_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Typhoon Haiyan slams the PhilippinesSuper Typhoon Haiyan, one of the most powerful on record, destroyed thousands of homes as it tracked across central Philippines. Winds of more than 300km/h, flash flooding and landslides have left families without shelter, food and water. Thousands of people are feared dead. Red Cross staff and volunteers are on the ground in the disaster-affected communities, helping people evacuate and providing emergency first aid and relief supplies, such as food, water and … [Read more...]
Lilydale grant suspended over potential “conflict of interest”
08/11/2013 by
Herald-Sun | 8 November 2013 The Herald-Sun reports that “thousands of dollars of taxpayers' money has (sic) been wasted after a bungle over a state government grant to a local council”. The Yarra Ranges Shire Council was given a $100,000 grant in July to look into options for how the former Swinburne University site in Lilydale could be used for education purposes. But before the council was handed the cash it had announced it wanted to use part of the site to house its new municipal offices. A complaint was made to the Victorian Ombudsman about a potential conflict of interest over the site's use – namely, "the council has a conflict of interest in being the custodian of … [Read more...]
The Scan | #142 | 1 November 2013
01/11/2013 by
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The state of Australian education A report by the Council of Australian Governments Reform Council shows mixed progress on education. Participation in preschool is high and school outcomes in the early years are improving. Nationally, average scores improved in Years 3 and 5 in reading and in Year 5 in numeracy, but there were no improvements in Years 7 and 9. Australia is also performing behind top countries in these key areas. Year 12 attainment has increased, particularly for Indigenous … [Read more...]
Court rules Swinburne breached work laws
31/10/2013 by
31 October 2013 Failure to consult on campuses closures draws apology and financial contributions to community education The Federal Court of Australia has found that Swinburne University of Technology was guilty of four breaches of the Fair Work Act in that it failed to consult with staff and the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) over its decision last July to shut its Lilydale campus and relocate the design faculty from the Prahran campus in the wake of the Victorian Coalition Government’s $290 million cuts to TAFE. NTEU commenced proceedings in March 2013 against Swinburne in the Federal Court. Swinburne admitted it contravened the Fair Work Act and agreed to make donations … [Read more...]
Lilydale grant to be scrutinised
19/09/2013 by
The Age | 16 September 2013 The Victorian Auditor-General is set to investigate a $100,000 payment to Yarra Ranges Council over a potential conflict of interest. The government gave the money to the council so it could investigate and draw up a plan for the future use of the closed Swinburne University Lilydale campus. In August, Labor MP Shaun Leane called on the Auditor-General to investigate the payment, saying there was an ''obvious conflict of interest'' as the council said it wanted to move its offices to the site. Auditor-General John Doyle replied to Leane saying he ''would be pleased to consider the matters you have raised as part of the next VAGO [Victorian … [Read more...]
Australian Financial Review 26 August 2013
26/08/2013 by
This is the Australian Financial Review's own summary of lead items in its online education supplement. As this is a subscription service, you or your organisation will need to have a subscription to The Australian Financial Review to view the full article. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Monash University business school gets top accreditation The Faculty of Business and Economics at Monash University has been awarded the prestigious AACSB accreditation, making it one of only 60 business schools worldwide to have all three of the major business and economics accreditations. IDPEducation … [Read more...]
The Scan 22 August 2013
22/08/2013 by
#134 | 22 August 2013 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Opposition push to lift O/S student numbers An Abbott government would make it easier for foreign students to obtain post-study work rights in Australia as part of a Coalition push to repair the lucrative education export industry. Opposition education spokesman Christopher Pyne says the Coalition ”cannot promise to reverse the $2.8 billion of cuts to higher education”. However he vowed to increase revenue to universities within 100 days of being elected by ”rebuilding” the international education market, which … [Read more...]
Uncapped funding “fair and efficient”
21/08/2013 by
Swinburne News | 19 August 2013 In an opinion piece published in the Australian Financial Review, Swinburne University's head of Corporate and Government Affairs, Andrew Dempster, says that uncapped funding for higher education is fairer and more efficient. He also says it's consistent with Coalition policy - and Labor , of course, introduced it. There is a degree of resignation in higher education circles that the system of funding undergraduate university places according to student demand may be on its last legs. This is not new. Hand-wringing about the sustainability of the so-called demand-driven system has been fashionable for some time. There is heightened scepticism … [Read more...]
Rankings show ‘steady as she goes’ for Australian universities
16/08/2013 by
The Conversation | 15 August 2013 The University of Melbourne has once again improved its position and remains Australia’s best university according to new university rankings released on 15 August. The Academic Ranking of World Universities by Shanghai Jiao Tong University has five Australian universities in the top 100, including University of Melbourne (54), the Australian National University (66), University of Queensland (85), University of Western Australia (91) and University of Sydney (97). Most Australian universities in the top 100 improved their position from last year’s ranking, except ANU which dropped two places (down from 64) and Sydney University which … [Read more...]
TDA Newsletter 12 August 2013
13/08/2013 by
In this edition TDA releases additional federal election 2013 policy papers TDA 2013 National Conference hosted in Brisbane – special note Conference registration offer National Conference - a special thank you to sponsors and exhibitors ‘Tertiary’ is not all about universities – joint TDA /ACPET column in The Australian online New round of AQF workshops for VET and higher education providers Holmesglen announces new chief executive New head for Kangan Institute Retirement of Ann Doolette at AQF Major update to TDA’s website section on international education Group training mounts case for apprenticeships Federal election brings an end to TAFE inquiry Higher … [Read more...]
