³Õ¾±³¦³Ù´Ç°ù¾±²¹¡¯²õ Deakin University has joined the Australian Technology Network of Universities (ATN), restoring critical mass the group lost when Queensland University of Technology decamped two years ago.

Deakin vice-chancellor Iain Martin said that the move had followed careful consideration. ¡°In a year that has seen so much change, having a network of peers who can provide advice, guidance and support has never been more important,¡± he said.

¡°It is an exciting time for Deakin to join the ATN family, and the alignment of our missions could not be better.¡±

The ATN said the change cemented its position as Australia¡¯s second largest university grouping in terms of students, research funding and world-standard research. Members would now host about one-sixth of enrolments, totalling more than 265,000 students.

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Deakin is one of Australia¡¯s biggest online educators. ATN executive director Luke Sheehy said its addition also gave his network a strong regional presence through Deakin¡¯s base in the ¡°gateway city¡± of Geelong and its Warrnambool campus on ³Õ¾±³¦³Ù´Ç°ù¾±²¹¡¯²õ west coast.

He said that Deakin shared a ¡°commonality of purpose¡± with the ATN¡¯s other four members. ¡°We¡¯re big [universities]. We¡¯re well and truly connected to industry. We¡¯ve got an explicit research impact mission and big social justice and equity [objectives]. I think those alignments were pretty compelling for Deakin and they¡¯re coming on board.¡±

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Deakin and QUT are not the only universities to have sidled in to or out of representative groupings in recent years. The Innovative Research Universities group was bolstered by the addition of Western Sydney University in 2017, following the departure of Macquarie University and the University of Newcastle over the previous decade.

The Regional Universities Network received a significant boost last year when it was joined by Australia¡¯s biggest regional player, Charles Sturt University.

ATN chairman Attila Brungs said he was delighted about Deakin¡¯s ascension. ¡°Another member adds to our collective impact and enriches our peer-to-peer networks for researchers, professional staff and university leaders,¡± he said.

john.ross@timeshighereducation.com