The peak body combines with the University Chancellors Council to ask for more

The pair present a “policy guide” also badged a policy platform,  for the university sector “to play its fullest role in helping solve the nation’s biggest challenges and secure Australia’s future.”

The case is made with multipliers, a dollar spent on research and development grows the economy by $5, graduates deliver $891 000, “in benefits to the broader economy over their lifetime”, 500 000 new jobs will require a bachelor degree over the next five years. And to assist them to make it all happen all UA and their eminences ask for more, including;

* more fully-funded student places

* more research investment – to match the OECD average of 2.4 per cent of GDP then “grow commensurately”

* more FEE HELP – expanded to micro-credentials and shorter courses, “to ensure that Australians can up-skill and re-skill

Plus, it seems, more regulation. “Regulation should support our universities to build Australia’s productivity through innovation and safeguard our global reputation for high-quality education and research. Together, universities and government can strike a balance of regulation that will reenergise Australia’s productivity.”

Now that’s a twist for new times after the election.