Campus Review 3 September 2012

03/09/2012 By
campus-review1

Call to ban killer drones Monash University philosopher Dr Robert Sparrow says military organisations are funding a significant amount of robotics research that is making war more likely by lowering the threshold of conflict.  Sparrow in particular questions the use of aircraft such as the US “Predator” drone that is used in overseas conflicts. Drones are being used to carry out assassinations and targeted killings in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Yemen, as well as attacking targets and gathering intelligence in more orthodox military circumstances. Robots are being used in many roles in modern warfare.  Bomb disposal robots play a valuable role in saving lives and surveillance … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Campus Review, Community engagement, Monash, Murdoch University, Research, RMIT, universities, University of Melbourne, VRQA Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Qld TAFES may become standalone authority

03/09/2012 By
Qld TAFE

TDA Newsroom    3 September 2012 Queensland TAFE might become a stand-alone statutory authority, in line with counterparts in other states and allowing colleges to respond to local market forces. An interim report by the Queensland Skills and Training Taskforce recommends the change as part of an overhaul of vocational education and training (VET). The taskforce, headed by Queensland Resources Council chief Michael Roche, examined whether TAFE should sit outside the education department as a single statutory entity or multiple statutory institutions. Queensland Minister for Education, Training and Employment John-Paul Langbroek confirmed on Friday he had received an interim … [Read more...]

Filed Under: TAFE Directors Australia, Vocational education & training Tagged With: , , ,

TDA Newsletter 3 September 2012

03/09/2012 By
tda-logo

Feature story Federal government may cut funding to Victorian VET The government may withhold vocational training grants to Victoria because of the state's $300 million TAFE budget cuts. The government believes the cuts are inconsistent with the COAG reforms, agreed to in April. Click here for the full story. Taskforce recommends TAFE become stand-alone authority An interim report by the Queensland Skills and Training Taskforce recommends that Queensland TAFE becomes a stand-alone statutory authority. The Australian Financial Review reported that the Queensland Minister for Education, Training and Employment, John-Paul Langbroek, confirmed that he had received an interim … [Read more...]

Filed Under: TAFE Directors Australia, TEQSA, Vocational education & training Tagged With: , , ,

ACPET National Monday Update 3 September 2012

03/09/2012 By
acpet- logo

  ACPET Conference 2012 3 Sep It was a pleasure to be in Sydney last week to celebrate, debate and network with colleagues, stakeholders and may I add, the odd protagonist. I appreciated the positive feedback on this year's conference from members, sponsors and exhibitors and again was impressed by the passion and commitment... Read more National ACPET survey of private vocational and higher education 3 Sep In recognition of the importance of data to the sector, ACPET is undertaking a survey of the size and contribution of the private vocational and higher education sector. The power of data and its impact on informing policy and program decisions at both … [Read more...]

Filed Under: ACPET Tagged With: ,

Fears of research funding freeze

03/09/2012 By
research

The Australian    3 September 2012 University chiefs fear the Gillard government's razor gang may have $320 million in research grants in its sights, potentially crippling innovation and devastating their balance sheets. The government is understood to have imposed a clampdown on $2bn in grants in its attempt to return a $1.5bn budget surplus.  Ministers have been told to control any spending on grants that had not already been contracted.  If the government were to cancel rather than just postpone, the spending the bill would run to $1.3 billion. Universities say the Australian Research Council and National Health and Medical Research Council are targets. Researchers would also … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Group of 8, Higher education policy, Research Tagged With: , ,

The rankings game pays off

03/09/2012 By
Australian Financial Review

Australian Financial Review   3 September 2012 University rankings have become a formidable force in contemporary higher education, and none more so than the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) compiled by China’s Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Simon Marginson, a University of Melbourne professor and rankings expert who sits on an advisory committee to the ARWU, says a ranking is the equivalent of an equity price in the corporate world. On the ground, higher rankings mean better students, better staff and more money: If you’re higher ranked than someone else you attract more high-quality students, better staff come to work for you and, all other things being equal, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Monash, ANU, Queensland University, University of Sydney, QUT Tagged With: ,
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