What is the Group of Eight

2. What is the Group of Eight The University of Western Australia Monash University The Australian National University The University of Adelaide The University of Melbourne The University of New South Wales The University of Queensland The University of Sydney The Group of Eight (Go8) comprises the Vice-Chancellors (Presidents) of Australia’s leading research universities. Go8 universities are distinguished by the intensity and breadth of the research they perform, the research-informed nature of the education they offer, and the leadership they bring to community consideration of complex issues. www.go8.edu.au

3. Go8 member universities The Universityof Queensland The University ofNew South Wales The University of Western Australia The University of Sydney The University of Adelaide The Australian National University Monash University The University of Melbourne

4. Go8 universities can be distinguished in the following ways: they enrol over half of all higher degree by research students; they attract the highest performing Australian school students; they have much lower student staff ratios than other Australian universities. Characteristics of Go8 universities

5. Characteristics of Go8 universities (cont) • they have nurtured every Nobel Prize winner educated at an Australian university; • they attract the highest levels of industry and competitive government grant funding for research; • they are the most research concentrated of all Australian universities (see next graph).

6. Research income as a percentage of total Australian university income

7. Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) • ERA, undertaken by the Australian Research Council,  assesses research quality by field of research within Australia's universities using review by committees of experienced, internationally-recognised experts. • It provides a national stocktake of discipline-level areas of research strength and identifies areas where there is opportunity for development in Australia’s higher education institutions. • It is designed to identify excellence of research performance: • A rating of 3 indicates research is equal to world standard • A rating of 4 indicates research is above world standard • A rating of 5 indicates research is well above world standard • ERA has assessed 91 per cent of research undertaken at Go8 universities as world standard or above. • Further information on ERAwww.arc.gov.au/era/default.htm

8. Number of fields of research with ERA Ratings 4 or 5

9. The role of the Go8 The Go8 Secretariat, located in Canberra, Australia’s national capital, works to maximise the potential for collaboration in a competitive environment, adding value for individual universities and for Australia through: • facilitating collaboration between Go8 universities across their range of functions; • offering a trusted network through which the leaders and administrators of Go8 universities share ideas and expertise; • influencing national policies for higher education and university research, as well as broader policy development through mobilising the range of expertise across the group; • contributing visibly to national innovation; • sustaining quality brand recognition; • building community support for research universities; • developing international strategic alliances and networks; and • benchmarking for performance improvement.

10. The role of the Go8 • The Go8 Boardconsists of the vice-chancellors (presidents) of its eight member universities. The Board meets five times a year. • Go8 collaboration is strengthened by an extensive network of committees of both academic and administrative staff which meet regularly for benchmarking, policy development and joint project work including: • Deputy Vice-Chancellors Research • Academic Policy Committee • Deans of Graduate Studies • Deans of Engineering • Deans of Medicine • Directors International • Directors Research • Directors Human Resources • Directors of Planning and Statistics

11. Go8 collaborationAustralia’s Knowledge Gateway • The Go8 universities have collaborated to create “Australia’s Knowledge Gateway” – a search engine to highlight the activities of Australian researchers and make them more accessible to business, government, Australia’s foreign affairs and trade officials, students and the wider community. • Using key words, the search is able to identify individuals and institutions with strength in particular research disciplines. Gateway.go8.edu.au

12. Go8 international engagement Global partnerships enable our universities to operate at the cutting edge of research and innovation. The Go8 seeks to collaborate with like-minded university consortia around the world and facilitate the participation of its member universities in leading centres for research and higher education. Contact can be made through www.go8.edu.au

13. Examples of Go8 international collaboration • Go8 Research Scheme with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) – two-way exchange of early career researchers between Germany and Australia; • Go8 MOU with leading universities in Chile (based around sharing information on issues such as research commercialisation, innovation and technology transfer); • Go8 co-operation with the University of Papua New Guinea to assist with academic capacity building. • www.go8.edu.au/university-staff/international-collaboration

14. Examples of Go8 international collaboration • Go8 MoU with leading research universities in China (C9) • Go8-C9 Student exchange program • Annual forum for PhD students (Go8, C9 and Harvard University in 2010) • Annual meeting of Go8-C9 presidents • Annual meeting of Go8-C9 deans of graduate studies • Research leaders shadowing program • The C9 have been selected by the Chinese Government to receive intensive • funding for investment in world class research infrastructure and staff, and they • are the first choice for the very best Chinese school leavers. • Members are: Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Peking University, Tsinghua • University, Harbin Institute of Technology, Fudan University, Nanjing University, • Zhejiang University, University of Science and Technology of China and Xi'an • Jiaotong University.

