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Open Day of the day
Uni Tas, Hobart is going big on football to promote its August 4 Open Day. Promotions promise a hamstring strength test, photos with AFL mascots and “ticket offers” to the August 24 match between North Melbourne and Melbourne in Hobart. Oh yes, people so inclined can explore study pathways.
Menu for nutrition education
The Australian Academy of Science has released a decadal plan for “the science of nutrition”
It calls for a national education approach, including an academy of nutrition representing the profession and credentialing bodies to adopt a common code of conduct.
The Academy also includes eight proposals for education and research training;
* competency based education for nutritionists, including genomics, bioinformatics and systems biology
* codes of ethics and fit to practise statements in all nutrition courses
* practitioners to use social media to communicate to the community
* nutrition education in K-tertiary education
* “evidence-based teaching, including societal determinants and the ethics of precision and personalised nutrition, as core competencies in all accredited and professional development”
* career pathways for research, public health, advocacy roles
* competency based training for career pathways
* leadership training in professional development programmes
Nothing hides under the QILT
August is undergraduate survey month for the Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching
Results are not published until next year, which learned readers at UNSW suggest management there is glad for – the new trimester system is not bedding down especially smoothly with protesting students. Hopefully that will be forgotten when QILT comes out.
TEQSA seeking a simpler system
In news that no one will consider unduly whimsical, regulator TEQSA invites submissions on creating a single reporting system for it and the Department of Education
The opportunity for this entertainment originates in the department replacing the existing student information system. The Tertiary Education Quality Standards Agency will combine its data system with the department and is asking HE providers for their thoughts on ways it will work. Yes, it is all hard work but the anticipated outcome will be a larger, simpler system
Uni Sydney talking about free speech code
The university wonders whether it will adopt the Robert French free speech code, or incorporate its principals in existing policies
“Implementing the French Review’s recommended model code is far from straightforward because we need to ensure our legal and policy framework for protecting these fundamental freedoms is clear, consistent and workable,” Vice Chancellor Michael Spence says.
He has appointed a “consultative group” to advise on options (in appointments, below). Simply adopting Mr French’s proposed code would probably please Education Minister Dan Tehan who commissioned the free speech review. But that could appear to be an implicit recognition that universities are not autonomous on governance. “We are committed to adopting the model code, or its principles, but need to take care to ensure we do this in a way that strengthens our already robust framework for upholding freedom of speech and academic freedom,” Dr Spence adds.
There’s more in the Mail
In Feature’s this week commissioning editor Sally Kift’s take-out from the Studiosity student-first symposium.
AI education impact on the horizon
There’s a new horizon scanning report where humans examine AI
It’s a new project in the what happens next series, commissioned by the feds and produced by the Australian Council of Learned Academies
ACOLA’s authors argue AI will have three core issues for education
* using AI to augment education and learning
Systems already exist to teach well-defined STEM subject areas. “If AI-based learning tools begin to displace some aspects of teaching, it will be important for teachers to focus on areas of knowledge acquisition and learning where AI is ineffective, such as meta-intelligence”
* supporting students in developing AI skills
the different roles and tasks that the future of AI will present may require a range of complementary education offerings, including disciplinary programmes and programmes that connect with industry
* teaching how to make informed decisions in interacting with AI
Initiatives will be needed to, “provide all individuals with the opportunities to develop basic literacies in how AI systems and technologies function. ACOLA suggests public comms and micro-credentialing.
Appointments
Uni Adelaide announces four state winners in the 2019 Tall Poppy science awards, Daniel King, (behavioural addiction), Giang Nguyen (probability and statistics), Nigel Rogasch (neuroscience), Danny Wilson (malaria biology). Flinders U also announces awards to Oren Griffiths and Sarah Cohen-Woods (brain disorders). Marnie Winter (biomedical engineer) and Jia Tina Du (tech access for disadvantaged) from UniSA are also awarded.
Members of the University of Sydney’s new consultative group on the French free speech review’s model code are; Lisa Jackson Pulver (DVC-I), Tony Masters (chair-Academic Board), Anne Twomey (law), Jodi Dickson (HR), Gareth Bryant (university branch of the National Tertiary Education Union), Jacky He (SRC), Xiner Yuan, (postgrad association), Don Markwell, (St Paul’s College) (first meeting), succeeded by Adrian Diethelm, (St John’s College).