Australian companies urged to contribute to education

Australian companies urged to contribute to education

News

Australian big business is being urged to contribute to the country’s public education system by Education Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

Gillard said that the corporate sector should play a role in education through mentoring, offering scholarships and investing in research.

Her enthusiasm is partially inspired by a recent visit to the United States, where she met with Carnegie Corporation, which focuses on educational philanthropy, as well as other groups promoting corporate involvement in education. “Corporate America seemed to have a very real sense of the value of education and how important it is to their own success … there is certainly an opportunity, in my view, for those engaged in corporate Australia to play a role in the education of our young people”, she told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Australian business groups are backing the idea, and the Business Council of Australia is exploring corporate sponsorship among a number of options. Sponsorship of schools in the US is common. In the UK there are over 80 academies, sponsored by business, individuals, faith and voluntary groups.

Speaking on 30th June at the City of London Corporation in London, Gillard referred to the diversification of service provision in the UK and in Australia. Concentrating on healthcare and education in particular, she said, “The challenge is not whether to combine public and private resources in these essential sectors, but how best to do it. This means recognising the importance of strong, autonomous local institutions – like great firms, community focused hospitals, excellent public schools – in creating lasting value for the public.”