Interview: University, gov't, business engagement key to economic growth: UNSW vice chancellor

The head of one of Australia's most prestigious universities recently said he wants his staff and students to spend more time in China to help further drive bilateral understanding.

"Once people can see and understand each other, all sorts of benefits flow from those opportunities," President and Vice Chancellor of University of New South Wales Professor Ian Jacobs told Xinhua's recent Talk to China program.

Jacobs joined UNSW in February 2015, ambitiously guiding the university to an era of greater excellence through enhanced research capabilities, innovation, interdisciplinary and cross- cultural learning.

UNSW already has 6,000 undergraduate and 700 PhD candidates from China, however, Jacobs said there is a need in both directions.

"The number of Australian students for instance going to China should be much more than it is," he said.

"It's through that exchange, those exchanges that we will improve understanding and importantly get new opportunities that will benefit everyone."

Jacobs stressed however the linkages between government, university and businesses are also key to driving global economies.

"The university as a driver of discovery; those discoveries translated into social progress and into economic benefit."

China's tertiary education system is doing extraordinary well to meet these needs, the professor noted.

"The rise in the quality of outputs from Chinese universities, the way in which funding is being invested in the universities is very impressive."

However, Jacobs said Chinese universities must engage with government, industry and business to be "at the heart of innovation" as the economy rapidly develops.

Australian institutions have the opportunity to engage in China 's rapidly changing economy following the signing of the China- Australia Free Trade Agreement.

"My understanding is that China is very much now looking to move to high technology industries; very innovative, creative high technology industries."

"So the opportunities to work with business and universities in an economy as dynamic, exciting and vibrant as China is wonderful for us and we'll take every opportunity we can get to do that."

Jacobs underlined that a significant opportunity is present in the cross-cultural discussion about the grand challenges facing humanity.

"I think there are big opportunities there and, I think from the Australian side we could do a lot more to engage with our Chinese counterparts in those sort of discussions."

According to the professor, the largest hurdle is funding following Abbott government's moves to severely restrict public tertiary education spending, essentially privatizing Australia's university system.

Jacobs firmly believes that separate research and teaching funding streams are needed so that teaching is no longer subsidizing research and innovation.

"If we can convince government that actually a dollar invested in a university generates 15 to 20 dollars over a period of time, the attitude of government to that sort of investment would be very positive," adding that the funding to universities should be under scrutiny.

"I think people should be asking how much money do we need and how are we using our money and is it producing benefits to society. "

"The evidence is that the benefit of universities in Australia for the Australian economy and for people world-wide is enormous."

On the research perspective, he is of the view that philanthropy and direct action with business and industry will help drive innovation and economic development. "If we work more effectively within industry, we will be able to secure more investment."

This is why UNSW wants to work with Chinese enterprises in more innovative and creative ways, the professor explained.

"I think in that context, across the range of our activities, UNSW perhaps has something to offer," Jacobs said.

UNSW leads research in medicine, science, business and most importantly engineering in Australia, claiming back-to-back Robocup SPL World Championships at the beginning of August while concurrently developing relationships with their Chinese counterparts.

"We want to work with Chinese business and industry as well as with universities in innovative creative ways,"he said. Endi