Public Policy Precinct at ANU

Lots of public policy initiatives are planned at ANU in which the Crawford School looks to play a major role:

ANU Media Release

SATURDAY 8 MAY 2010

ANU TO ESTABLISH $111.7 million PUBLIC POLICY PRECINCT

The Australian National University (ANU) will play a lead role in
boosting Australia's expertise through enhanced teaching and research in
public policy and will establish a new Australian National Institute for
Public Policy to complement the enhanced role.

The Commonwealth Government has committed a grand total of $111.7
million for this purpose.

ANU Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Chubb said: "The importance of
teaching and research as a foundation for future policy will be
highlighted by the development of a public policy 'precinct' based
around the new JG Crawford building. We would like also to thank the
Federal Government for their commitment to education and research as a
means to build a solid foundation for Australia's future."

Announced by the Prime Minister today, the $111.7 million will cover a
number of elements:


* An Australian National Institute for Public Policy -
established to highlight under one banner the public policy expertise
available through ANU and its various specialist centres, including the
recently announced Australian Centre on China in the World and the
National Security College, and the Australia and New Zealand School of
Government (ANZSOG);

* $14 million to bolster public policy expertise at ANU, through
enhancing capacity in The Crawford School of Economics and Government
and establishing the H. C. Coombs Policy Forum, which will inform future
policy development;

* $7 million to support Sir Roland Wilson Foundation
scholarships for public servants to study at ANU;

* $17.3 million National Security College operations;

* A new $19.8 million building to house jointly the new National
Security College and the enhanced presence of ANZSOG in the precinct;

* The recently announced $53.1 million Australian Centre on
China in the World (including a building); and

* $0.5m to scope the need and nature of additional accommodation
for officials and students in Canberra for courses.


Professor Chubb said the 'precinct' would be a place where public
servants and others working on policy for the nation could engage with
leading researchers and educators from a wide range of disciplines.

"We welcome this announcement from the Commonwealth Government, and are
very pleased to see our strategic relationship with the Government
gathering such momentum," Professor Chubb said.

"Since its establishment in 1946 ANU has had very close links with
public service, whether that is through our researchers informing
Government policy or professional short courses.

"Today's announcement takes the relationship between the nation's
university, the nation's public servants and the nation's Government to
a new level. The public policy precinct is a very tangible sign that ANU
is a strategic endowment for the nation, working in the national
interest.

"The H. C. Coombs Forum will be a key part of the development, and will
be the venue for well-informed, spirited debate between academics and
public servants. It will also be the base for research-based evidence
informing public policy," Professor Chubb said.