Addressing foreign interference risks

As a leading public university of technology, UTS recognises the importance of effectively addressing foreign interference risks across all our operations while also protecting Australia’s national interests. We are committed to acting at all times in Australia’s national interests.

We have adopted a principles-based approach to international engagements which ensures we only pursue opportunities that align with our vision, values and government policy.

To operationalise this approach, we have strengthened our practices across all related areas of the university to make sure foreign interference risks are identified and managed. Key aspects of our response include:

  1. Enhancing our institutional resilience: we have established a new business assurance function to further develop our resilience to foreign interference risks, coordinate our response across a suite of international regulatory considerations and support a capacity uplift to ensure a sustainable, long-term program to protect Australia’s national interest.
  2. A structured approach to international engagements: we utilise a framework that provides a systematic approach to managing the full lifecycle of international collaborations: from initial inception and making a risk-informed decision about a potential collaboration through to ongoing management and assurance processes. This framework allows for easy and quick evolution in response to any external changes.
  3. Robust policy framework: we have reviewed and updated a suite of UTS policies to incorporate consideration of foreign interference risks and ensure high levels of transparency and accountability.
  4. Established risk management culture and due diligence requirements: we have focused on developing a risk-informed organisational culture and enhanced our due diligence requirements. Since 2017 we have used external due diligence providers to provide us with intelligence that supports informed decisions about international activities.
  5. Risk-based delegation framework: our delegations of authority are risk-based, with the seniority of the delegate increasing proportionate to the risk of an activity.
  6. Clear process to manage outside work and conflicts of interest: we have established policies and processes requiring staff to disclose all outside work and conflicts of interest.
  7. Collaborative cybersecurity approach: we have established a unique joint cybersecurity office with the University of Newcastle, ensuring both institutions benefit from increased scale and shared knowledge in managing cybersecurity threats.
  8. Multidimensional government engagement: we have extensive ongoing engagement with key government departments and agencies including ASIO, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Department of Education and the Department of Defence to receive advice related to risks including advice on how to respond to those risks as they arise.
  9. Deliberative change management program: we are focussed on enhancing our organisational culture to ensure staff understand the constantly evolving geo-political environment within which many of them operate.

We are committed to further strengthening and evolving our practice in line with the changing geopolitical environment and protecting Australia’s national interests.

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.