An evening of minute-by-minute knitting When Bergensbanen, a television show that broadcast live the seven-hour train journey from Oslo to Bergen, literally became the Norwegian sleeper TV hit of the season in 2009, the national broadcaster NRK followed it up with more of the same. Since then, the broadcaster has broken live-broadcast ratings records with a five-day odyssey following a cruise ship up the Norwegian west coast (viewed at some stage by 3 million of Norway’s 5 million people) and presented an evening-long special about firewood, including several hours of watching a fire slowly extinguish to dust. Next up is National Knitting Night, 5 hours of broadcasting non-stopping (that … [Read more...]
Pyne promises easier work rights for international students
04/10/2013 by
Australian Financial Review | 30 September 2013 The Abbott government will look at liberalising immigration rules, including offering easier permanent residency, to encourage more international students to come to Australia in an effort to boost Australia's $14 billion a year. Education minister Christopher Pyne says the former Labor government went too far in tightening the student visa regime after apparent immigration rorting. It wasn't necessary to burn the village in order to save it...the (Labor) government went too far in the dead hand of regulation and cutting off the capacity fro international students to stay for post study work and apply for permanent residency if that … [Read more...]
TEQSA’s plan to cut redtape
04/10/2013 by
4 October 2013 The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) has announced details of a "reform agenda" drawing on the Review of Higher Education Regulation as well its own work to Cut ‘red tape’ Speed up regulatory decisions Strengthen risk-based regulation Acknowledge strong higher education track records Maintain a “robust” approach. Under TEQSA's plans, there would be beefed-up case management for providers involving "greater dialogue" and streamlined approvals according to an institution's level of risk. "(A) provider with (a) strong accreditation record can expect major streamlining in new and existing courses, especially in core areas of strength … [Read more...]
Australian unis suffer reputational damage
04/10/2013 by
4 October 2013 Australia's leading universities have generally gone backwards in the Times Higher Education rankings, which has been attributed to funding cuts announced by the previous government. The rankings are derived from a survey based on 13 performance indicators, across five areas, ranging from teaching and research to international outlook. The University of Melbourne remains the highest ranked Australian university but fell six places from 28 to 34 while Australian National University dropped 11 places from 37 to 48. The negative trend saw Sydney fall 10 places, the University of NSW down 22 places and Adelaide drop out of the top 200. The winners were the University … [Read more...]