The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training will inquire into and report on matters that ensure Australia’s tertiary education system—including universities and public and private providers of vocational education and training—can meet the needs of a future labour force focused on innovation and creativity.

The inquiry will have particular regard to:

1.          the extent to which students are graduating with the skills needed for the jobs of today and of the future;

2.          matters relating to laws and regulations that may act as a barrier to education providers being able to offer 
             qualifications that meet the needs of the new economy and fastest growing sectors;

3.          factors that discourage closer partnerships between industry; in particular small and medium enterprises, the 
             research sector and education providers; including but not limited to: intellectual property; technology
             transfer; doctoral training practices; and rapid commercialisation;

4.          opportunities for generating increased economic activity, including further investment and jobs, through greater 
             synergies among publicly funded research agencies, universities and other Australian research institutions with 
             businesses and industry; including but not limited to: co-location, cluster formation and development of precincts 
             between universities and industry;

5.          relationships between tertiary education entrepreneurship programs and public, private, and not-for-profit
             incubators and accelerators; and

6.          other related matters that the Committee considers relevant.