ATN Symposium tackles workforce crisis

Developing strategies for building Australia’s research and innovation workforce will be the focus of the first of two ATN Symposia in 2011. Hosted by the University of South Australia on Wednesday 2 February 2011 the Building Australia’s Research and Innovation Workforce Symposium will focus on priorities and actions to develop attractive academic careers at ATN Universities by exploring how we might:

influence proposed Government responses to the Research Workforce Strategy and national Innovation Agenda
Collaborate with industry to address issues of common concern
Develop the ATN’s competitive position with regard to research, to attract staff and students
formulate ATN responses to looming skill shortages in the academic workforce

Currently less than a quarter of Australians with a PhD work in universities and the sector will continue to face strong competition from other sectors for doctorate-qualified employees.

Presentations from a diverse range of national and international speakers will focus discussions on:

Industry’s perspective on Australia’s research and innovation workforce and how industry and academe can collaborate to address this pressing national issue
Australia’s experience with industry connected PhDs - CRC experience
The national Research Workforce Strategy
Building on UK’s experience with centres for doctoral training to develop models for ATN
ATN’s competitive position in research performance