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education links e-news on higher education[ background ] [ index ] [ previous issues ] [ subscribe ] Issue 14
Happy Birthday, Australian Research CouncilSunday 1 July 2001 marked the birth of the ‘new’ Australian Research Council (ARC) with the commencement of the Australian Research Council Act 2001. This Act established the ARC as an independent agency within the Education, Training and Youth Affairs portfolio. It implements a number of changes which were announced by the Government in its White Paper, Knowledge and Innovation: A policy statement on research and research training. The ARC is Australia’s premier funding agency for research in all disciplines except clinical medicine and dentistry. Through its peer review process, the ARC provides support for excellent individuals and teams to conduct research of the highest quality. In January this year, in recognition of the role of the ARC in the national innovation system, the Government provided additional support of $736 million over the next five years. This doubled the ARC budget. Under the new legislation, the ARC is responsible for providing strategic policy advice to the Government, as well as managing the National Competitive Grants programme. Funding for ARC schemes is appropriated through the new Act. Overseeing these responsibilities will be a board with representation from academia, industry and the community. The day to day operations of the ARC will now be managed by a Chief Executive Officer. Professor Vicki Sara, the current Chair of the ARC, has been appointed as the inaugural CEO. Other changes which came into effect on 1 July 2001 were the new eligibility requirements for the Research Training Scheme and the Institutional Block Grants Scheme. In order to receive support through these schemes, institutions must have an approved research and research training management plan, be listed on the Australian Qualifications Framework and be included on Schedule 1 of the Higher Education Funding Act 1988. New Board for the Australian Research CouncilThe new Board of the Australian Research Council has been announced by the Minister for Education, Training and Youth Affairs, the Hon Dr David Kemp. It contains representatives from the academic, industry and community sectors, recognising the need for the interests of both the generators and the users of knowledge to be considered. The Governor-General has appointed Mr Peter Wills AC as Chair of the ARC Board. Mr Wills is the Executive Chair of CRI Pty Ltd. He has made a significant contribution to Australia’s innovation system through his Chairing of both the Health and Medical Science Strategic Review and its Implementation Committee, his membership of the Group of Strategic Advisers to the Review of Australia’s Science Capability and the Biotechnology Consultative Group, and his work with the Garvan Institute of Medical Research. Announcing the appointment, Dr Kemp said that Peter Wills will bring immense experience and knowledge of Australian research to the position of Chair. Dr Kemp said that Mr Wills’ leadership will ensure that Australian research remains at world standard and that our best ideas contribute to new enterprises and jobs in Australia. Other members of the new ARC Board are: Professor Brian Anderson AO, President of the Australian Academy of Science and Director, Research School of Information Sciences and Engineering, Australian National University. Professor Edwina Cornish, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) and Professor of Biotechnology, University of Adelaide. Dr Mike Folie, Currently Deputy Chairman, InterOil Corporation and former Managing Director, Acacia Resources. Mr John Grace, the former Chief Executive Officer of AMRAD Corporation. Ms Sue Middleton, a former manager of the WA Community Builders Initiative, Ms Middleton runs a rural development consultancy company from her family farm. Dr Christopher Nichol, Technical Manager, Wireless Networks
Group and Technical Manager, Bell Dr Mike Sargent, the Deputy Chancellor of the University of Canberra and Managing Director of M.A Sargent & Associates. Professor Richard Snape, Deputy Chairman Productivity Commission
and Emeritus Professor of Economics, The Board will also have the following ex-officio members: Dr Robin Batterham, the Chief Scientist Professor Nick Saunders, Chair, National Health Mr Steve Sedgwick, Secretary, Department of Mr Russell Higgins, Secretary, Department of Industry, Science and Resources Professor Vicki Sara, Chief Executive Officer, 2000 Review of the Learned AcademiesThe 2000 Review of the Learned Academies was released in May 2001. The review was conducted by Professor Geoffrey Blainey, AO, the former Chancellor of the University of Ballarat and recipient of the prestigious Order of Australia (AO) medal in 2000, and Professor John Maloney, the former Deputy Vice-Chancellor of International and Public Affairs at Monash University. As part of a five-year review process, the activities and performance of the National Academies Forum and each of the four Academies are reviewed to examine how their roles might be enhanced, particularly in relation to their role in public policy development and contribution to quality assurance in research. In addition, the review consultants were asked to examine the funding relativities established