The Australian Academy of Science names the nine ECRs to attend this year’s Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting (FC, Appointments/Achievements, this week) in June-July. The Academy is either optimistic about available JetA-1 or is going to use the teleporter rumoured to be hidden in its Canberra HQ.
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After six years, Pascale Quester will finish as Swinburne U VC in July, to be replaced by Chief Academic Officer Simon Ridings as IVC.
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Uni Melbourne is consulting on its rule on campus protests, introduced a year back by former Vice-Chancellor, the late Emma Johnston. Professor Johnston took over early last year, in the aftermath of 2024 Gaza protests, when it appeared at times as if university management had lost control of the Parkville campus. She was quick to establish a Vice-Chancellor’s Rule which forbids indoor protests and states others must not obstruct or “unreasonably disrupt” activities or operations.
The Victorian branch of the National Tertiary Education Union and allies want the rule gone and calls for management, students and the union “to develop a principled framework for protest regulation based on a presumption in favour of permitting peaceful protest.” Former UoM VC Glyn Davis is now acting, following Professor Johnston’s death at Christmas.
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The EU Free Trade Agreement (announced Wednesday) includes Australia’s “intention to commence negotiations with a view to associating from 2027 to Horizon Europe.” This would allow Aus Us to compete for research funds but, according to the Group of Eight’s Vicki Thomson, “access to Horizon Europe is about much more than funding,” and that is saying something. The proposed 2028-’34 budget for Horizon is €175bn ($297bn). According to Ms T, association, “allows Australian researchers and firms not only to participate, but to lead projects, shape research agendas and collaborate at scale across health, energy, defence, climate and advanced manufacturing.” And the Go8 will put its money where its mouth is, promising to “contribute to the joining fee.” Just how much is not known nor what it will cost the Government – there has long been scepticism as to what would be in the deal for Treasury. But Industry Minister Tim Ayres is not worried, “collaborating through Horizon Europe has a multiplier effect and is good value for money,” he said Wednesday.
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Curtin U wins this month’s Best Excuse Ever Award for, “Open Day postponed due to approaching cyclone”.
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Back in January, James Cook U’s council announced a committee to work out what to do if the university ever decided to change its name. Not that it is, you understand, but just in case. The university named its Townsville campus Bebegu Yumba (“place of learning”) in 2020 which might be an indication of what could come up.
This upset the Queensland Government quite a bit more than a bit. Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek expressed the view that James Cook RN was a good bloke to name a university for. And he stayed upset – this week Mr Langbroek announced increasing government-appointed members on council, presumably to ensure JCU stayed JCU. And to get it done fast, he added the change to the Electrical Safety and Other Legislation Bill, in Parliament the other day. Primary Industry Minister Tony Perrett explained why in the debate. “Too many institutions stray from their core business by pandering to political activism, grievances, culture wars, revisionism of our history and costly woke posturing. … JCU needs to get back to its core job of education. It should not indulge in woke agendas such as name changes which demonise one of the world’s greatest explorers. It does nothing for education. We are restoring trust in the university.”
This is exactly what advocates of more staff and students on university governing bodies in general do not want. The NTEU has campaigned on this for years and want the Education Minister to encourage State Ministers to change memberships. More conservatives from the community is not what the comrades have in mind.
The Bill passed.
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ANU has an acting COO – the admirably optimistic Michael Schwager who moves from DG of IP Australia. “The ANU’s purpose is to provide our nation, and region, with the research and education foundations on which to build capacity and accelerate national prosperity. It doesn’t get better than that!” he says. So what happened to predecessor Jonathan Churchill? DVC I Rebekha Brown told staff he was leaving to “take up a role elsewhere.”
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Skills Minister Andrew Giles mentions Free TAFE enrolments total 742,000 – with course completions almost at a quarter of a million. After three years, attrition rates will have to be published way sooner than later but for the moment, the program looks a political plus for the Government. There was certainly an applause-a-thon in the Reps Monday, with the two Coalition questions about value for money being ignored. There is going to be more of this to divert attention from the Greens push to keep Job Ready Graduates on the agenda.
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HASS demand seems stable in NSW-ACT, the biggest school-leaver university market in the country. The Universities Admission Centre reports Health had 26% first preference applications this year, up 1% on last. Society and Culture (HASS under another name) was second with 19%, (20% last year).