UNSW tweets it has admitted “its first honorary dogtorate”. It goes to Jasper Samoyed, whose owner has graduated with masters.

In Features this morning, David Myton talks to moral philosopher and ethicist Sandra Lynch who argues that university students –  often pejoratively branded as ‘snowflakes’ – need to be given the opportunity to develop their ‘moral muscle’ so they can speak out with confidence

A year back Macquarie University announced 120 lemon-scented gums in the central courtyard had to go, what with the risk branches could fall on passers-by. No one appears to know of a death by gum-tree in the 40 years or so they had been there, but you can never tell when the wily eucalypts will pounce. So, chopped down they were over the summer holidays, with the university announcing last May an “updated tree-scape” featuring “native evergreens and deciduous species” for the central courtyard.

What management did not mention is when they were to be planted – which was wise, because it has not happened yet.

The fenced-off central courtyard is now a tree-less waste – nor is there any sign of a start on the replacement for the adjacent student union building, which also came down.

It all looks like a front-runner in the Eric Honecker Prize for East Berlin look-alike open space.

The university tells CMM, “the central courtyard redevelopment works will commence in the coming months” but does not mention of what year.

The University of Sydney plans to enormously expand its Westmead campus by 2030 (CMM ).  But Sydney’s Daily Telegraph reported Saturday that Vice Chancellor Michael Spence says the state government needs to get on with the much-discussed western metro, linking Westmead to the CBD. A western Sydney lobby has also independently proposed a station on the line at inner-city Camperdown, to serve hospitals and UniSydney’s main campus. The university is due for a win on public transport infrastructure. It argued long, hard and unsuccessfully, for a station on the cross-harbour metro now being built.

There is talk that Education Minister Dan Tehan’s idea for a national interest research test is intended as to protect defence secrets from foreign powers, and apparently not just mocking the humanities.

If so, the minister will assist the Defence Department, which thinks it should be able to investigate whatever it likes on campus. In July Defence alarmed the research community with a surprising supplementary submission to the Thom Review of the of the Defence Trade Control Act. The submission suggested amending the act “to allow the Australian Government to more effectively control access to Defence and Strategic Goods List technology and other technology that may be used to prejudice the security, defence or international relations of Australia,” (CMM July 13).

The research community slammed the idea at the time (CMM July 19),  just as it slammed Mr Tehan’s suggestion last month of a national interest test for ARC funded research to meet as yet unspecified national interests.

There is more going on at dual-sector Victoria U than its new undergraduate study model, where students complete one unit at a time. The VET college is using e-learning for theory in 100 voced qualifications with practical applications taught in “hands-on workshops” or simulations. The system is short-listed for internal learning solution of the year in the UK based Learning and Performance Institute awards.

James Laurenceson’s  new paper, responding to claims that China is intent on interfering in Australian politics is launched at UTS tonight. Great timing.

China-scholars are split over Beijing’s influence in Australia – in March there were competing submissions to a Senate inquiry on the government’s espionage and foreign interference legislation.

But the political is also personal, with a scathing attack on former NSW premier Bob Carr in his role as director of the Australia-China Relations Institute at UTS. Writing in the Australian Financial Review Swinburne U’s John Fitzgerald suggested Friday Mr Carr is “Australia’s most prominent and vocal public advocate for Xi Jinping’s China,” and expanded on the point at length.

But Fitzgerald’s opinions of Carr’s activities aside, (CMM has no idea), the bigger issue is what is the PRC and its pals actually up to in Australian public life.

A submission to the Senate inquiry from self-described, Scholars of China and the Chinese Diaspora stated they, “see no evidence … that China is exporting its political system to Australia, or that its actions aim at compromising our sovereignty,” (CMM March 26).

However a second group of senior scholars warned they were; “deeply concerned by a number of well-documented reports about the Chinese Communist Party’s interference in Australia” and that “an open debate on the activities of the Chinese Communist Party in this country is essential to intellectual freedom, democratic rights and national security,” (CMM March 29).

Which is what James Laurenceson is working on. Professor Laurenceson is Professor Carr’s deputy at UTS and has published a substantial paper on the intent and extent of China’s influence in Australia and its intel, economic and military ambitions. “The evidence base is shown to be divorced from the claims found in headlines, news reports and opinion pieces, revealing just how widespread has become the discourse of China Threat, China Angst and China Panic,” he writes.

