Archived News for Education Sector Professionals - April, 2012
The Federal Government has released its report of the demand driven university placement reform, with Minister for Tertiary Education, Senator Chris Evans, saying the Government’s work will allow for an unprecedented skills boom to meet increased demand for a variety of labour.
The Demand Driven System: Undergraduate Applications and Offers report details a boom in placements since the Federal Government introduced its demand driven placement reform, recording over 150,000 additional placements offered since the reform took effect.
The report found that 221,765 offers were made this year, an increase by 5.5 per cent compared with the same time last year.
Government expands apprenticeship program
The Federal Government has added 23 new organisations to the Australian Apprenticeships Support Service providers fro the 2012-14 period.
Regional universities booming
Recent figures released by the Regional Universities Network show that between 2009 and 2012, offered places rose 19.2 per cent, 3.1 per cent above the national average.
Teachers to set performance goals under new assessments
Teachers in every Australian school will have a yearly performance assessment which will include classroom observation and evidence of student outcomes, under proposals released for consultation today.
ACOSS urges Government to trim $8 billion in subsidies
A new report published by the Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS) has identifies around $8 billion in budgetary savings if the Government clamps down on tax loopholes.
Federal Government announces school independence scheme
The Federal Government has announced the first phase of the Empowering Local Schools initiative that will allow public schools to join together to form ‘confederations’ to allow greater integrated decision-making and community engagement.
Government announces Gonski funding working group
The Federal Government has convened the first meeting of a new working group tasked with considering the findings and recommendations of the Gonski Review in relation to capital funding for the country’s schools.
Education gets a technological boost
Maths and science will collide with computer games and virtual reality at the new $4 million Quantum Victoria physical sciences centre in Macleod West.
University of Queensland appoints new Vice-Chancellor
The University of Queensland has appointed Professor Peter Høj as its new Vice-Chancellor and President.
Professor Høj is the Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of South Australia and his previous roles include Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Research Council and Managing Director of the Australian Wine Research Institute.
He was selected from a highly-competitive field of candidates.
Professor Høj said he was honoured to be granted the opportunity to lead a research-intensive institution of UQ's stature.
“I look forward to working with UQ staff, students and alumni to further enhance the University's already excellent global reputation for learning, research and outreach activities across a full spectrum of academic disciplines,” he said.
Professor Høj has a Master of Science, PhD and Honorary Doctorate from the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
He has served on the Prime Minister's Science and Engineering Innovation Council, and his many awards include the Boehringer-Mannheim Medal from the Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
In addition to his Fellowship of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, he was recently appointed as a Foreign Member (Natural Sciences Class) of The Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters.
Victoria announces new physical sciences centre
The Victorian Government has opened the state’s new Quantum Victoria physical sciences centre in Melbourne’s north.
Asian languages and culture to be part of Australian curriculum
Minister for School Education Peter Garrett hosted a discussion on Asian literacy with business leaders, focusing on how Government and business can work together to increase awareness of Asian culture and the study of Asian languages in Australian schools.
Universities shed 'elitist' reputation
A surge in low socioeconomic students attending university shows Labor reforms are developing the talent that will help drive a high skilled and productive economy.
Hays Quarterly Report: Education
Global recruitment specialist Hays has released its quarterly report into recruitment trends for the April – June 2012 quarter.
Victorian TAFEs in good financial shape: report
Victorian TAFE institutions are in a healthy financial position, with a combined total surplus of $98 million, according to annual reports tabled in the State Parliament.
Swinburne University wins award for online teaching
Swinburne University of Technology has been awarded the Open Universities Australia (OUA) Rising Star Nova Award 2012.
ACU appoints Dean of Research
Professor Patrick Heaven, prominent psychology academic and expert, has been appointed Dean of Research at Australian Catholic University (ACU).
New Vice-Chancellor and President appointed in Macquarie University
Professor S. Bruce Dowton has been appointed the next Vice-Chancellor and President of Macquarie University, the Chancellor, The Hon. Michael Egan, announced.
Research compares cyber-bullying with tradititional bullying
An international research project led by Professor Sheryl Hemphill of Australian Catholic University (ACU) has found that the factors leading to incidents of cyber-bullying are different to those which result in traditional bullying.
SA opposition promises school funding boost
South Australian Opposition Leader Isobel Redmond will unveil the first of the reforms a Redmond Government will undertake to restore South Australia’s flagging education system.
Government announces research collaboration
The Federal Government has announced that the Edith Cowan University has joined forces with nine other Australian universities to bolster research into the management of chronic diseases, mental health in young people and the protection of coastal environments.
SA introduces TAFE SA statutory Bill
The South Australian Government has introduced legislation before the State Parliament that will see TAFE SA established as a single statutory authority.