Universities actively engage with communities locally, nationally and internationally to drive research and innovation, to forge international linkages, to provide a highly educated professional workforce, and contribute to the economic and social fabric and productivity of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.
Collectively, the Committee’s member universities enrol over 536,000 students, including 167,349 international students studying (on and offshore). They employ around 41,250 staff (full‑time and fractional full‑time) and invest more than $9.6 billion each year in staff and services. In 2024, international education was the second largest export in NSW (behind coal) and the largest services export. It is estimated that member universities generated more than $17.9 billion in income for NSW in 2024.
In an increasingly competitive environment both domestically and internationally, it is essential for universities to work with the Commonwealth, State and Territory governments to develop strategies and policies to mutual benefit, and to assist in forging alliances across government, industry and local communities.
The fifteen member universities are: Australian Catholic University; Australian National University; Avondale University; Charles Sturt University; Macquarie University; Southern Cross University; University of Canberra; University of Newcastle; University of New England; University of New South Wales; University of Notre Dame, Australia; University of Sydney; University of Technology, Sydney; University of Wollongong; and Western Sydney University.