Science skills key in literacy, numeracy push

One hundred preschools across Australia will trial a new Turnbull Government program set to boost curiosity and skills in science, technology, engineering and maths. Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham said the announcement of the start of the new Early Learning STEM Australia (ELSA) pilot coincided with National Literacy and Numeracy Week kicking off…

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Lifting the bar on quality teacher education

The Turnbull Government is lifting the bar on teaching quality with the rollout of performance assessments for new teachers graduating in 2018. Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham said universities and education experts in partnership with the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) would outline how they would assess teaching students against…

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2018 New Colombo Plan Mobility

Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Julie Bishop MP and Minister for Education and Training, Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham today announced the successful applicants for grants under the 2018 New Colombo Plan mobility program. The 2018 New Colombo Plan mobility grants will support 13,000 undergraduates from 40 Australian universities to live, study and complete…

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2017 Academic Ranking of World Universities

These rankings show why Australia’s universities are a ‘first choice’ study destination for international students.   I offer my congratulations to all of the Australian institutions that achieved a ranking and I welcome the international recognition of the exceptional talent, innovative ideas and cutting-edge partnerships I get to see when I visit campuses and research…

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Hallett Cove School shows STEM leadership

Robotics and coding, water pollution, accuracy in sports science and engineered mousetraps are some of the diverse subjects investigated by students during Hallett Cove School’s inaugural STEM Week.   The Federal Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham joined local Liberal MP and state Shadow Minister for the Environment David Speirs, students, teachers, parents and…

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Focusing on the facts of higher education reform

The Turnbull Government has welcomed the release of a Senate inquiry report recommending the Parliament pass reforms to higher education to ensure the system is sustainable and student-focused.   Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham said the report recognised the need to reform Australian higher education to drive better results for students and better…

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Quality focus needed to boost student results

With needs-based school funding now locked in for the future, it’s essential that education policy re-focus on quality teaching and programs proven to boost results, the Education and Training Minister Simon Birmingham said after the release of a “mixed bag” of NAPLAN results. “The results show that while we have excellent schools and teachers in…

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University sexual assault and sexual harassment

Sexual assault and harassment have no place in Australian universities, just as they have no place anywhere in Australia. Survey results released today show that Australian universities face similar challenges as institutions around the world to prevent sexual assault and harassment, and to support those who are subjected to it. Australians rightly expect that universities…

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