Media releases

Federation University contributed $269 million to regional Australia’s real GDP in 2018, a new economic impact study has found.

The study for the Regional Universities Network (RUN) found its seven regionally headquartered universities are a driving force in regional communities.

The Economic Impact of the Regional Universities Network study by Nous and the Centre of Policy Studies showed that in 2018, RUN universities contributed $2.4 billion to real GDP in regional Australia and created 11,300 jobs, a 41 per cent increase since 2015.

The study revealed that in 2018 Federation University students spent $99 million in regional areas, and in the same year the university had an expenditure of $289 million.

The study focused on economic contributions from RUN campuses including Federation’s Ballarat, Churchill and Berwick campuses.

It found that between 2017 and 2019, 69 per cent of Federation’s domestic bachelor-level graduates stayed in regional Australia for work. This compares with 24 per cent of non-RUN bachelor-level graduates. Federation’s median undergraduate starting salary for 2017-2019 was $64,000.

According to the study, RUN played an important role in filling the demand pipeline for key industries in regional Australia, with nearly half of all RUN graduates going on to work in the Health Care and Social Assistance, and Education and Training industries in 2019,  the two industries expected to experience the greatest employment growth over the next five years in regional Australia.

The study also featured scenario modelling that found:

• if 6,000 more students from regional, rural and remote NSW, Victoria and Queensland attended RUN universities, an additional 690 jobs would be generated and $122 million more contributed to real GDP.
• doubling RUN research income to $253 million would generate an additional $94 million in real GDP across RUN’s regional campus areas and an additional 600 jobs.
• if each RUN university received a once-off capital investment valued at $50 million, an additional 900 ongoing jobs, not including one-off construction jobs, would be generated and $140 million more contributed to real GDP
• increased population in a region due to the presence of a university generates a possible $2.9 billion and 15,700 jobs.

The study focused on higher education and did not include Federation’s Brisbane and Horsham campuses, or study hubs and technology parks. A separate analysis found Federation’s two Ballarat Technology Park sites, which host more than 2000 private sector jobs, have an annual economic impact of more than $300 million in the regional economy.

 The findings of the Economic Impact of the Regional Universities Network study can be found at: www.run.edu.au/resources/RUN_Findings_Report_final_.pdf

Quotes attributable to Federation University Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Duncan Bentley

“Regional universities have always been an integral part of their local communities and this study demonstrates just how significant a role, that institutions like Federation, play in the economic prosperity of regional Australia.”

“When students study with us they spend money locally and when they’ve completed their studies, the majority of our graduates go on to work in regional areas, adding to the economic benefits of those regions.”

Quotes attributable to Federation University Gippsland Head of Campus, Ms Leigh Kennedy

“The report confirms the important role that regional universities like Federation have, not just in supplying job-ready graduates and world class research, but also in terms of regional economic contribution and growth.”

“In Gippsland, Federation has over 200 highly skilled employees and over 1500 students that contribute directly to a higher level of economic activity.”

Quotes attributable to Federation University Ballarat Head of Campus, Sam Henson

“Federation University has a long history of significant contributions to the Ballarat and Central Highlands region and this report highlights that contribution. While the report does not include Federation TAFE in the Wimmera and Ballarat regions, TAFE makes significant impacts through training, skills development and engagement with our local communities.”

“When you add these contributions to the economic data in the RUN report, we can get a real sense of the overall impact Federation University and Federation TAFE has in its regions.”

Quotes attributable to Federation University Berwick Head of Campus, Kathy Racunica

“Federation’s Berwick campus is contributing to the prosperity of Melbourne’s outer south-east through growing partnerships and collaboration with all levels of government, industry, education providers and community to build the region’s skills, qualifications and innovative research.

“Our program alignment with the region’s growth industries will continue to provide local students the opportunities for direct and meaningful industry placements, graduate employment in our region and continuous upskilling of the workforce.”