The Group of Eight has less to complain about the suggested Higher Education Future Fund (although they will work with whatever they have got). According to S&P Global Ratings while there may be a downside for the Go8 “it will be slight.” (More, “no stress HEFF” in Features).
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While John Dewar is newly retired from being VC at La Trobe U he is keeping busy, just a little less so than planned. Professor Dewar was recently announced as new chair of the Higher Education Standards Panel and joined Korda Mentha as a Partner, consulting on performance improvement. However on Tuesday, he addressed the risk of any misperception of a conflict of interest between the roles, telling FC he was standing down from HESP, (before chairing a meeting). “ I have been giving this issue careful thought in the last few weeks and, following discussion with the Department, I have decided to stand aside as chair of HESP.”
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The Australian Research Council announces 25 Mid-Career Industry Fellowships with a 23 per cent approval rate. Four go to Uni Melbourne researchers with two each to another six, ANU, QUT, Uni Newcastle, Uni Queensland, Uni Sydney and UWA. Engineering (eight) and ag vet sci and food (four) are the big winners.
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The Business Council of Australia makes a case for a national skills passport, which is now being considered by the Feds. That’s skills as BCA sees them; including microcredentials and industry certificates, not just a list of formal qualifications. BCA argues government’s role is to develop “national qualifications data standards” to be used by the existing skills passport providers in Australia already operating “at scale.” And then there is attaching it to MyGov, “if this makes business sense.”
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Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic was explaining the benefits of the government’s tax cuts in Question Time the other day, when Opposition members expressed scepticism. To which Mr Husic replied, “I don’t know if George Costanza has been hired as a special strategic advisor—’It’s not a lie if you believe it.’ “The Minister withdrew on the Speaker’s request, presumably the mention of a lie – although Mr Husic’s referring to ancient TV should be a breach of standing orders. Education Minister Jason Clare later revealed Mr Husic pumped petrol as a student – thus ending the rumour he wrote Seinfeld scripts to fund study.
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So where, pray is the workforce to design the Navy’s new ships and submarines, not to mention the spooky cyber stuff to come? It’s not a question found easily answered in the Defence Industry Development Strategy, released last week.
There are references to training programmes and the importance of the states – but as to universities training engineers and IT experts, not much of a strategic sausage.
Yes, Defence is partnering with industry and universities, “to focus on rapidly pulling through disruptive technologies that deliver game changing capabilities.” Certainly, Defence Science Technology Group, “in collaboration with Australian industry, academia, and our trusted partners, plays a crucial role in providing scientific and technological advice to Defence to develop innovative solutions.” Plus visibility of Defence innovation, science and technology opportunities will strengthen the Australian Defence Science and Universities Network. But that’s about it.
Maybe Department of Defence PR has a secret plan to demolish enemies by a blather barrage. In case not, Universities Australia is on to AUKUS, last week “bringing together senior government officials from AUKUS partner countries to drive deeper collaboration to support the delivery of the AUKUS initiative.”
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One of the Fair Work Ombudsman’s cases against the University of Melbourne was in the Federal Court on Tuesday. AAP reports the University admitted a casual academic was not offered another contract after claiming for additional hours of work. Justice Dowling reserved his decision.
This is separate to the FWO’s case claiming the University underpaid casual academic staff.
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The Student Ombudsman could be busy with complaints about universities that are not entirely across how to manage sexual violence matters. The UNSW Human Rights Institute has collated information from universities across the country, to find:
- while nearly all now have specific polices, only 15 have plans for action against sexual/gender-based violence
- some university reporting processes are unclear in the terminology of complaints. The report includes individual university results from previous surveys of student awareness of how to make a complaint or seek support about sexual harassment/assault.
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The Australian Research Council announces 25 Mid-Career Industry Fellowships with a 23% approval rate. Four go to Uni Melbourne researchers with two each to another six, ANU, QUT, Uni Newcastle, Uni Queensland, Uni Sydney and UWA. Engineering (eight) and ag vet sci and food (four) are the big winners.
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CQU VC Nick Klomp has a second five-year term, and he is going to spend some of it “making sure, the corridors of power in Brisbane and in Canberra understand the fundamental roles of regional universities and CQU specifically. We need more resources, more support to really get our goals achieved,” he says in an in-house interview. Sergeants-at-Arms, take note.
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HE providers are getting to work on AI plans for assessment at least – with TEQSA requiring them to provide a “credible” institutional action plan, “oversighted by the appropriate governance mechanisms” dealing with generative AI risks to learning attainment by June.
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Uni Queensland announces unspecified funding from the State Government’s venture capital development fund for its Momentum Accelerator. It’s a 15-week program culminating “in a pitch to top investors.” Participation isn’t restricted to UoQ students or university affiliates. The University also renews its partnership with the Queensland Firebirds, the State Team in the national netball competition. Wise, very wise, 100,000 Queenslanders play netball or help make the sport happen. A great way to associate the university brand with a grassroots sport.
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Last year, skills the Education ministers’ Minco expanded the VET teaching workforce by deciding qualified secondary school teachers can deliver training under supervision. So can people studying courses for Certificate IV and Diplomas in VET teaching. Skills and Training Minister Brendan O’Connor approved them by legislative instrument on Friday.
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Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic is pleased indeed to announce $9m for Australian space tech that shows how “our companies can contribute on the global stage.” Good-o, although it may not be enough to placate the Space Industry Association of Australia, which was cross last year, claiming the government had cut $1.2bn for critical space infrastructure development.
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Swinburne U is pleased indeed with the commercial success of accounting academic Grainne Oates’ Quitch (“inducing entertainment in learning processes and creating fun journeys”). It started in 2016 with $400,000 in venture capital and appears an excellent example of a university backing an entrepreneur of its own. FC still thinks the name sounds like a mean accountant in Dickens (CMM March 16 2017).
