Griffith-led bid for funding a success for QLD Universities

Griffith University will lead a consortium of Queensland Universities following a successful funding bid from the International Education and Training Partnership Fund.

The project is designed to enhance the experience of international higher degree by research (HDR) candidates at Queensland Universities.

The $90,000 project is to deliver an employability program while building cultural competency and global citizenship capabilities in international and domestic HDR candidates.

Professor Sue Berners-Price, Dean of the Griffith Graduate Research School and Convenor Elect for the Australian Council of Graduate Research, said a key strength of this project was that it was supported by all the eight Universities in Queensland, both financially and conceptually and was set to become a project of national interest to the sector.

“The representatives from the eight Universities are from an already established Queensland Deans and Directors of Graduate Schools network who meet quarterly and are committed to the success of this project,” she said.

“This project will provide well needed funding to pilot a collaborative initiative whose legacy and momentum will extend beyond the project’s duration.”

The 3200 international HDR candidates are a valuable cohort for Queensland Universities constituting 19 per cent of those Australia-wide and representing countries such as China, Iran, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. They are also important ambassadors for Queensland and Australia more broadly and valued future alumni of Queensland Universities.

“This project provides a great opportunity for Queensland universities to work together to enhance international research students’ experience and develop their employability skills, further building on Queensland’s reputation as a great state to study and live in,” said Professor Sarah Todd, Vice-President (Global) at Griffith International.

The $6 million International Education and Training Partnership Fund is an initiative of the Palaszczuk Government’s $25.3 million International Education and Training Strategy to Advance Queensland.

The project will run throughout 2018.