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STRICTLY SPEAKING | DAI GOU
Dai gou pronounced “ die go ” means “ surrogate shopping ” in Chinese . It refers to an informal kind of supply chain by which trusted individuals buy and / or transport quantities of selected goods to resell in China or elsewhere , and avoid commercial taxes in the source and receiving country . It was first associated with supplying luxury goods ( such as fashion handbags ) to China , but caught the news spotlight here in 2008 when huge stocks of Australian powdered baby milk formula were suddenly being exported to China after the scandal there over contaminated local supplies . More recently dai gou has supplied health supplements and cosmetics to China . International students ( student daigous ) have been able to supplement their scholarship incomes by acting as couriers of dai gou goods . But forces have combined to take the dai gou industry down . In January 2019 China introduced a new e-commerce law to regulate dai gou activity ; and the 2020 pandemic has disrupted air traffic and delivery services , as well as the flow of international students from China . The bankruptcy of dai gou agencies accounts for an estimated 7,000 parcels gone missing , and the trust vested in dai gou is declining . As a form of smuggling and tax evasion , it must be guilty on both counts . And in an international field of operation , its informality becomes its ultimate liability .
Written by Emeritus Professor Pam Peters , researcher with Macquarie University ’ s Linguistics Department .
VARGHESE FITS THE BILL
The University of Queensland ’ s senate has again elected Peter Varghese as chancellor .
Varghese , an alumnus , university medallist and honorary doctorate recipient , will officially begin his second fiveyear term in July this year .
Vice-chancellor Professor Deborah Terry said : “ His experience during the past four years as UQ ’ s Chancellor , as well as his 38- year career in diplomacy and intelligence , means that Mr Varghese is very well placed to navigate the changing higher education sector landscape .”
She said his strategic guidance and advice will ensure the university ’ s success as it seeks to play a key role in Australia ’ s path to COVID recovery .
FOURTEEN AND OUT
After 14 years at the helm of James Cook University , Professor Sandra Harding will retire from the role in December 2021 . Chancellor Bill Tweddell said the university has flourished under Harding ’ s leadership .
“ Revenue has doubled to over $ 550 million per year , she has overseen an ambitious and essential capital development and renewal program , and JCU has achieved significant growth in student numbers .”
Tweddell said Harding ’ s decision to advise him so far in advance of her planned departure was a characteristically thoughtful one , which will ensure the university has adequate time to find the next VC and achieve a smooth transition .
MARK UP Science & Technology Australia has announced “ silo-busting ” innovator Professor Mark Hutchinson as president-elect after its annual general meeting in late November .
The director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale Biophotonics at the University of Adelaide will become president at the end of STA ’ s next annual meeting in November .
“ I want to work with the STEM sector to help foster even deeper connections between the research community and those who need our research to transform lives , industries and policy ,” Hutchinson said .
NEW PEAK FOR DEAKIN
A geneticist and cytogenetics expert has been appointed as executive dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology at the University of Canberra . Deputy vice-chancellor , academic , Professor Geoff Crisp said Professor Janine Deakin was chosen given her long history with the faculty and impressive research background .
Deakin was awarded an ARC Future Fellowship which allowed her to carry out research on Tasmanian devil facial tumor disease , and completed research projects on chromosomal speciation in rock wallabies and sex determination in the central bearded dragon .
She commenced as executive dean on 4 January this year .
TO AN IIT Electrical engineering expert Professor Suresh Chandra Srivastava has been appointed inaugural director of the IIT Kanpur – La
Trobe University Research Academy .
Based in Kanpur , Uttar Pradesh , the academy has a strong presence at La Trobe ’ s Australian campuses for visiting staff and PhD students .
La Trobe vice-chancellor Professor John Dewar said : “ The joint appointment of Professor Srivastava as director will strengthen our research ecosystem , and deliver impactful , cutting-edge work that benefits communities globally .”
The IIT Kanpur – La Trobe University Research Academy was launched in Mumbai in February 2020 .
ART OF RESEARCH
University of Technology Sydney has welcomed its first artists in residence . Amala Groom and Sidney McMahon will work closely with UTS researchers from January to July 2021 .
Groom will work with academics on a historical inquiry into the origins and implications of Western legal , political and social authority as a comparative analysis with Aboriginal systems of lore , governance and collectivity .
McMahon will explore new possibilities of audience interactivity through the use of Brain Computer Interface ( BCI ) technology .
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