by the 1995 review to ensure that these levels remained equitable. The Commonwealth Government provides $1.62 million annually for grant-in-aid funding to the Learned Academies. These grants assist the Academies to promote research and scholarship in their respective disciplines, and undertake activities that are in the national interest, including the provision of independent advice to Government. Funding of up to $452,000 is also available to the Academies for specific projects funded through the Australian Research Council’s Special Projects programme. To access a copy of the review from the DETYA website please access the following link: www.dest.gov.au/highered/respubs/academies/default.htm Science meets Parliament 2001This event runs over two days – 21 and 22 August 2001 and is a wonderful opportunity for scientists and technologists to put their case to politicians. It is being organised by the Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies (FASTS). On Tuesday 21 August the event will be held at the National Press Club. It will be devoted to briefing and working out suitable strategies for Wednesday’s interviews with Ministers. Politicians and their staffers as well as bureaucrats and professional lobbyists will talk to scientists and provide advice on how to get the most out of their interviews. On Wednesday 22 August pairs of scientists will meet with Ministers and give first hand accounts of examples of good science, the opportunities this work creates and how more of the benefits of research could be captured. To access more information and register visit the FASTS website: Publications & Websitesrecently releasedHigher Education Students Time Series Tables, 2000: Selected Higher Education Statistics This publication presents statistics on students in Australia’s higher education institutions by selected characteristics from 1949 to 2000. This is the fourth edition of this publication and it includes updated figures for 1989 to 2000. Data in this publication have all been previously released, however, the purpose of this publication is to bring together these data in one publication and to combine them with data from earlier years. Production of hard copies and an internet version (PDF) of the publication are underway. In the meantime, electronic copies of all the tables can be downloaded from: www.dest.gov.au/highered/statpubs.htm Rising to the Challenge: Building professional staff capability in
the Australian minerals industry for the new century Rising to the Challenge is a study of the minerals industry’s skills requirements now and in the near future. The report used a literature search, a survey and interviews, and commissioned research to identify future skills requirements and to create a blueprint for reshaping the skills possessed by industry workers. Rising to the Challenge is available from DETYA in both hard copy and electronic formats. www.dest.gov.au/highered/eippubs.htm#01_5 due out soonFifth Generation Distance Education Fifth Generation Distance Education is a study of the Internet’s effect on the practice of distance education, using the University of Southern Queensland’s e-University Project as a case study. The study concludes that to be successful an online distance education programme must be ‘strategically planned, systematically integrated and institutionally comprehensive’ in nature. Fifth Generation Distance Education will be available from DETYA in both hard copy and electronic formats. to grab a copyInternet versionsMost of our publications—from October 1996 onward—are available in full on the DETYA website at: www.dest.gov.au/highered/repts.htm Hard copiesCopies of most of our publications can be purchased from AusInfo’s Government Information Bookshops. Locations and contact details for the AusInfo bookshops are available at: www.dofa.gov.au/ausinfo/infoaccess/ia_infoshops.htm EnquiriesGeneral enquiries about publications can be emailed to websites
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updatesDETYA’s website has new information posted to it on a regular basis. You can keep up with changes via the free Site Change Subscription Service (SCSS). This Service notifies subscribers of significant updates and additions to DETYA websites. how it worksInterested parties need to register to the subscription service. Registration involves providing your email address and selecting the parts of DETYA’s website you wish to be notified about. what it doesOnce registered, subscribers will be sent a weekly email (usually on Monday evenings) with a brief description of any changes and the address for such pages. At www.dest.gov.au select Site Change Subscription Service Copyright© Commonwealth of Australia 2001 This work is copyright. It may be reproduced in whole or in part for study or training purposes subject to the inclusion of the source and no commercial usage or sale. Reproduction for purposes other than those indicated above, require the written permission from the Commonwealth available through AusInfo. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Manager, Legislative Services, AusInfo, GPO Box 1920, Canberra ACT 2601. The views expressed in this report do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs. Contacte-news on higher education editorial enquiries: e-news on higher education Full PDF
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