Education and training in their many forms, appropriately contextualised, will be the great enablers to facilitate the generation of more inclusive, more prosperous, and more sustainable communities throughout the world.

Within the Australian context, policy, strategic and funding positions need to be established to allow universities to develop course profiles which meet the needs of individuals, groups, businesses and industries in the communities each university was established to serve. The discussion gathering momentum since the election of the Rudd Government of establishing a tertiary advisory group positioned between each university and the Federal Government, is likely to be a more effective way to encourage universities to develop and adjust appropriate profiles of courses to meet the needs of their communities.

With respect to research, far greater emphasis needs to be given to research at exacting international standards which, in addition, is likely to be of benefit to the communities, in real time, that each university was established to serve.

It is possible that the mooted contacts to be established between each university and the Federal Government could be a sensible way forward to leverage the teaching and research capability of each university for the benefit of Australia, and the world.

Prof Kerry O. Cox, Vice-Chancellor and President, Edith Cowan University