Archived News for Education Sector Professionals

Australian Laureate Fellowships worth over $44 million have been awarded to 17 Australian and overseas researchers.

The Fellowships, awarded by the Australian Research Council, include two new awards named after prominent women researchers, the inaugural Kathleen Fitzpatrick Australian Laureate Fellowship, won by Professor Pippa Norris from The University of Sydney, and the Georgina Sweet Australian Laureate Fellowship, won by Professor Mahananda Dasgupta from The Australian National University.

Professor Pippa Norris is currently the McGuire Lecturer in Comparative Politics at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, USA and a Visiting Professor at The University of Sydney’s Department of Government and International Relations.

UniSuper CEO named Fund Executive of the Year

UniSuper’s CEO, Terry McCredden, has been awarded the Fund Executive of the Year award after “demonstrating exceptional leadership in the areas of advice, investment management, risk management”.

Go8 responds to university uncapping bill

The Group of Eight universities have released a policy paper commenting on the Federal Government’s Higher Education Support Act Amendment (Demand-Driven System and Other Measures) Bill, currently before Parliament, which will uncap the supply of Commonwealth supported places (CSPs) in universities, as recommended by the Bradley Review.

Funding for SA defence industries training announced

Funding of $4.5 million has been awarded to the Defence Teaming Centre to create 2,300 new training places to boost skills and qualifications for South Australia's defence industries.

Reference Group to investigate viability of Tasmanian schools

A nine-member Reference Group has been established by the Tasmanian Government to investigate the viability of Tasmanian Government schools.

$558 million to address skills shortages

The Federal Government has launched its $558 million National Workforce Development Fund with the aim of providing 130,000 Australians with the opportunity to learn new skills for sectors that are currently experiencing skills shortages.

Queensland merger of CQU and CQIT gets go ahead

The Queensland State Government has announced its approval of the merger of Central Queensland University (CQU) and Central Queensland Institute of TAFE (CQIT).

Study to assess school kitchen garden program

The Australian Health Services Research Institute (AHSRI) at the University of Wollongong has won a bid to evaluate the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden National Project that aims to positively influence food choices among children.

Universities offer alternative access program

The University of New England and the University of Sydney have launched a new program to improve access to higher education, with the first students under the ‘Alternative Entry Pathway’ to commence in 2012.

Under the ‘Alternative Entry Pathway’ opportunity, which will be offered jointly by the partner universities, current Year 12 students from more than 60 eligible high schools in Sydney and on the NSW coast (full list available at http://www.une.edu.au/usyd) can apply to study the first year of selected degrees on campus at the University of New England.

In year two of their degree students can transition to the University of Sydney, provided they have made satisfactory progress in their first year of study in approved majors and units at the University of New England.

The Alternative Entry Pathway relies on a school’s assessment of a student’s ability to cope with study at university, rather than their Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) or equivalent. The assessment is based on personal attributes, such as the student’s ability to work and learn independently, as well as a judgment about the student’s potential for academic success at university.

The intention of the arrangement is to grant greater access for students who are eligible for Youth Allowance, who are disadvantaged by their background or geographic location, and who are assessed to be capable of achieving academic success.

For each Alternative Entry Pathway student, both institutions will be offering additional academic support to facilitate a transition to university study. Scholarships and sponsorships are also available.

NSW to abolish Year 10 certificate

New South Wales Minister for Education Adrian Piccoli has announced that the School Certificate will be abolished as of 2012.

Report recommends merger of Canberra higher ed institutions

The ACT Government has published a report into the future of the University of Canberra (UC) and the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT), finding that given the significant changes in national tertiary education, it is not an option for Canberra's CIT and UC to continue to operate in their current form.