15. Information follows about each Go8 university. Further details can be obtained by clicking on the links below.

16. Go8 Member Universities The University of Sydney

17. The University of Sydney demonstrates national leadership through its teaching and research; its advice to industry, government and the wider community; and its contribution to public debate. Sydney is one of only 20 universities in the world in the top 50 in all listed disciplines in the Times Higher Education rankings and is one of only four Australian universities in the world’s top 100 in the Shanghai Jiao Tong Academic rankings. Supported by the largest university library collection in the Southern Hemisphere and new state-of-the-art research facilities, Sydney emphasises the importance of multi-disciplinary research. Sydney is Australia’s leading research university in funding, publications and citations. It provides research training and research-led teaching across a diverse range of disciplines covering Health and Medicine, Science and Technology and the Humanities and Social Sciences. Particular areas of strength include biomedical and clinical research, public health, fundamental and enabling sciences, Australian biological science, history, philosophy and languages. The University of Sydney

18. Go8 Member Universities The University of Western Australia

19. Located in Perth, The University of Western Australia encourages creativity and innovation at international standards and has a reputation for excellence and enterprise. Research and research training are the major factors distinguishing the university as one of Australia’s leading research-intensive universities and the premier institution in Western Australia. Particular emphasis is given to research into the exploration, production and exploitation of minerals, oil and gas; the management of agricultural and natural ecosystems; the humanities and social sciences; health and bio-medicine (injury research, prevention, repair and rehabilitation); genetic epidemiology; indigenous issues; information technology, telecommunications and computer science; and international management and business studies. The university is rated very highly in terms of research output and the number of citations per staff member in international journals. Its reputation for internationally excellent research has resulted in important government and industry collaborations, bringing together industry and other major Australian research bodies. The University of Western Australia

20. Go8 Member Universities Monash University

21. Sinceits inception Monash University has focused on developing world-leading research facilities and a culture that encourages staff and students to push new boundaries and to find creative ways to make an impact. Projects such as pioneering IVF work, design of a drug to fight a potential flu pandemic and research that underpins road safety initiatives demonstrate the university's ability to engage with the world. Monash has ambitious aims to build on its already substantial research record. By commissioning world class infrastructure and recruiting outstanding international researchers, Monash is moving quickly towards its objective of becoming one of the world's finest research universities. Using stem cells, researchers hope to transform the treatment of Parkinson's disease and spinal cord injury. Scientists are also investigating ways to help the body regenerate damaged tissues and organs. Monash engineers have revolutionised the design of fuel cells used in the latest generation of hybrid cars, which could make more sustainable vehicles cheaper to build. Monash University

22. Go8 Member Universities The Australian National University

23. The distinguishing culture of The Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra is the pervasive notion of discovery. Since its inception in 1946, ANU has been building a legacy of inquiry and discovery of which the nation can be proud. Generations of researchers, educators and graduates at ANU have helped propel Australia to the forefront of international thinking in areas such as humanities, science, the arts, medicine, law, economics and public policy. Not surprisingly, ANU is consistently ranked among the best universities in the world. ANU is a member of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU). IARU members are collaboratively researching matters of global consequence, including ‘Movement of People’, ‘Longevity and Health’, ‘Energy, Resources and Environment’ and ‘Security’. The parkland ANU campus, in the centre of the nation’s capital, boasts accommodation for thousands of students, modern facilities, Australia’s most powerful computer, several libraries, and access to a wealth of e-resources. The Australian National University

