Murdoch U announces a grand community coalition to save Nogoolarks, (aka the Carnaby Black Cockatoo)

Well-timed to help the much-loved bird, and MU, survive as there are. Is this the sort of project that a giant WA-state university would do?, the university could ask the inquiry into creating such

In Features this morning

Students are voting with their -devices and moving to on-line learning. Alice Brown and Jill Lawrence (both USQ) set out five ways to enhance engagement. New in Commissioning Editor Sally Kift’s celebrated series, Needed now in teaching and learning.

plus Merlin Crossley (UNSW) awards chatbots in education an A (for average, very average), HERE

Chris Moran will take over in “the coming months”

Chancellor James Harris announced the appointment Friday. Professor Moran will move from DVC R at Curtin U.

He picks up a chalice that may not be entirely poisoned. The university community and council are deeply divided, with criticism of Mr Harris and council over backing previous vice chancellor Bridget Heywood’s university restructure.

Mr Harris was also criticised over initial support for Professor Heywood immediately before she resigned after being charged with assault. Professor Heywood denies the charge, which is scheduled for court mention on May 16.

Council has rejected calls for Mr Harris to resign (CMM December 5, 14 2022 and February 23 2023). .

In an apparent move to reduce tensions, acting VC Simon Evans, summoned the UNE convocation, consisting of graduates and most staff, late last year. That meeting called for a standing committee of convocation, “including strong staff representation” to meet at least twice annually (CMM December 5 2022). Council has accepted this.

Which means Professor Moran will take over a university with a council, and what in in all but  name an official opposition. As President of the UNE professors association Thomas Fudge put it in February, “(it) does not want to see our institution embroiled in counter-productive conflict. … A better path forward is possible if Council abandons its defensive and arrogant mode of operating, to engage in genuine dialogue and cooperative endeavours.” (CMM February 23).

While the people the message is meant for probably won’t pay attention – ASQA reminds the regulated of their responsibilities in international education

In particular, “not provide false or misleading information or guarantee a migration outcome in any marketing activities.”

Australian Skills Quality Authority head Saxon Rice adds it is working with “partner agencies” and the Department of Home Affairs to “take appropriate regulatory activities … where concerns around provider practice in these areas are identified.”

Including “site visits” which sounds like an understated way of saying, “raids.”

The Australian Research Council announces 50 Early Career Industry Fellowships

The fellowships are “for new and emerging researchers to work with highly experienced, leading professors and shoulder-to-shoulder with Australian industry to help solve industry challenges.” As such they appear a starter version of the MCR fellowships, announced last month (CMM April 26).

What is different is the success rate – 8 per cent for the MCRs and 13.9 per cent for the early career awards. The overall success rate for the ARC’s Discovery Programme last year was 20 per cent.

The big ECR Industry Fellow winners are, Monash U and Uni Queensland (both eight), another 22 universities shared the rest.

Staff can acquire a Lexus via, “a service uniquely tailored” for them according to the university’s Health and Wellbeing site

How many essays will a casual academic have to mark to make a lease payment?, a learned reader wonders.

Innovation is included in the UK free trade treaty, which kicks-in at month’s end . The Group of Eight says it and UK peer Russell Group are on it

The agreement nominates emerging and transformative technologies, including clean and low emissions technologies, artificial intelligence, and other digital technologies and establishes a Strategic Innovation Dialogue to commence within 12 months.

It’s “the first step in examining how our two nations utilise our research universities to drive innovation and commercialisation” the Eight’s Vicki Thomson says

An Australian Submarine Agency was announced Saturday – Unis Australia wants its members on board

According to the feds, the new organisation will have charge of  management from “cradle” (presumably as in hull assembly) to (perhaps best not talked about) “grave.”

Universities Australia was quick to announce its members are keen to help and the government, “needs to recognise and acknowledge (that) “at every stage of the process – from acquisition to construction to disposal – the project hinges on the skills and expertise of university-educated professionals.”

Sheila Fitzpatrick (Australian Catholic U) is Australian Book Review’s new Laureate. Ebony Nilsson (also ACU) is Laureate Fellow.

Sandra Gardam (Science and Technology Australia) has a Schmidmaier Mayne Scholarship from Chief Executive Women.

 Niranjan Prabhu will become Uni Sunshine Coast’s Chief Information Officer. He starts in August, moving from Australian Catholic U.