The ACT Government has entered into a new five-year partnership with the University of Canberra (UC) to increase economic growth and innovation, ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr announced. 

The Civic Partnership Agreement will support several joint initiatives between the University and ACT Government,” Mr Barr said.

The agreement identifies five priority areas for collaboration:

• Enable civic practice and contribute to thought leadership to enhance [the university’s] place in and value to the community
• Drive knowledge-based economic growth and the prosperity of the region through education, training, employment, and business development, realising the vision of the educated life
• Leverage capabilities to support the community’s wellbeing and better integrate the University’s activities to promote a vibrant and healthy Canberra community
• Inform sustainable practices and effective policy and decision making to contribute to the ACT’s environment, sustainability, and innovation goals
• Enrich the social and cultural economy of Canberra and improve the region’s global profile

A range of activities will be developed against each of the priority areas, “ensuring UC continues to be at the forefront of growing and shaping our community for years to come”, Mr Barr said.

“UC is Canberra’s University,” Vice-Chancellor Paddy Nixon said. “In our decadal strategy, we set out a clear objective to be Canberra’s civic university. We have established our purpose Galambany, a Ngunnawal word meaning together we work to empower, connect, and share knowledge with our people, cultures, and places. We are giving effect to this, in party, through our civic university partnership.

“UC is at the heart of so many different programs and projects that make Canberra a better place, from the University of Canberra Hospital, to the affiliated schools program, fixing the water quality in Lake Tuggeranong, or working with the City Renewal Authority to make Haig Park a safe and fun place to be. For our contribution to the community to be recognised and expanded through this agreement speaks to who we are as an institution.”

“We are home to more than 40,000 students, and our higher education sector is one of the largest employers in the ACT, creating jobs across various skill levels,” Mr Barr said.

“Higher education is not just an enabler for our broader labour market, it’s going to be the sector that drives the ACT’s economic development and export earnings over the next five years.

“This partnership recognises the University’s value and contribution to our city and region and providing opportunities for both UC and the ACT Government to collaborate.”

A new Centre for a Better Canberra has been launched: a think tank with an exclusively Canberra focus, delivering public policy and bringing the research capability of UC to bear on the challenges facing the Canberra community.

“In launching the Centre for a Better Canberra, we are making it clear that part of our mission is to advocate in the interest of the Canberra community, putting its needs and priorities at the heart of UC’s agenda,” Professor Nixon said. “The Centre will work with citizens, connecting Canberrans with local learning and bridging the gap between academia and the functional needs of the community.”