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education links e-news on higher education[ background ] [ index ] [ previous issues ] [ subscribe ] Issue 16
Neville Bonner ScholarshipMrs Faye Strachan, the inaugural Neville Bonner Scholarship holder, was recently honoured at a special morning tea at Parliament House, Canberra. Dr Kemp, the Minister for Education, Training and Youth Affairs, and Dr Brendan Nelson who instigated the scholarship, both praised Mrs Strachan’s achievements. The scholarship fund was established last year with a Commonwealth grant of $400,000 in memory of the late Mr Neville Bonner AO, the first Indigenous Australian member of Parliament. Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd have contributed a generous $30,000 and the ANU is managing the fund on behalf of DETYA. The scholarship will provide Mrs Strachan with a stipend of around $17,000 for her honours year of study and will also cover the costs of her Higher Education Contribution Scheme contributions for the year. Mrs Strachan, who lives in Alice Springs, took her undergraduate degree externally from the University of South Australia. She is staying in Alice Springs, taking her honours degree in Bachelor of Arts Aboriginal Studies, on a part-time basis. Her research will address retention rates of Indigenous Year 12 students. Speaking to the many parliamentarians and others attending the morning tea in her honour, Mrs Strachan said: ‘Our Indigenous kids are voting with their feet and don’t see the relevance of western education. The challenge I see through my dissertation is to look at the bigger picture, what the government is and is not doing, focusing on health, housing, education, employment, welfare and social issues. There are good things happening in Alice Springs. My goal for the dissertation is to provide documentation, analysis and recommendations.’ Mrs Strachan works part-time in an Aboriginal food town co-operative. She is known in Alice Springs, not only for her educational achievements, but also for her sporting prowess and her encouragement of Indigenous Youth. Higher Education BillsThe Parliament has recently considered two Bills concerned with the Commonwealth’s support of higher education. The main focus of the higher education legislative programme in 2001 has been securing the funds for and implementing initiatives from the Government’s Backing Australia’s Ability (BAA) policy, launched by the Prime Minister in January 2001. The higher education elements of the policy were additional funding for
the Australian Research Council ($736 million to double its funding over
five years), 2000 new university places a year in priority areas ($151
million over five years), systemic research infrastructure ($246 million
over five years), project specific research infrastructure ($337 million
over The Innovation and Legislation Amendment Bill 2001 (IELAB), which was introduced in the House of Representatives on 5 April 2001, contained additional BAA funding for 2002 and set the parameters of PELS. It also contained changes to HECS and related schemes and some additional funds for schools. The Higher Education Funding Amendment Bill 2001 (HEFAB), which was introduced in the House of Representatives on 7 June 2001, contained additional BAA funding for 2003 and updated the 2002 BAA funding amounts to account for price movements. It also contained updates of other 2002 funding amounts in the Higher Education Funding Act 1988 (HEFA), set HEFA funding amounts for 2003, made changes to HECS and related schemes and amended the governance arrangements of the Australian National University. IELAB was passed by the House of Representatives on 19 June and HEFAB on 20 June. However, the Bills received a mixed reception when debated cognately (jointly) by the Senate in the early hours of the morning of 29 June. While HEFAB passed without amendment, the Senate agreed to a motion to split IELAB into three separate Bills. On advice from the Clerk of the House of Representatives, the Government took the view that the motion was contrary to accepted parliamentary procedure and that the Senate had effectively voted not to pass the Bill. HEFAB received Royal Assent on 18 July 2001 to become the Higher Education Funding Amendment Act 2001. The net result of these events is that additional BAA and other higher
education funding has been appropriated for 2002 and 2003. However, PELS
does not currently have a legislative basis. The Government is planning to
re-introduce legislation for PELS in the Spring sittings of Parliament and
still hopes to have the scheme up and running by Nursing Review UpdateIn e-news 9 (30 April 2001) we outlined the Government’s plans for a National Review of Nursing Education. Since then significant progress has been made. In particular, a series of literature reviews and research projects have been commissioned to inform the review team in their deliberations. The literature reviews and research projects will explore a range of issues related to the review’s terms of reference, including:
