Universities struggling to make the case for their courses should have a look at the series of 15 second vids the WA Government has made for Fee-Free TAFE courses. “Good jobs and good money. Whatever you want, you can make it at TAFE,” is the pitch.
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And the social licence renewed award goes to Uni Wollongong VC, Max Lu. Last week he had a tough couple of days – off to emergency for what turned out to be gallstones that needed taking out.
“Despite the pain and discomfort, this experience has given me something invaluable: a deep appreciation for the incredible dedication and professionalism of our healthcare workers,” he reported on LinkedIn. Tick.
To which he added, “what made me especially proud was meeting so many UOW graduates and current students working in the hospital. Their enthusiasm, professionalism and kindness reaffirmed what we stand for at the University of Wollongong.” Gold star.
Plus, “this brief time away from work has also been a moment for reflection — on the importance of education with purpose, and our mission to serve and uplift our local community. It’s a reminder that the impact of our university extends far beyond our campus — into every hospital ward, classroom, business and community where our people serve.”
Elephant stamp.
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Our hit-the-ground-running correspondent reports that Swinburne U is recruiting for an ED/PVC Global Engagement, sharpish. “In a matter of weeks Swinburne is launching our next 5-year strategy and the ED/PVC Global Engagement will be pivotal in realising our international ambitions,” is the pitch.
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Jason Clare and State Education Ministers have combined to expand government control of what is taught in schools and how. Deciding to create an Australian Teaching and Learning Commission by combining four oversight agencies, Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership, Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO), and Education Services Australia, (“connecting policy, technology and practice”), “with the whole being greater than the sum of its parts.” Plus, the maths curriculum is set for reform, along explicit instruction lines. Yet more oversight for the Initial Teacher Education afficianados.
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Paul Mazerolle starts in March as VC of University of Southern Queensland – moving from Uni New Brunswick in Canada. The weather won’t be a shock, he spent 20 years at Uni Queensland and Griffith U. But don’t ask what he has in mind. USQ states he won’t be doing interviews until the new year. Perhaps this is to give Karen Nelson time to finish dealing with deficits and for anger to subside over restructurecuts.
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Industry lobby AI Group has a bob each way on the Strategic Examination of Research and Development. “There is much to like at a high level in the SERD proposals, particularly the recognition of the need for a more focused, coordinated and outcome-driven approach to R&D and innovation."
Although, “linking R&D support to subjective assessments of ambition or growth introduces dangerous uncertainty."
However, the AI-line is straight on academic lobby demands for discovery research. "Any uplift in foundational research funding must not come at the expense of support for business-led innovation.”
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Monash U announces Colonial Load Leave, “a significant new provision that acknowledges the additional responsibilities and pressures often carried by Indigenous staff in the workplace.” It is additional to Ceremonial Leave, “time set aside specifically for cultural or community obligations.”
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At QUT, Science Faculty management proposes cutting 18 FTE academics positions and three professional staff positions through targeted redundancies if there are not sufficient volunteers. Executive Dean Troy Farrell points to domestic enrolments “trending downwards” which were previously offset by increased internationals in IT and data science. But alas, not now, which he attributes to government policy, and “a more worrying trend … a significant increase over the last two years of commencing international students who do not progress beyond their first semester of study.”
Staff and student protests are underway (there was a rally this week) but management has lost control of the optics. Government member Bryson Head criticised the plan in parliament Wednesday night and now the Courier Mail is involved.
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Home Affairs warns “several” applicants for student visas, “mostly from southern India” successfully applied to enrol at Group of Eight universities using fake passports from other countries. When accepted they then got student visas in their real names and nationality. The Department urges vigilance lest this spread. Unless, of course, it already has.
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UTS management releases the restructure plan for professional staff, following that for academics, already announced to uproar. UTS proposes cutting 209 FTE professional staff, with academics it estimates cutting a total 374 full time equivalent positions. This proposal is now out for six weeks and will likely be bitterly opposed. So far there have been matters in the Fair Work Commission and Federal Court and an intervention by the NSW work safety regulator.
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Uni Wollongong warns students that 1,247 of them were reported last year for academic misconduct, 48% over written assessments and 41% in exams. So what did the others get up to? And how many were found guilty? Just asking.
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The number of publicly-funded training students was 866,000 in June, which is 63,000, or nearly 7% lower than 12 months prior, according to new stats from the estimable National Centre for Vocational Education Research. Most of the fall was in higher-end certificates Three and Four courses. The only occupation-related increase was in electrotechnology courses, up 5,300. But construction and plumbing was down nearly 3,000. Still, the overall numbers may be better than they appear. As usual, the NCVER advises that if you want to know about Fee Free TAFE ask the Feds.