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POLICY & REFORM
Professor Peter Dawkins led Victoria University for a decade . Picture : Aaron Francis / NewsCorp Australia .
Skill gap
Former Vice-Chancellor Peter Dawkins to head Jobs and Skills .
By Eleanor Campbell
Former Victoria University Vice- Chancellor professor Peter Dawkins has been appointed to lead federal Labor ’ s new jobs and skills agency .
Skills and training minister Brendan O ’ Connor named professor Dawkins as interim director of Jobs and Skills Australia , after legislation passed to establish the statutory body last October .
O ’ Connor described professor Dawkins as “ eminently qualified , knowledgeable and experienced .”
“ He shares our passion for the power of education and training to transform lives ,
Calls for clarity
UNE staff and alumni ask for greater transparency .
By Emilie Lauer
Anew advisory body at the University of New England has called for increased transparency , staff inclusion in managerial processes and for the current chancellor to resign . and I welcome his extensive knowledge of labour market economics ,” the minister said . “ It comes as Australia faces one of its biggest economic challenges in decades – a lack of skilled workers across the labour market .”
Currently , Australia is facing critical workforce shortages across aged care , nursing , teaching , climate adaptation , energy transition , digitisation and cyber security .
Professor Dawkins will guide the JSA through its early stages and consult the government on the final design of the newly established body .
In 2021 , professor Dawkins co-delivered a review into university-industry collaboration alongside former RMIT vice-chancellor professor Martin Bean .
The delivery of small industry “ microcredential ” courses in national priority areas , one of the review ’ s core recommendations , was recently introduced as a pilot program by the federal government .
Professor Dawkins has also previously served as deputy secretary of Victoria ’ s treasury and finance department .
Peak university and research bodies have welcomed the former Vice-Chancellor ’ s appointment .
Last December , more than 500 UNE staff , alumni , and former employees met to vote in favour of stronger staff representation and university accountability .
Attendees also called for the resignation of Chancellor James Harris .
The meeting marked the first official gathering after the resignation of former Vice-Chancellor Brigid Heywood , who is currently facing assault charges .
“ The convocation was needed , there was a general recognition that the UNE council had not really done its duty to ensure that the university was running well ,” NTEU Branch president Craig Johnson said .
Staff and alumni voted for the creation of a standing convocation , which would meet twice a year to facilitate communication between staff and management .
The meeting also pushed for a council renewal which would include the release of a report about governance structures and mechanisms to the public .
Staff and alumni also voted for managerial practices to be more open , transparent and consultative .
“ Professor Dawkins has been an innovator in new teaching models and education and skills in areas of rapidly increasing demand ,” Universities Australia chief Catriona Jackson said .
“ We look forward to working with Professor Dawkins and Jobs and Skills Australia to help our country succeed .”
Group of Eight chief executive Vicki Thomson said the government had “ delivered ” on providing a strong tertiary voice to the table .
“ More than nine out of 10 jobs to be created will require post-secondary education – jobs in science , technology , engineering and maths are predicted to grow by 12.9 per cent , twice as fast as non-STEM jobs at 6.2 per cent ,” Thomson said .
“ Australia needs the advanced skills taught in our research universities and it makes sense that universities are part of the forward agenda of the JSA .”
Labor ’ s most recent federal budget allocated $ 12.9 million over three years towards building JSA .
This will include the development of a $ 12 million study into adult literacy , numeracy and digital literacy skills . ■
Additionally , it also called for the reinstatement of a UNE ombudsman .
Johnson said the meeting was the first step in making “ fundamental changes ” to the university .
In August last year , a union survey found that almost 40 per cent of UNE staff reported experiencing extreme burnout , with 20 per cent reporting severe or extreme depression .
Staff wellbeing concerns prompted an improvement notice issued by SafeWork NSW following allegations of unsafe working conditions in 2020 .
The university was found guilty of putting staff at risk of psychological injury due to excessive workload and unmanageable deadlines .
A spokesperson from UNE told Campus Review that the proposals raised at the meetings had been heard .
“ Resolutions were passed by members of Convocation for all three proposals to be submitted to the UNE Council for further consideration ,” the spokesperson said . ■
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