When the games begin

Let joy be unconfined! Senate Estimate are on this week

But not until tomorrow, when the Education and Employment Committee will consider skills. Industry, Innovation and Science is on Thursday, as is Education. Sad to relate Kim Carr, is a member of the legal and constitutional affairs committee, and will not be asking questions about training, education and research.

There’s more in the Mail

Commissioning Editor Sally Kift wrangles the regiment of reviews (sorry) in HE and VET. It’s a new essay in the series she edits on what we need now in teaching and learning.

Todays Headline Story

La Trobe U changing teaching and learning leadership

There is a restructure of La Trobe U academic leadership

Vice Chancellor  John Dewar tells staff there is a “refresh” of the learning and teaching management structure and a review of leadership positions in the DVC A portfolio.

As part of the changes, the PVC learning quality and innovation role is abolished. Incumbent Paula Baron is on leave prior to leaving LT U.

There is a new Associate PVC International role in the College of Science, Health and Engineering. Sonia Reisenhofer moves to it from (acting) Associate PVC Academic Partnerships.

Jessica Vanderlelie becomes acting DVC A – Kerri Lee Krause is off to Uni Melbourne in December. It’s another step up for the energetic Professor Vanderlelie. She moved from Grifffith U in 2016 to become the Innovative Research Universities VCs’ Fellow, working on alumni engagement and student outcomes. She was appointed LT U’s PVC student success in November ’17.

Uni Wollongong’s great and prolific friend

Uni Wollongong VC Paul Wellings told the AFR yesterday that geopolitics should not shape international research, (Robert Bolton had the yarn)

It’s certainly not an issue in the Illawarra. Peter Bentley from the Innovative Research Universities estimates 26 per cent of research articles by Uni Wollongong staff are co-pubs with authors in China (CMM August 29).

On-line VET: it can work for those who want it

There is not a lot of on-line VET (less than 10 per cent) and completion rates are 10 per cent lower than for other modes of delivery, according to the Estimable National Centre for Vocational Education Research 

But Tabatha Griffin and Mandy Mihelic  report that it can work for those who want it to;

“While subject withdrawal rates are higher and course completion rates lower for courses delivered entirely online, the outcomes for those students who do complete tend to be broadly similar to those from other delivery modes. While graduates of online courses tend to be slightly less satisfied with various elements of their training, in many cases they had better employment outcomes than those graduates who completed their course via other delivery modes.”

And formal courses are not the only way VET students learn on-line.  In 2017, NCVER research by Victor Callan and Margaret Johnston found, “trade teachers in apprenticeship programs reported that their apprentices were major users of YouTube, as the videos show the performance of practical skills, often over several steps,”

Open book on cyber-security

ASIO tells hackers where to look

The agency’s annual report assures us its university and research institutes—sensitive area security guide is, “considered to be best-practice protective security guidance produced by the Australian Government, and … continue to improve the protective security capability across government, public sector and industry partners.” Agency  Annual Report.

Increasing the case for medical research

Medical research lobbies focus on explaining the importance of their work – a peak association plans to up the intensity

The Association of Medical Research Institutes is working on an impact measure for its 52 members. “Medical research outcomes can range from new treatments for patients, new policies, development of medical devices to job creation,” AMRI states in an invitation to members to participate in a preliminary survey.

The purpose of the project is “to enhance the sector’s capacity to translate research and knowledge into impacts, maximising the return on investment made by government, industry and philanthropic funders.”

Smart stuff. Medical researchers are adept at acquiring funding, (nothing opens the public purse like “working on a cure for cancer,” a learned reader once remarked). An AMRI measure that presents ROI according to an industry-impact formula will add to awareness.

On to the nationals

Uni Adelaide and Macquarie U win the international education and training category of the SA and NSW export awards. They are now in the national final. Last week Uni Melbourne was named Victoria’s overall exporter of the year.

Appointments, achievements

Tiffany Donnelly will become principal of The Women’s Colllege, “within the University of Sydney.” She has been vice principal for 18 years. Dr Donnelly replaces Amanda Bell.

Andrew Everett (Charles Darwin U) is elected to the board of the International Education Association of Australia. Davina Potts (Uni Melbourne) and Kelly Smith (La Trobe U) are re-elected. CEO Phil Honeywood has another five-year term.

 Jefa Greenaway (Uni Melbourne School of Design) is co-creative director for the Australian Pavilion at next year’s Venice Biennale. He partners architect Tristan Wong. 

Rossie Ogilvie is confirmed as Vice Principal, Advancement at the University of Sydney. She has acted in the position since February, moving from chief of staff to Vice Chancellor Michael Spence (CMM November 30 2018).