[Update from Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies (FASTS)]

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.

CHARLES Darwin University is setting a new standard for Australian universities with its latest appointment.

Darwin-born Steven Larkin will be the highest-ranking indigenous person in an Australian university when he takes up the position of pro vice-chancellor of indigenous leadership in January next year.

"I'm still somewhat overwhelmed," he said.

"This appointment is history-making."

The position, which is intended to make the university's indigenous studies the best in the nation, is the first of its kind in Australia.

* National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education
* Magill Campus
* 2 year fixed-term contract

The National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education is seeking to appoint a Research Support Officer to join its newly established team.

Full Time, Continuing Position
$72,068 - $78,825 pa (Inc. Super)
Wagga Wagga

The Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor and Vice President – Research is responsible for the administration of research and research training.

[From the Minister's media release]

The Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr, today announced the appointment of Professor Penny Sackett as Australia’s new, full-time, Chief Scientist.

"Professor Sackett will provide high-level advice to Government, foster relationships with science organisations and industry groups and stimulate community thinking on the big scientific issues of our time.

"Boosting the role from part-time to full-time demonstrates the store the Rudd Government places in high-calibre, independent, scientific advice.

[From media release by Australasian Science]
Funding for scientific research in Australia “puts an excessive emphasis on guaranteed results at the expense of adventurous ideas and major breakthroughs,” according to Prof Bryan Gaensler.

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.

Draft ERA Pilot Submission Guidelines available - Physical, Chemical and Earth Science disciplines. This pilot program for the ERA will run from October 1 through to November 14. Guidelines are available below.

[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.

The Australian National University is re-establishing their Diversity Unit, and is hiring for an Indigenous Employment Adviser and a Senior Consultant Diversity and Inclusion.

[Prime Minister's Media Release - 25 August 2008]

The Prime Minister announced today that Australia would almost double the number of scholarships available for East Timorese students to undertake full-time undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Australia.

The number of places under the Government’s overseas aid program would increase from 12 to 20 in 2009, at a total cost of around $3 million per year.

[From the DEEWR website]

The Higher Education Endowment Fund will provide funding to Australian higher education institutions for capital expenditure and research facilities. From 2009, the HEEF program will become part of the Education Investment Fund (EIF) announced in the 2008-09 Budget.

More information on the EIF can be found on the EIF page.

2009 Funding Round

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.

 

Reminder: closing date for submissions is 15/8/08.

Terms of Reference

Senator Fifield, pursuant to notice of motion not objected to as a formal motion, moved business of the Senate notice of motion no. 3—That the following matter be referred to the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Committee for inquiry and report by 11 November 2008:

The current level of academic freedom in school and higher education, with particular reference to:

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

G08 MEDIA RELEASE Tuesday 29 July 2008

Group of Eight signs Human Capital Agreement with Chile

The Group of Eight universities will sign an Agreement with the Republic of Chile in Sydney today to allow up to 500 postgraduate students to study in Australia each year.

The Go8 Agreement complements the Free Trade Agreement to be signed by the Australian and Chilean Governments in Canberra on Wednesday 30 July.

The students will be supported by the new US$600million Chilean Bicentennial Scholarship Fund for Human Capital Development.

The final seminar addresses policy on the national innovation system which is the subject of a major review of its own chaired by Dr Terry Cutler, additional to the Bradley review of the higher education system. Research and innovation are increasingly central in the global knowledge economy and this has pitchforked universities, knowledge dissemination and the commercial R&D sector into the centre of national thinking. The Cutler review is a rare opportunity for Australia to make the policy moves needed to move from global follower

There will little change in policy on national investment in higher education and research without a new national consensus on strategies for structural reform and for continuously improving outcomes in both the quantitative and qualitative senses. Likewise the issue of standards is crucial for domestic students and employers and for Australia’s reputation in the global teaching market. Looking beyond quality assurance mechanisms, this seminar focuses on strategies for improvement and on indicators of transparent outputs. How can we lift

The National Union of Students, The University of Sydney SRC and the University of Sydney Koori Centre are hosting a National Indigenous Student Conference.

The conference will be held from July 31st to August 2nd, 2008 at the University of
Sydney.

The main aims of the conference are:
• To provide an opportunity for Australian university Indigenous student representatives to meet face to face
• To provide the basis for strengthening a network of Indigenous students from all Australian universities

The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) will launch a major campaign tomorrow, Thursday 24 July, under the banner of “Our Universities Matter – Investing in People and Society”.

Details of the launch are:

THURSDAY 24 JULY 2008, 12.45 PM

KALEIDE THEATRE,
RMIT UNIVERSITY, SWANSTON ST MELBOURNE (enter from Swanston St)

LAUNCH PARTICIPANTS:

Professor Margaret Gardner, Vice-Chancellor, RMIT University (host)

Dr Carolyn Allport, National President, NTEU
Sarah Cole, Victorian President, National Union of Students (NUS)

Where do the limits on academic freedom begin and end? Who defines this and how?

The Council for Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences is seeking an energetic person to conduct research, manage outsourced research, and draft papers and submissions. This is an exciting opportunity, a chance to work in a small-team environment for an organisation making a difference in policy circles.

the Australian Research Council (ARC) has released the Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) initiative Consultation Paper.

The Consultation Paper is the first formal step in communicating with the sector regarding ERA and the ARC looks forward to your contribution to this consultation process (it is worth noting that the ERA initiative is being administered by the ARC, whereas its predecessor, the RQF, was administered by DEST).

The Issues Paper is part of a study, funded by the Australian Learning and Teaching Council (formerly Carrick Institute), to map Honours across Australian universities, in order to inform the current widespread debate in the sector about Honours, from disciplinary level to policy level.

We are restructuring the office arrangements at FASTS and will be creating a new position for a communications and research officer. Please forward this position description to anyone who you think may be interested.

Regards

Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research today called for interested Australians to respond to a consultation paper on the development of the Government’s new Future Fellowships scheme.

Issued by: House of Representatives Liaison & Projects Office, Wednesday, 30 April 2008

The House of Representatives Industry, Science and Innovation Committee is to conduct an inquiry into the contribution that Australian universities make to Australian research training, and the challenges those universities face in recruiting, training and retaining quality research staff.

Committee Chair Maria Vamvakinou welcomed the referral of this inquiry by the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr.

On 22 January 2008, the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr, announced a wide ranging review of Australia's national innovation system to be conducted by an expert panel chaired by Dr Terry Cutler.

The establishment of the review recognises the vital role innovation plays in boosting productivity and international competitiveness, and re-iterates the Rudd Government's commitment to fostering innovation across the economy.

A Green Paper, originally due by the end of July 2008, was released September 9th.

Contributions to AUQF2008 Now Open

The deadline for submissions of papers and workshop proposals to be presented at AUQF2008 has been extended until Friday 18 April 2008.

Contributions can be sent by email to Claire Gresty at c.gresty@auqa.edu.au. AUQF2008 has the theme of 'Quality and Standards in Higher Education: Making a Difference' with the following subthemes:

Academic Outcomes and Standards
Learning and Teaching
Community Engagement
Research
International
Please download the pdf below for detailed submission information.

On 13 March 2008, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education, the Hon Julia Gillard MP, announced a major review of Australia’s higher education system which will examine and report on the future direction of the higher education sector, its fitness for purpose in meeting the needs of the Australian community and economy and the options for ongoing reform. [From the DEEWR website]