Literature ReviewsTwo literature reviews have been commissioned to look at nursing generally:
Research ProjectsSeveral research projects have been commissioned to examine different aspects of nursing education. These include:
Further information about the review can be obtained from it’s website at: www.dest.gov.au/highered/programmes/nursing or from Dr Elizabeth McDonald at the Department DETYA FellowshipProfessor Phillip Candy, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Scholarship) at the University of Ballarat has been appointed as a DETYA Research Fellow for 2001–02. Professor Candy joins DETYA in early September and will be warmly welcomed as the first Fellow for the Higher Education Division. The DETYA Research Fellowship Scheme brings academic researchers into the Department to work closely with Departmental staff on particular research topics. Fellows are also involved in many day-to-day Departmental activities. Professor Candy’s Fellowship will be an opportunity to improve understanding between the Department and the higher education sector and to bring fresh perspectives to current issues. During his 12-month fellowship, Professor Candy will undertake a research project on the intersection of information and communication technology (ICT) and lifelong learning. The project will:
Professor Candy brings considerable academic experience and significant expertise in high-level administration to DETYA. He has an outstanding academic reputation both nationally and internationally. He has a research and publication record that includes authorship of six books and authorship and co-authorship of well over 50 journal articles and book chapters and he has been principal investigator on a number of research grants and commissioned research reports. His 1991 work Self-direction for lifelong learning: A comprehensive guide to theory and practice is considered groundbreaking it its field. More information on the DETYA Research Fellowship Scheme can be found at: www.dest.gov.au/iae/fellowship/fellowship.htm Workplace ReformJames Cook University, Central Queensland University and Charles Sturt University have been awarded extra funding for staff salaries under the Workplace Reform Programme. Between them the three universities will receive more than $4 million for 2001, which will fund a salary increase for staff of approximately two percent. Twenty-eight institutions have now successfully applied for funding under the programme, which will provide up to $259 million over three years to universities demonstrating a commitment to improving their workplace relations and management practices. The three newly funded universities have demonstrated progress in a number of areas. Amongst other improvements:
The universities have also developed flexible working practices and have shown a commitment to junior employment. First round grants are provided for 18 months only. James Cook University, Central Queensland University and Charles Sturt University, and other successful institutions, will have to demonstrate progress in implementing workplace reform to qualify for funding beyond this initial period. Guidelines for second round applications were released in January 2001. They are available on DETYA’s Internet site at: www.dest.gov.au/highered/programmes/workplace_reform Publications & Websitesrecent releasesDeclining rates of achievement and retention: the perceptions of
adolescent males This study has provided an opportunity to gain an understanding of how adolescent males view their educational experiences and how they respond to those experiences. There has been no attempt to discuss whether the boys’ perceptions are ‘right’ or ‘ wrong’. The study also identifies further areas for research into the impact of the school culture, curriculum, effective computer and technology availability and use, and what genuine adult learning environments might be like. www.dest.gov.au/highered/eippubs.htm#01_6 Lifelong Learning: Demand and supply issues - some questions for research, Michael Gallagher Paper presented at The Business/Higher Education Roundtable Conference on The Critical Importance of Lifelong Learning The focus of this paper is on learning beyond schooling for the working age population. Its purpose is to raise some questions for research on higher education linkages with changing labour market requirements. It goes on to:
www.dest.gov.au/highered/otherpub/lifelong Modern university governance – a national perspective, Michael Gallagher This paper presented at The idea of a university: enterprise or academy?, a conference organised by The Australia Institute and Manning Clark House. It outlines a number of factors affecting the changing role and organisation of universities and associated shifts in higher education policy. Against that background some comments are made about expectations of university governance, leadership, management and administration. www.dest.gov.au/highered/otherpub/mod_uni_gov 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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