24. Go8 Member Universities The University of Adelaide

25. The University of Adelaide • The University of Adelaide is committed to producing graduates recognised worldwide for their creativity, knowledge and skills. It offers a broad range of courses and outstanding opportunities for research in a stimulating environment. • Innovative and forward-looking, the university has research and teaching strengths in biological sciences, physical sciences, health sciences, engineering, information technology and telecommunications, wine and food, environmental sciences and social sciences. • Among the university’s graduates and staff are leaders in science, medicine, engineering, law and the social sciences. It numbers three Nobel Laureates among its graduates (the most of any university in Australia), and another two Laureates among past and present faculty. It has also produced 102 Rhodes Scholars. • The University has six major research institutes focusing on its core strengths, as well as high-tech, world-class research and teaching facilities incorporated in a $400 million building program. • Internationalisation is a key objective and formal linkages have been established with more than 200 universities around the world.

26. Go8 Member Universities The University of Melbourne

27. The University of Melbourne • Located in the centre of Australia’s most multicultural city, the University of Melbourne is consistently one of Australia’s top performing universities in world rankings.  • With annual operating funds of around $2 billion, net assets of $3.8 billion, and research expenditure exceeding $700 million, the University of Melbourne is the largest research university in Australia. Its academic community is at the forefront of international scholarship in fields as diverse as human rights law, medical biology, and information and communications technology.  • In 2008 the University led Australia’s most significant set of curriculum reforms. Characterised by broad and deep undergraduate degrees with direct pathways into a range of world-class Graduate Schools, the Melbourne curriculum provides greater flexibility for students and reflects the evolving tertiary educational environment in Europe, Asia and North America.  • A range of key international partnerships led by the University has brought new world-class facilities to Melbourne – the most powerful supercomputer and computational biology facility in the world dedicated to life sciences research, a national public policy ‘think tank’, a national centre for marine and climate research, and a major neurosciences research hub.

28. Go8 Member Universities The University of New South Wales

29. The University of New South Wales • UNSW is a leading research-intensive university with strong regional and global engagement. Ranked in the world’s top 50 universities, UNSW has more than 50,000 students, including some 13,000 international students from more than 120 countries. • UNSW is the only research-intensive university in Australia to be established with a unique scientific and technological focus, modelled on US institutions such as MIT. • The University’s commitment to research has generated groundbreaking results in biomedical sciences; water, environment and sustainability; next generation materials and technologies; social policy, government and health policy; ICT, informatics and robotics; and business, law and economics. • UNSW leads three ARC Centres of Excellence – in quantum computing; climate science; and population ageing; UNSW also hosts Australia’s new Centre for International Finance and Regulation; and is home to many leading centres including the Lowy Centre for Cancer Research. • UNSW has strong partnerships with industry and business, consistently topping the country in ARC Linkage grants. • The full-time AGSM MBA at the Australian School of Business is the top ranked • program in Australia and in the world’s top 40.

30. Go8 Member Universities The University of Queensland

31. The University of Queensland in Brisbane has achieved international levels of excellence in research and research training. Its work is facilitated by outstanding infrastructure. The university operates specialist teaching and research centres throughout Queensland, among them Australia’s largest university marine research station (on the Great Barrier Reef), the Centre for Advanced Animal Science, medical and dental schools, and an experimental underground mine. UQ maintains a broad research profile with strengths in Molecular Bioscience and Biotechnology; Cognition and Performance; Cultural, Historical and Media Studies; Environment, Biodiversity and Sustainability; Hypersonics; Imaging Science and Technology; Materials and Nanotechnology; Neuroscience; Population Health and Health Promotion; Quantum and Photon Science; Clinical and Translational research; and Sustainable Agricultural Production Systems. It is home to major research Institutes such as the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, the Queensland Brain Institute, the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, the Sustainable Minerals Institute and the Diamantina Institute for Cancer, Immunology and Metabolic Medicine. The University of Queensland

32. www.go8.edu.au The Group of Eight LimitedPO Box 6229O’Connor ACT 2602 Level 2, Group of Eight House101 Northbourne AvenueTurner ACT 2612 Tel +61 2 6239 5844Fax +61 2 6239 5808executive.director@go8.edu.au