A new agreement between Flinders University and University College London will bring public policy closer to South Australia’s burgeoning resources and energy boom, as well as being the first step in an emerging partnership between the two institutions.

Under the agreement, Flinders University Master of Public Administration students will be able to undertake up to four subjects at UCL’s School of Energy and Resources, Australia, while Graduate Certificate students from UCL will receive credit for their studies when entering any Flinders University postgraduate public administration degree courses.

“We view the agreement as significant in itself for its potential to improve the future management of the State’s resources,” said Flinders Vice-Chancellor, Professor Michael Barber (pictured).

“It also foreshadows a closer involvement and potential articulation between Flinders and UCL, which, as one of the world’s most prestigious educational institutions, has an internationally recognised reputation across a range of disciplines.”

UCL Vice-Provost Professor Michael Worton says the new agreement is part of UCL’s collaborative approach to building partnerships in Australia.

“UCL prides itself on being able to work with other institutions in mutually beneficial ways and I’m pleased that this new agreement will pave the way for closer links between our students and academics,” Professor Worton said.

Professor Fiona Verity, Dean of the School of Social and Policy Studies at Flinders, said the agreement was an exciting initiative for the School.

“It’s a very good connection: to have people who have studied in an organisation of this calibre coming into our MPAs can only but enhance the relevance of these courses in terms of the energy and resource issues facing the State,” Professor Verity said.

“For the graduates, in terms of strengthening skills and knowledge, the combination of our generalist public administration courses with energy/resource focused topics will be a great investment,” she said.