, events and commentary from the ATN group of universities to its readers and is also a recognition of the value that the ATN directorate places on the role played by Future Campus. “We are delighted to have ATN on board as a partner,” Future Campus Publisher Tim Winkler said. See the media release on our website for more details: https://lnkd.in/gZGmriNr

ATN Universities is proud to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of teachers across Australia, who are doing their part every day to provide students with the essential skills that will carry them into university, the workforce, and throughout their lives.

The ATN Universities network has been widely represented at The Australian International Education Conference (AIEC) #AIEC2024. In addition to ATN Executive Director, Dr Ant Bagshaw, chairing a panel on how to best use data in policymaking, our members have participated in discussions on everything from student sentiment to incorporating Indigenous values into internationalisation frameworks, and how geopolitics and policy are impacting the international education sector. The common goal that has emerged from the conference is a need to bring the conversation back to international students; exploring how they receive a great education which can, in many cases, be life changing for them and their families, but also focusing on how they contribute so much to Australia’s culture, the economy and the experiences of the students around them. Another recurring theme has been the need for cultural exchange and literacy to go both ways. We heard from Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Tim Watts MP, about changes to the New Colombo Plan to encourage more Australians to learn Asian languages and have immersive experiences. ATN Universities looks forward to working with Assistant Minister Watts and the NCP External Advisory Board to shape the future direction of the program over coming months. Congratulations to IDP and International Education Association of Australia (IEAA) for a jam-packed and expertly run week.