Commonwealth Media | 23 October 2013 The government has announced more than $559 million in funding to Australian health and medical research through the National Health and Medical Research Council. This is over $100m less than the previous government allocated in each of the past two years. The Gillard government spent $652m in last year’s October round and a record $674m in 2011, funding some 1140 grants each year. However, NHMRC funding allocations are staggered through the year, with another substantial round expected in December. This round's funding will support 963 grants across three NHMRC research support schemes and five fellowship schemes. It includes 652 … [Read more...]
The Scan | #139 | 27 September 2013
27/09/2013 by
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Pyne sends mixed message 27 September 2013 | In his first interview as education minister, Christopher Pyne says his priorities are to “repair” international education, reduce red tape and review the demand-driven system. Pyne said that international education issues would be tackled “sooner rather than later”, given the economic impact of a 20% to 25% decline in Australia’s biggest non-mining export industry. he nominated reducing universities’ regulatory load as the other high priority, guided by the recommendations of the recent … [Read more...]
The Scan | #138 | 20 September 2013
20/09/2013 by
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Education and training separated There was speculation after the announcement of Tony Abbott's ministry early in the week as to who would be handling VET matters within the education portfolio. The VET side of the tertiary sector has actually landed in the lap of former and once more industry minister Ian McFarlane, along with science and research. It's a curious decision to separate the tertiary sector in that way, although not without precedent: VET was located in the business portfolio in Victoria in 2006 but reunited with education by … [Read more...]
The strange case of the missing science minister
20/09/2013 by
The Conversation | 17 September 2013 Does it matter that, for the first time, more of less, in over 80 years that Australia doesn't have a specifically designated "minister for science"? Probably not a lot: the highest profile science minister in that whole time was former quiz master Barry Jones who, despite his cleverness and celebrity, had next to no clout in the Labor government of the 1980s/90s. He is perhaps best remembered for the "cadastre" - a spaghetti and meatballs depiction of the "knowledge nation" he devised for Labor leader Kim Beazley in 1999, when Jones was no longer in Parliament. In this opinion piece, Rod Lamberts and Will J Grant argue that science needs a … [Read more...]
The scope and relevance of research to everyday life : ATN’s 50 solutions
19/09/2013 by
19 September 2013 Research is taking place in all Australian universities that has the power to save lives, boost economic development, create wealth, re-invent manufacturing and much, much more. Presented here are fifty examples of research outcomes generated by Australian Technology Network (ATN) member universities. They demonstrate the diversity of enquiry and the potential impact this work can have on both Australian society and indeed the world. … [Read more...]
The Australian Higher Education Supplement 18 September 2013
18/09/2013 by
This is The Australian‘s own summary of lead items in its online edition. As this is a subscription service, you or your organisation will need to have a subscription to The Australian to view the full article. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Coalition spreads workload John Ross TONY Abbott has structured his government for a hands-off approach to tertiary education and research. Student protest over Taib plaza Kylar Loussikian STUDENTS at the University of Adelaide will agitate for the renaming of a plaza that honours one of Malaysia's most … [Read more...]
The Scan | #137 | 12 September 2013
12/09/2013 by
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Australian unis rate highly but slipping The 2014 Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings show that while the majority of Australian universities have slipped on the ladder of the world's leading institutions, seven still in rank in the world top 100 and twenty universities - half of the entire system - make the top 400.The top universities in Australia were: ANU at 27 (down 3 places from last year), Melbourne, (31, up 5 places) Sydney (38, up 1 place), University of Queensland (43, up 3), University of NSW (52, steady) Monash … [Read more...]
Universities Australia on the university agenda for the incoming government
08/09/2013 by
8 September 2013 Universities Australia congratulates the new Abbott Government and looks forward to working together on a future agenda for cementing higher education as a critical pillar supporting long-term national prosperity and well-being, as identified in the Coalition’s, Real Solutions. “It is impossible to overstate the transformative power of universities in changing lives, pushing the boundaries of knowledge, driving innovation, solving our gravest national problems and for securing Australia’s place as global influencer,” said Professor Sandra Harding, Chair of peak body, Universities Australia. “Whether as a provider of international education; a generator of new … [Read more...]
Campus Review 27 August 2013
28/08/2013 by
This is Campus Review's own summary of lead items in its online edition. As Campus Review is a subscription service, you or your organisation need to have a subscription to Campus Review to view the full article. All non subscribers to Campus Review can have access to a free online trial offer provides free online access to the website for 28 days. ___________________________________________________________________________________ Abbott backs cheap loans for tradies. Opposition leader Tony Abbott has announced plans for interest-free loans of up to $20,000 for apprentices, starting from next year. The HECS-style system would help apprentices pay for their training, tools and equipment … [Read more...]
The Scan Main Edition 1 August 2013
01/08/2013 by
# 131 _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Industrial action intensifies Industrial conflict rages across the sector as the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) battles it out with universities over the terms of a new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement. An application by Monash University to suspend bans on releasing assessment results was effectively thrown out by the Fair Work Commission but a similar application by Swinburne University succeeded. Industrial action is intensifying at James Cook University, ANU and RMIT....[READ MORE]..... BCA plan to deregulate … [Read more...]