Quality and Quality Assurance (QA)

The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) cautiously welcomed the announcement today from Minister for Youth and Sport, Kate Ellis, of measures to address the impact of the former Federal Government’s “VSU” legislation.

Compulsory fee reintroduced

On measures announced today, universities would be able to charge students a compulsory fee of up to $250 per year as early as July 1 2009. Students would have the option of deferring the fee to a HECS-style loan scheme.

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.

SOME of the biggest universities in NSW have been hiding the salaries of their vice-chancellors by deliberately writing their employment contracts to make them exempt from the Freedom of Information Act, the NSW Ombudsman has found.

The Ombudsman has accused some universities of effectively "contracting out" of the FoI law by including a clause in the contracts that said disclosing their contents would be a breach of confidence.

The University of Adelaide is seeking a highly qualified individual with excellent managerial and organisational skills to provide high level executive and management support to the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Quality), within the Division of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor & Vice-President (Academic).

Position Requirements
You should have:
* knowledge of quality assurance approaches and processes in the higher education sector
* exceptional organisational and time management skills

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.

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.

STANDING COMMITTEE ON INDUSTRY, SCIENCE AND INNOVATION
PROGRAM: Perth Public Hearings

Tuesday 12 August 2008
9.00 am to 2.00 pm
Room 1, Level 1, Legislative Assembly, 11 Harvest St, Perth

9.00 – 9.45 Professor Su Lloyd

9.45 – 10.30 Institute Postdoctoral Researchers Association at the
Telethon Institute for Child Health Research in Western Australia

10.45 – 12.15 Roundtable:

    * Curtin University of Technology
    * Edith Cowan University