27 September 2013 The difference between being in government and opposition, Tony Blair once famously said, is that in government a minister wakes up and thinks, "what will I do today". In opposition, the spokesperson wakes up and thinks, "what will I say today?" New education minister Christopher Pyne possibly began to appreciate this difference when his public musings about "quantity" versus "quality" (i.e. the pros and cons of the demand driven system), sparked the most public attention of the nascent government's term (except for deciding not automatically announcing new boat arrivals). People think that what he says may reflect what he's going to do. It certainly inspired … [Read more...]
A gardening tip: plant on Grand Final Day, not Cup Day
26/09/2013 by
University of Melbourne Newsroom | 26 September 2013 Ever since anyone can remember, Melbourne Cup Day – the first Tuesday in November - has been the day for gardeners to start planting tomatoes in Melbourne, when warmer overnight temperatures are more reliable. But University of Melbourne “urban horticulturalist” Dr Chris Williams says due to climate change, AFL Grand Final Day, the last Saturday in September, should replace the time-honoured planting signpost in gardening folklore. Urban Horticulturalist Dr Chris Williams, from the Melbourne School of Land and Environment, University of Melbourne ( Burnley Campus) says that overnight temperatures through winter into early … [Read more...]
Abbott : ‘no plans’ to scrap university amenities fee
26/09/2013 by
ABC News | 26 September 2013 Prime Minister Tony Abbott has moved to calm concerns the Commonwealth Government is planning to scrap the university student amenities fee, saying there are "no plans for change in this area". Education minister Christopher Pyne triggered reports over the past few days that the fee would be abolished by confirming that the Coalition is "opposed" to the measure. Universities and student groups swiftly criticised any suggestion the fee would be axed, saying it would put more pressure on university budgets and "devastate" campus life. But Abbott has indicated that while the government does not support the fee, it is too busy to deal with it … [Read more...]
LH Martin Institute Insights September 2013
26/09/2013 by
Insights Innovation Darwinism by Doron Ben-Meir CEO of Commercialisation Australia Doron Ben-Meir on factors that drive innovation. University professional staff: enhancing student outcomes by Carroll Graham UTS' Carroll Graham on the key factors team leaders or managers can foster to achieve positive student outcomes. Can we better link education and work through 'vocations' and 'human capabilities'? by Dr Nick Fredman Our Research Fellow Nick Fredman reviews the three-year Vocations project, which is wrapping up at the end of this year. 2014 postgraduate … [Read more...]
edXpress issue #011 September 2013
26/09/2013 by
Holding the new government to account With the Federal election now over, the NTEU, along with others in the higher education sector, is watching and assessing the first actions of the new Abbott Coalition Government. NTEU National ...Read More Thousands protest over the future of higher education On 20 August thousands of university staff and students across Australia took part in the National Day of Action aimed at pushing higher education further up the political agenda for the federal ...Read More Masterly inactivity or ‘unmasterly activity’ on academic freedom? The NTEU has condemned Tony Abbott’s proposed Commission of Audit which will “re-prioritise” about $900 million in annual … [Read more...]
Pyne hoses down caps debate
26/09/2013 by
ABC News | 25 September 2013 Education minister Christopher Pyne is trying to hose down concerns he is planning to renege on a promise not to restore limits on university places, but says he has ordered a review because he says evidence suggests "quality is suffering to achieve quantity". Labor abolished the cap on university places in 2007 to boost access to higher education, especially for people from disadvantaged backgrounds. But Pyne says the change has led to an "exponential" growth in student numbers and consequent concerns about quality in the sector. You must be living in a bubble ... if you think that there is not an issue in universities about whether there are … [Read more...]
