08 14 20 26
contents & news
08 14 20 26
news
03 Funding uncertainty UWS VC discusses current economic climate
04 Too many casuals Quality to suffer as the number rises, experts warn
05 UQ apologises for false scholarship offers Erroneous notices went out on Christmas Eve
06 Beyond Asia Australia should look to wider variety of economies
07 Tight times in SA TAFEs face funding cuts, closures
policy & reform
08 The year ahead What’ s on the HE agenda in 2014
11 HECS repayment Experts say current debt is manageable
industry & research
13 Scarce funds for science Investment needed to secure future prosperity
14 Bookkeeping for books Accounting standards for uni library assets still vary
16 Win that grant Learn how to prepare a successful proposal
EDITOR Antonia Maiolo 02 9936 8618 antonia. maiolo @ apned. com. au
Journalist Dallas Bastian 02 9936 8637 dallas. bastian @ apned. com. au
production manager Cj Malgo 02 9936 8772 cj. malgo @ apned. com. au
SUBEDITOR Haki P. Crisden 02 9936 8643 Edmedia. subeditor @ apned. com. au
SALES Steven Patrick 02 9936 8661 steven. patrick @ apned. com. au
SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES 02 9936 8666 subs @ apned. com. au
VC’ s corner
18 Path to greater research Comparison with UK reveals success factors
VET & TAFE
20 Looking forward Ways to improve TAFE this year
22 Lies, deception ASQA uncovers misleading marketing but ducks hard queries
24 Career shifts Students need flexibility to move around
on campus
26 Master building plans Laying the framework for the future campus
faculty focus
29 Gender stereotyping Stubborn old perceptions keep men out of nursing
30 Training trends Nursing schools need to move with the times
workforce
32 Lead by example Six steps to success for leaders of tomorrow
34 Noticeboard The latest in staff appointments
PUBLISHED BY APN Educational Media( ACN 010 655 446) PO Box 488 Darlinghurst, NSW 1300 ISSN 1037-034X Print post approved: 10001945
Cover Image supplied by the Office of the Chief Scientist for Australia.
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2,310 March 2013
UWS chief talks finance
Vice-chancellor Glover warns about the effects of shrinking budgets and recapped places. By Dallas Bastian
The University of Western Sydney’ s new vice-chancellor has called for a swift end to the sector’ s economic uncertainty.
“ If we are suffering any instability or if we are having any deterioration of our funding environment, that must have, over time, an impact on the quality of the system,” professor Barney Glover said.
The internationally recognised mathematician says 2014 is going to be an important year. He points to the review of the demand-driven system, the upcoming recommendations from the Commission of Audit and research funding as critical issues on the agenda.
“ We need stability in the sector around funding, indexation and the demanddriven system so the sector can ensure the best possible outcomes with the resources we have,” Glover said.
He hopes for a quick end to the doubt surrounding the higher education review and that the minister will give universities a chance to respond to any suggested changes.
“ I would be very concerned if there was any recommendation to reintroduce caps, partially or fully,” Glover said.
UWS has responded responsibly to the current system, he said, meeting the broad needs of Western Sydney and accommodating students from a wide range of educational pathways.
Along with the review, the Commission of Audit – which will assess government spending and medium-term fiscal sustainability – also looms.
Having these matters up in the air has created a climate of funding uncertainty.
Without a clear vision of the financial climate for the year ahead and onwards, Glover said, the higher education system would deteriorate.
He said the sector’ s view is that the Commonwealth needs to address the monetary issues around higher education and research.
The future of National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy( NCRIS) is one such matter. Money for the scheme is running out. Glover called this issue a priority that needs particular attention from the government.
“ We do need a national research infrastructure scheme,” he said.
Glover also looked towards the ongoing budget process as an ideal place to address another issue universities are facing – the limited number of clinical places and placements for professional courses.
The increasing number of students in health sciences is putting significant pressure on the system to accommodate clinical placements.
“ There’ s a lot of sensitivity at the moment around the costs associated with those places and managing relationships with the Commonwealth and the states and territories around clinical places,” Glover said.“ Hopefully the parties involved will work through a process of understanding the contributions universities make to the health system and teacher education and equally recognise the budgetary implications of those placements”. n
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