UNSW was quick to congratulate itself yesterday on being equal fifth in the world and equal first in Australia in the inaugural QS Sustainability rankings (all explained by Angel Calderon in CMM HERE.)

But as to what institution it was equal fifth. and first, with, UNSW’s statement was silent.

It is near-neighbour the University of Sydney.

And Uni Sydney’s statement of achievement made no mention of UNSW.

There was talk last year of a new era of cooperation between the pair, barely 10km apart– it clearly does not extend to bragging rights.

In Features this morning

MERLIN CROSSLEY (UNSW) on the inevitability of the ATAR. “There are thousands of early offers out there but the ATAR and more sophisticated applicant ranking systems that aim to consider a student’s context and achievement relative to opportunity will always be with us.”

plus ANGEL CALDERON (RMIT) on the inaugural QS Sustainability Ranking – UNSW and Uni Sydney are equal fifth in the world, https://campusmorningmail.com.au/news/australia-stands-tall-in-new-sustainability-ranking/ HERE

and DIRK MULDER on Canada’s problems with international student entry.

with SALLY PATMORE and Uni Newcastle colleagues on delivering quality education for university teaching. A new selection in Commissioning Editor SALLY KIFT’s celebrated series, Needed now in teaching and learning

And in Expert Opinion

SHAZIA SADIQ (Uni Queenland) on the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering’s new policy paper on STEM education solutions to digital skills shortages, HERE .

Staff will vote on management’s proposed enterprise agreement next Wednesday – Friday

The offer is backed by the Community and Public Service Union, after a unanimous vote by campus members. The CPSU calls the pay offer (9 per cent to 15 per cent over three years) “fair,” balancing the university’s “challenging financial situation” and cost of living increases.

However the National Tertiary Education Union is adamantly opposed. “Management have put forward a proposed enterprise bargaining agreement that strips core conditions and offers staff a real wage cut.” The NTEU calls, (via Twitter) for a no vote, to “force management back to the negotiating table.”

While industrial relations at every university are unhappy in their own way, management bargaining teams across the country will consider what happens at SCU. Winning a vote against the NTEU does not oft occur and if it happens at SCU other managements will try.

“ASQA’s Annual Report … demonstrates that we continue to provide nationally consistent, risk-based regulation of VET that meets the needs of a quality VET sector,” at least that’s what the Australian Skills Quality Authority thinks it does, (via Twitter, yesterday)

As the nation debates the merits of a Voice to Parliament, a new conference asks whether the sector is ready for First Nations voices in HE

Are you ready Australia?, an on-line conference, 10-11 November, is by organised by Poche SA+NT in partnership with Twig Marketing, to provide an opportunity for all staff to engage in fresh perspectives into the role and relevance of Australian universities in future.

New and emerging Indigenous leaders will join panels alongside sector leaders, students and community members, promising fresh insights.

Tickets are HERE

There’s a house-keeping higher education bill in the parliament, which does a bunch of routine stuff, raises some money and includes the start of something that could be big

The Education Legislation Amendment (2022 measures number one) Bill keeps government ticking over. It includes,

* specifics on replacing the old CHESN student number with the newish unique student identifier

* clarifies student loan rules covering COVID time, at a cost to government.

* deals with NZ citizens qualifying for HECS

And then there is one that might matter, which appears to deliver on the previous government commitment to getting micro-credentials moving, (CMM December 8 2022, March 23 2022). It specifies that units taken as part of an m-c qualify for FEE HELP. “This will encourage student interest in micro-credential courses, incentivising providers and industry to participate in the micro-credential pilot.”

So what’s all this going to cost?, you ask. Nothing, at least for now. The  bill also includes abolishing the 10 per cent discount on students paying all or part of their HECS course costs up-front – which will have a positive cash impact of $144m through 2026.

of the day

 The Australian Council of Deans of Science announces its new executive. * president: Melissa Brown (Uni Queensland) * secretary- treasurer: Mark Buntine (Curtin U) * Katrina Falkner (Uni Adelaide) * Virginia Kilborn (Swinburne U) * Farzad Khosrowshahi (Victoria U) * Adam Trevitt (Uni Wollongong) * Andrew Woodward (Edith Cowan U) * Brian Yates (Uni Tasmania) is past president.

At Griffith U, Frances Press becomes HoS, Education and Professional Studies, replacing Donna Pendergast. She becomes inaugural director of engagement for arts, education law.

James Skinner will be the new dean of business at Uni Newcastle. He will join from Loughborough University, in the UK

 Of the week

 ANU announces 2022 H C Coombs Creative Fellowships to artist, writer and curator Julie Gough and composer and pianist Andrea Keller.

The Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering announces its 2022 awards, in CMM Thursday.

 Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology award winners were in CMM for Monday, HERE.

The Australian Council of Deans of Education announces appointments to the executive. Simone White (RMIT) is elected VP. Michele Simons (Western Sydney) has a second term as president and Barney Dalgarno (Uni Canberra) is secretary/treasurer.

Rachelle Buchbinder (Monash U) receives the Royal Society of Victoria’s Medal for Excellence, for research leadership in biomedical and health sciences.

Roger Daly (Monash U) receives the Garvan MRI’s inaugural award for research excellence and mentorship.

At La Trobe U Stacey Farraway is appointed inaugural DVC Future Growth. She moves from acting DVC, Global.

Martin Green (UNSW) wins the Millennium Technology Prize from Technology Academy Finland, for “transforming the production of solar energy.”

Saskia Loer Hansen will join RMIT in January as DVC International and Engagement. She was recently at Aston U in the UK, and has previously worked at RMIT.

New board members of the International Education Association of Australia were in CMM for Wednesday

Virginia Lovett joins Uni Melbourne as Director, Performing Arts. She moves from Melbourne Theatre Company.

Marilyn McMahon (deputy dean Deakin U Law School) is appointed interim chair of Victoria’s Sentencing Advisory Council.

Dave Peebles becomes director of the Australia Pacific Security College at ANU. He moves from DFAT’s Office of the Pacific.

State Library of NSW announces its 2023 fellows were in CMM for Tuesday.

At Uni Queensland’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience Denise Doolan becomes research director. She moves from James Cook U. Waldemar Vollmer also joins, as group leader, coming from Newcastle (as in the UK) U.

The American Concrete Association’s 2022 Overall Excellence award goes to Uni Sydney for its Chau Chak Wing Museum.