Central Queensland University has joined Eidos – a new consortium of Queensland universities, government and non-government agencies committed to improving education and social change research, policy and practice.

State Education Minister Anna Bligh launched Eidos in Brisbane this week as part of Queensland’s Education Week. Eidos is from the Greek language and means ideas, thinking or plan.

Associate Professor Bruce Knight, from the School of Education and Innovation, represented CQU at the launch.

Eidos Executive Director Bruce Muirhead said the consortium would provide a cooperative space “where we are able to build something bigger by co-producing”.

Mr Muirhead said Eidos aimed to provide a central hub for research and policy planning. He said it would generate linkages between state and national governments, universities and communities.

Eidos chairperson Professor Colin Power said the consortium would harness resources to maximise their contribution to state, national and global education and social research and policy.

“Currently, research in education, social policy and change in Australia is largely confined to small groups working on a particular area of academic interest in a university or specialised institution,” Professor Power said.

He said the research effort was too often disjointed, linear and isolated (ie not clearly linked to policy-makers and practitioners who need ideas).

Details about Eidos are available via j.sosnowski@eidos.org.au .