The President of the Australian Academy of Science, Sir Gustav Nossal, today released the Academy's submission to the West Committee Review of Higher Education Financing and Policy.

'Our first concern was to highlight the vital role played by the universities in basic research. Universities do most of Australia's basic research, and without them the nation's infrastructure for innovation would be impoverished.

We recognise the universities can not stand still. The age of mass tertiary education has placed burdens on the universities and on their government paymasters that demand innovation in university management, research funding and teaching.

However, the preponderance of the universities' funding must continue to come from government, as it does in most comparable countries.

The Government's reduction of funding in last year's budget went far enough. There is no scope for further cuts.'

A summary of the Academy's submission follows.

• Scholarship and research are vital components of the university system and important contributors to economic growth, quality of life and environmental sustainability. The current level of contribution by government to university research costs is fully justified.
  
• There should be considerable diversity in the higher education system. In the current fiscal climate, not all universities can be adequately funded for research across all disciplines. It should be recognised, however, that good, inspiring teaching is an important goal for academics to work towards.
  
• The Australian Academy of Science strongly supports the system of peer assessment of researchers and research projects. A large fraction of infrastructure funding for research in universities should be tied to competitive grants. Opportunities should be available for academics in units not funded for research to pursue collaborative research in other institutions.
  
• The international dimension of university research, including participation of Australian academics in international networks, overseas postdoctoral experience and collaborative research, is very important to the health and impact of Australian research.
  
• Differential HECS fees may act as a disincentive for students to select courses in science and engineering and have a detrimental impact on the supply of qualified teachers in science and mathematics. The situation should be monitored and adjustments made if required in the national interest.