Doctorate (PhD)

The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) welcomes the release today of an Interim Report from the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Innovation on the Inquiry into Research Training and Research Workforce Issues in Australian Universities.

On 23 April 2008 the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator the Hon Kim Carr, asked the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Innovation to undertake an inquiry into research training and research workforce issues in Australian universities.
The Committee invited interested persons and organisations to make submissions addressing the terms of reference by Friday 30 May 2008.

Public Hearing 16 October 2008

Representatives from the CSIRO, the Australian Academy of Science and the Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies will appear before the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Education and Training in Canberra on Thursday (16 October). The committee is examining claims of declining enrolments in the enabling sciences at Australian universities.

The stage is set for a series of important reforms in higher education, with a range of reports due between now and the end of the year.

The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) has published a summary of important developments for postgraduate students in an Issues Paper released today.

The issues paper is available via the link below:

The stage is set for a series of important reforms in higher education, with a range of reports due between now and the end of the year.

The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) has published a summary of important developments for postgraduate students in an Issues Paper released today.

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Innovation will hold the final public hearing for its inquiry into research training and research workforce issues at Parliament House on Wednesday (24 September).

“Creativity and innovation in both science and the humanities are at the forefront of today’s knowledge economy as well as efforts to promote understanding and social inclusion,” Committee Chair Maria Vamvakinou said.

LAWYERS for an Aboriginal woman have said they are about to launch a damages claim against the Queensland University of Technology, reigniting bitterness over a contentious PhD film project called Laughing at the Disabled .

"We're putting six figures on it," said Brisbane solicitor Stephen Kerin, who represents May Dunne. She was allegedly stereotyped as an Aboriginal drunk by the PhD project.

Mr Kerin said he would lodge a racial vilification action against the QUT and PhD student Michael Noonan in the Federal Court "within the next week or so".

[Media release announcing the scheme]
Outstanding researchers from Australia and around the world will be attracted to work in Australian universities under a new Australian Laureate Fellowships scheme, announced today by the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr.

"Under the new scheme, researchers at the peak of their careers will have the opportunity to develop strong teams of emerging talent – passing on their experience and knowledge to the next generation,” Senator Carr said.

Research training in Australia – public hearing in Townsville

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Innovation will conduct its sixth interstate public hearing for its research training inquiry in Townsville on Tuesday, 19 August.

“This inquiry focuses on the adequacy and effectiveness of current research training schemes, the factors that determine whether new graduates pursue a career in research, and the opportunities for career advancement for research graduates and staff,” said Committee Chair Maria Vamvakinou.

Research training in Australia - public hearing in Brisbane

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Innovation will conduct its fifth interstate public hearing for its research training inquiry in Brisbane on Monday, 18 August.

“This inquiry focuses on the adequacy and effectiveness of current research training schemes, the factors that determine whether new graduates pursue a career in research, and the opportunities for career advancement for research graduates and staff,” said Committee Chair Maria Vamvakinou.