The University of Greenwich will become the 24^th member of the Alliance, which describes itself as a group of ¡°the most innovative and enterprising universities in the UK ¨C major institutions combining science and technology with a focus on delivering for the professions, business and the community¡±.

The move follows decisions by Coventry, Glasgow Caledonian, Kingston and Teesside universities to all join the Alliance from Million+ since 2009.

The more recent moves may be evidence of a shift in positioning by some institutions under the new, more marketised fees and funding system.

David Maguire, Greenwich vice-chancellor, said: ¡°Greenwich is an ambitious institution focused on top-class research and business engagement, as well as excellent learning and teaching, so University Alliance is our natural home.

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¡°This step is an important recognition of Greenwich¡¯s achievements so far in enhancing its reputation as a leading London university.¡±

Greenwich will join the group on 1 April.

Meanwhile, Alliance chief executive Libby Hackett and chair Steve West travelled to Australia to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Australian Technology Network, which comprises five of the ¡°most innovative and enterprising universities¡±.

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The link aims to include the development of a UK-Australia higher education policy leaders group; the potential for partnerships in Asia; collaborative work on international student visas; shared examination of student fee and loan models and work on the ¡°integration of student entrepreneurship and internship programmes¡± into curricula.

On Australia¡¯s funding model, Ms Hackett said there may be ¡°lessons we can learn from them¡±, noting that the nation had ¡°achieved a demand-led system that is affordable and sustainable to the government¡±.

She added that in Australia ¡°the idea of a social contract is very well established, between the student and the state, where there is about a 50-50 sharing of cost¡±.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com