Lance Twomey

When a high-profile business leader like Michael Chaney chooses to devote a major address to Perth's business leadership to the topic of schoolteachers, it's worth sitting up and taking notice.

Western Australia's universities have called on the State Government to take a more strategic role in guiding and supporting development of the sector.

The planned merger of Curtin and Murdoch universities highlights the major changes facing Western Australia's higher education sector. WA Business News convened a boardroom forum to discuss the current issues and future outlook for the state's public universities.

Australia's universities are highly competitive, especially in their pursuit of research dollars, yet some of the best research occurs when they collaborate.

The shortage of skilled labour has affected most industries in Western Australia, and universities are no exception.