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Senior ministers from the United Kingdom and Australia have marked a major step forward in bilateral education and research cooperation, with the signing of a new UK–Australia university alliance at UNSW Sydney.
The UK Secretary of State for Education, the Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson, and Australia’s Minister for Education, Jason Clare, visited the campus today to witness the formalisation of the Advanced Skills Alliance, a partnership linking eight leading universities to accelerate skills development and research in security, defence and national resilience.
The alliance is aligned with the UK–Australia Geelong Treaty and is designed to support delivery of the AUKUS innovation agenda, which extends beyond defence platforms to workforce capability, advanced technology and sovereign skills.
The founding members are UNSW Sydney, Curtin University, and Adelaide University in Australia, alongside Cranfield University, King’s College London, Imperial College London, the University of Southampton, and the University of Strathclyde in the UK.
Phillipson said education and innovation were central to the AUKUS partnership.
“Education and innovation are the backbone of AUKUS, and both the UK and Australia are home to world-class universities driving cutting-edge research,” she said.
“By working together, we are investing in our future security, our technology and – most importantly – our people. This will open up opportunities for students, support industry and build a workforce ready to meet the challenges ahead.”
She said the alliance would help both governments develop the highly skilled workforce needed to deliver the full scope of innovation under the AUKUS agreement.
Minister Clare said the pact highlighted the human dimension of AUKUS: “AUKUS isn’t just about submarines – it’s about people.”
“It’s about universities working together, PhD students working together, and building long-term links between our two countries. Bringing key businesses together alongside our universities is in the national interest of both Australia and the UK for decades to come,” Minister Clare added.
A centrepiece of the agreement is the establishment of a joint UK–Australia Centre for Doctoral Training focused on security, defence and resilience.
PhD candidates will undertake research in fields such as nuclear engineering and safety, systems design and cyber security, with students spending up to 12 months studying in the partner country.
The alliance will also deliver broader education and training initiatives, including short courses, micro-credentials and new curricula tailored to workforce needs arising from the Nuclear-Powered Submarine Partnership and the wider AUKUS framework.
The agreement is expected to expand over time to include colleges in both countries, including Australia’s TAFE sector.
UNSW Sydney’s vice-chancellor and president, Professor Attila Brungs, said the alliance represented a rare opportunity for universities to drive national capability.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for our universities to lead in high-impact innovation,” Brungs said.
“The alliance strengthens the training pipeline that will produce the highly skilled experts of the future – researchers who will found new companies, create jobs and build the security and resilience our nations rely on.”
Industry engagement is a defining feature of the agreement. The memorandum of understanding was developed in consultation with both governments and shaped through extensive engagement with defence primes, multinational firms and high-growth companies in Australia and the UK. The alliance will seek joint funding from government and industry to deliver its objectives.
Adelaide University’s deputy vice-chancellor (external engagement), Professor Jessica Gallagher, said the partnership would deliver long-term benefits for both countries.
“By uniting leading universities across Australia and the UK, we’re creating a shared pipeline of talent and research that will strengthen our security, defence and resilience for decades,” she said.
Curtin University’s deputy vice-chancellor of research, Professor Melinda Fitzgerald, said the alliance would link world-class research with real-world impact.
“This strategic partnership brings universities, industry and government together to deliver cutting-edge research while developing critical and emerging skills,” she said.
UK partners also welcomed the agreement. Imperial College London said the alliance would fast-track the advanced skills and innovation underpinning AUKUS, while Cranfield University vice-chancellor Professor Dame Karen Holford said international cooperation was essential as global security challenges intensify.
“We’re delighted to contribute our specialist facilities, defence expertise and strong industry links to build the sovereign skills and research capabilities needed in both the UK and Australia,” she said.
Stephen Kuper
Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.
