Higher Education Conference 2015
 
E-Newsletter 5 December 2014
Universities shaping the new era
Universities Australia's Higher Education Conference 2015 will be held against a backdrop of unprecedented and far-reaching change in the higher education sector both nationally and internationally.

Registrations are now open for the university sector's premier event, to be held at the National Convention Centre in Canberra from 11 to 13 March.

The Conference is a must-attend event bringing together local and global experts, academics, policy makers and business representatives to discuss the critical role of higher education in Australia's future and the key issues facing universities.

Themed Future Sense: Universities shaping the new era, next year's conference will have a particular emphasis on fostering collaboration between universities and business to boost international competitiveness for a prosperous economy and society.

Conference sessions include:
  • The new competitive market
  • Sense in our future: universities and the new era
  • The new era: what do higher education reforms mean for students?
  • Political sense: are there votes in higher education?
  • Research policy
  • International education and student mobility
  • Pathways to university
For further information on the conference program and to register, visit the conference website.


Early bird registration
You can save by registering for the Conference before 23 January 2015. We all have a lot of things to do before the end of the year, but this is one thing you can't miss!

Register online now to enjoy the early bird rate of $1850 (normally $2100). You can register by clicking here.

Don't miss the new welcome cocktails
This year we are doing things a little differently. The conference welcome cocktails event will be held the evening before the conference, on Tuesday 10 March, in the exhibition hall of the National Convention Centre. This is a great opportunity to catch up with colleagues, visit the exhibition stands and take a sneak peak at the posters.

The welcome cocktails event is included in the registration fee for the conference but we do ask that you let us know íf you're coming along. You can do that by ticking the 'welcome cocktails' box as you register.

We'll also be opening the registration desk on Tuesday evening so you can pick up your conference pass and satchel ahead of the rush on Wednesday morning.
New poster exhibition
University research is more important than ever before in our rapidly changing world.

To encourage researchers to promote their projects and to encourage collaboration especially with industry, we are introducing for the first time at the Conference a poster exhibition.

This will be an opportunity for PhD candidates and early career researchers to showcase their work to senior researchers, as well as to delegates from across higher education, industry and government.

Posters will be on display in the exhibition hall and the researchers will be available during lunch and tea breaks to discuss their research project and to answer any questions you may have.

Universities Australia will be asking delegates to nominate their favourite poster - with a prize going to the researcher with the best project poster, as judged by you.

Exhibition
As the premier event for Australia's universities, our Higher Education Conference brings together the 'who's who' of the sector - including Vice-Chancellors, Chancellors, university and Government representatives, members of the research community and international education specialists as well as those who want to do business with higher education providers.

Exhibiting at the Higher Education Conference 2015 is an opportunity to showcase your company or organisation to Australia's fourth largest export industry. Universities employ over 120,000 staff and directly contribute around $23 billion to our GDP every year. They are significant contributors to their local communities by providing local employment opportunities and building vital infrastructure. It's a sector with high growth potential, undergoing and implementing an exciting transformation. The Conference is attended by over 600 delegates.

Your involvement as an exhibitor at the Conference cements your support of the sector and will be widely promoted in the lead up to and during the Conference.

Exhibition spaces are limited so secure yours now.

For more information about exhibition and sponsorship opportunities at the Conference see our Sponsorship and Exhibition Prospectus or contact Liz Southwell on 02 6285 8130 or l.southwell@universitiesaustralia.edu.au.

Delegates who visit all of the exhibition stands at the conference will go in the running to win a prize, so we do encourage everyone to speak to as many of the exhibitors as you can.


Accommodation
Hotels in Canberra have a tendency to book out fast when big conferences are in town, so don't forget to lock in your accommodation early.

To assist delegates, Universities Australia has secured a discounted rate for a number of premier hotels in Canberra.

The hotels for which we have negotiated special rates are:
  • Crowne Plaza
  • Novotel
  • Hotel Realm
  • Burbury Hotel
  • Hyatt Hotel
For further details about the hotels including location, rates and links to book, click here.

Thanks to our sponsors
Universities Australia thanks our sponsors for their support in bringing this premier conference to light.