Australia urges diversifying from US universities: ‘we live in a different world’
Hundreds of millions of dollars in research funding is on the line amid the Trump administration’s threats of cuts
Wong said that just as the Australian government was encouraging businesses to broaden their trade markets in response to global disruptions, the education industry needed to follow suit.
We have to recognise that we live in a different world
“We have to recognise that we live in a different world,” she told Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio on Wednesday. “We will continue to make the case to the US that collaborative research benefits both countries, but I would say making sure we diversify our engagement matters across all our economic sectors.”
Universities Australia Chief Executive Officer Luke Sheehy told the ABC last week that Monash University and the University of Technology Sydney were among those exposed to potential US funding cuts.
“This is really alarming that Australia’s closest ally, someone who funds more than half a billion dollars of research in the Australian system seeking Australian expertise to benefit both countries, is putting all of that at risk,” he said.