It is a mistake to take research money from universities to fund gaps in the National Disabilities Insurance Scheme, the new chairman of Australia's high-profile Group of Eight (Go8) university body, Queenslander Professor Peter Hoj said this week.

University of Queensland vice-chancellor and UQ Senate president Professor Hoj was recently appointed the head of Australia's leading university research body, the Group of Eight universities.

University of Queensland Vice Chancellor Professor Peter Hoj Credit:Damien Bredberg

The Australian newspaper reports that the Federal Government intends to transfer $3.7 billion from the Education Investment Fund to the National Disabilities Investment Scheme to fill a funding shortfall.

The Education Investment Fund is used to pay for new infrastructure at Australia's universities.