Innovative Research Universities (IRU), formerly Innovative Research Universities Australia, is a network of eight
comprehensive universities in Australia.
The main purpose of the group is to undertake advocacy on issues related to higher education policy, research and university students.
The IRU has eight university members:
Charles Darwin University
Charles Darwin University (CDU) is an Australian public university with a main campus in Darwin and eight satellite campuses in some metropolitan and regional areas. It was established in 2003 after the merger of Northern Territory University, ...
,
James Cook University,
Griffith University
Griffith University is a public research university in South East Queensland on the east coast of Australia. Formally founded in 1971, Griffith opened its doors in 1975, introducing Australia's first degrees in environmental science and Asian ...
,
La Trobe University
La Trobe University is a public university, public research university based in Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia. Its main campus is located in the suburb of Bundoora, Victoria, Bundoora. The university was established in 196 ...
,
Flinders University,
Murdoch University,
Western Sydney University and the
University of Canberra. Between them, the universities enrol over 238,000 students including around 55,000 international students.
The IRU is one of the four main university groupings in Australia. The other groups are
Australian Technology Network
The Australian Technology Network (ATN) is a network of six Australian universities, with a strong history of innovation, enterprise and working closely with industry. ATN traces its origins back to 1975 as the Directors of Central Institutes o ...
,
Group of Eight and
Regional Universities Network.
History
In 2003, a group of universities sharing common origins established the Innovative Research Universities a collaborative network to enhance the outcomes of higher education. The members were established as research-intensive universities during the 1960s and 1970s, a dynamic period characterised by massive expansion in higher education and extensive innovation in educational design and delivery – hence, the network name of ‘Innovative Research Universities’.
The founding six universities were: Flinders University, Griffith University, La Trobe University, Macquarie University, Murdoch University and The University of Newcastle. James Cook University joined in 2007, followed by Charles Darwin University in 2009. These additions were balanced as first Macquarie (2008) and then Newcastle (2014) left the group to pursue their future independently. In 2017, Western Sydney University joined, followed by the University of Canberra in 2021.
Members
Research
All members of the IRU are ranked between 170 and 540 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021. Five IRU universities are also ranked in the global top 100 in the Times Higher Education Impact Ranking 2021. The group collectively attracts A$415 million per annum in research funding from national research agencies, industry and public sector agencies including local and state governments.
The members are core partners in half of all
Australian Co-operative Research Centres (CRCs). The CRC Program links researchers with industry and government, and emphasises research application.
Map
See also
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Universities in Australia
There are 43 universities in Australia: 40 Australian universities (36 public and 4 private) and 3 international private universities. The Commonwealth Higher Education Support Act 2003 sets out three groups of Australian higher education provi ...
*
Universities Australia
*
Australian Technology Network
The Australian Technology Network (ATN) is a network of six Australian universities, with a strong history of innovation, enterprise and working closely with industry. ATN traces its origins back to 1975 as the Directors of Central Institutes o ...
*
Golden Triangle (English universities)
*
C9 League
The C9 League () is an alliance of nine universities in China, initiated by the Chinese Central Government to promote the development and reputation of higher education in China in 2009. Collectively, universities in the C9 League account for 3 ...
, alliance of top universities in
China
*
National Institutes of Technology
The National Institutes of Technology (NITs) are the central government-owned-public technical institutes under the ownership of Ministry of Education, Government of India. They are governed by the National Institutes of Technology, Scienc ...
(Indian engineering universities)
*
Group of Eight
*
Regional Universities Network
References
External links
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{{Australian university groups , state=expanded
College and university associations and consortia in Australia