Jason Clare had (some) kind words at the last meeting of the University Chancellors Council Wednesday, which made a change from his prevision suggestion, “if you do not think there are challenges in university governance, you have been living under a rock.” And he did not mention that “some of the things that have put universities on the front page for the wrong reasons” occurred on the watch of UCC members. But he did welcome the council joining Universities Australia – perhaps because it meant he could thank them for “the good you do.” Present tense, not past.
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Victoria U student advisor Michele Duffy wanted to work from home two days a week. The University proposed a one-day a week trial and the matter ended up in the Fair Work Commission.
Where Commissioner Tran found VU had a case for refusing her request, “considering its business need for student advisors to be available to respond to walk-in enquiries.” However, the Commissioner ruled she can work from home a day each week, accepting the reasons for her original request, “as a worker aged 55 or older, this arrangement would help reduce physical fatigue associated with commuting and support my continued productivity and wellbeing.”
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Uni WA announces it is accepting students at its second Indian campus in Chennai, following already operating UWA Mumbai. The news came Monday, as VC Amit Chakma was promoting Australian research achievements that depend “on university revenues generated by international student fees.” “Please don’t kill the Golden Goose!” he urged (via LinkedIn). The Indians might not welcome being referred to as geese, where ever their Uni WA campus is.
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ATEC announces its draft strategic priorities, which are based on its interim statement of strategic priorities plus “insights” gathered in “foundation” compact negotiations and “broader engagement” with tertiary education.
They are mostly already on the policy table, including First Nations, equity, teaching, research and a “joined-up” tertiary system, but there are three additions:
- Global engagement: “balancing the significant economic, educational and cultural benefits of international education with sustainable growth, high-quality student experiences and strong sector integrity”
- Collaboration: “within and beyond the higher education system can strengthen participation, attainment, learning quality, research impact and community outcomes.”
- Student experience and safety: “as participation expands, particularly among underrepresented and disadvantaged groups, providers must ensure that learning environments are inclusive, accessible and responsive to the diverse needs of students.”
ATEC now asks for advice on whether all its proposed priorities advance the interests of all involved. To help the process along, the Commission presents three consultation questions which may encourage responses along the desired lines.
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There is new support for the HASS orthodoxy that graduates with degrees in humanities and social science disciplines are eminently employable, because of the transferable and critical-thinking skills they acquired – philosophy and anthropology are cited by a prestigious US publication. Alas, humanities boosters will never know about it – what with its appearing in that journal of capitalist record, The Wall Street Journal.
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Curtin VC Harlene Hayne sticks it to the rumour that will not die, that WA Premier Roger Cooke is about to announce a merger of the State’s public universities. Professor Hayne made plain the crookness of any such idea, in The West Australian newspaper.
The merger is a Melba of Perth politics, which will not leave the stage. It was floated in 2021 by then State Chief Scientist Peter Klinken, the idea being that one big uni would have critical research-mass. In 2023, then Premier Mark McGowan and Education Minister Tony Buti created an independent inquiry into merging all/some of the four universities. The reason then for one big U was to, “attract world-leading academic staff and to gain a technological edge, universities need to be at the forefront of research and innovation. These all contribute to better learning outcomes, technological advances and greater student attraction.” Last year Dr Buti, still Minister, had another go, with former state Labor minister Alannah MacTiernan completing a cost-benefit analysis.
The original idea was a bigger U would rise up the research ranking and attract more international students. The SA government had exactly the same idea in forcing Uni Adelaide and Uni South Australia to merge. As to any case now, who knows? Dr Buti played a Boycott of a straight bat in not answering questions about the MacTiernan report at Education Estimates in Parliament.
So what is ahead for the State’s four public universities? Well for a start, it is only three – Edith Cowan U has a pass because its flash new city digs apparently mean it can create its own critical mass.
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Alex Zelinsky announces he will retire as Uni Newcastle VC in February. And guess who says nice things about him in the official uni announcement – Barney Glover. Smart move, whoever is the new VC they will need to keep ATEC happy. Uni Sydney also wants to make-nice with the Chief Commissioner of ATEC. Professor Glover is delivering its Bradley Oration next month.