A contestable claim to be sure but his paper is a substantial effort and deserves discussion.

There is more to this debate than who has lunch with whom, in the Haymarket or in Beijing.

Macquarie U wants to have “the leading science and engineering faculty” in the country. To help make it happen dean Barbara Messerle has a plan for technical services.

That distant rumble you heard 3.30pm Friday was faculty staff wailing at the prospect of another review but Professor Messerle assures them this one is different; “Previous review projects have given us invaluable insights … however, recommendations arising from the reviews have not addressed our fundamental need to work smarter and more flexibly within a positive and constructive work culture.” But Project Catalyst is intended to create clear reporting lines, flexible resourcing and “superior experiences.”

Work starts this month with a “core team” establishing “clarity of strategy and vision” and “sprint teams,” looking at particular issues. A management team will “steward” the whole show.

Perhaps a first task for the project is to set out specific outcomes, “I have read it twice, and cannot make head nor tail of what they are aiming to do,” a learned reader laments.

UNSW VC Ian Jacobs has called on politicians to butt out of research selection, leaving it to expert review. “Although government input in determining high-level research priorities is a good thing, I strongly support the Haldane principle that specific research funding awards should be independent of political influence.”

And he linked concerns with Medical Research Future Fund project approvals to Education Minister Dan Tehan’s proposed “national interest” test.

Speaking to medical lobby group Research Australia, Professor Jacobs pointed to the MRFF act which allows “captain’s picks,” said to be for 10 per cent of funds.

“In my opinion, even if a minister identifies a legitimate disease area or challenge for funding, the funds will be best used if they are awarded by transparent peer review.”

Professor Jacobs added that rather than a minister’s idea of national interest, it is “best served by having robust peer review.”

“While applicants already do have to explain the broader social benefit of their research, the fundamental problem remains that we so often do not know where research will lead.”

Education Minister Dan Tehan has committed $134m in new funding to support regional and remote university students.  The package, announced this morning, includes $34m for nearly 2000 new scholarships and $92m over four years for student support services at “regionally focused universities”. The funding goes to, Federation U‘s Berwick campus, on Melbourne’s outer eastern fringe, ($42m), Uni Sunshine Coast at Caboolture and the Fraser Coast ($30.2m), Uni Newcastle‘s new medical school at Gosford ($3.3m), CQU ($9.1m) and James Cook U ($9.1m).

Former Victorian premier and Liberal regional state MP Denis Napthine  will also chair an advisory group on regional education. Dr Napthine and colleagues will advise the government on priority responses to John Halsey‘s independent review of regional, rural and remote education. Professor Halsey’s report was adopted by the government in April (CMM May 31).  Dr Napthine will be particularly charged with reporting on “the merits” of Professor Halsey’s proposal for a regional education commissioner.

The Regional Universities Network was quick to endorse the package, with chair Greg Hill (Uni Sunshine Coast), saying the government “is listening to the voice of regional Australia in the national interest.” Universities Australia agreed, with CEO Catriona Jackson calling it a “good development”, adding “Minister Tehan has a strong personal commitment to regional education – and our regional universities are working hard to close the gap in educational attainment in their communities.”  However she added that the “greatly needed” funding, “should be a first step towards the return of demand-driven funding sector-wide, so that all Australians can fulfil their educational potential, whatever their postcode.”

Research Australia’s health and medical research awards are announced, including: Peter Wills Medal: Nicholas Talley, UniNewcastle. GSK award for excellence: Georgina Long and Richard Scolyer, Melanoma Institute. Griffith U discovery award: Sarah Best, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute. Data innovation: Craig Dalton, Uni Newcastle. Health services research award: Sue Kildea, UniQueensland. Research champion award: Matthew Grounds, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute.

Last week was big for Professor Scolyer, he was also honoured at the NSW Premier’s cancer research awards.

The University of Wollongong’s Jindaola programme has won the first Australasian Academic Development Good Practice Award, from the Council of Australasian University Leaders in Learning and Teaching. Jindaola, “weaves indigenous knowledges and perspectives through UoW’s teaching practice.” The Jindaola team is Julie Avena, Paul Chandler, Bonnie Dean, Janine Delahunty, Jade Kennedy, Maarten de Laat, Alisa Percy, Kathryn Harden-Thew, Lisa Thomas.