< BackUniversity
Council HomeUniversity
Council |
< BackUniversity
Council Home |
|
| University
Council |
||
| Meeting 5, 11 September 2009
The University Council met in the Council Room, Sandy Bay Campus, Hobart on Friday 11 September 2009. This is a report from that meeting. Agenda items included-
These reports were made available to Council members via the Council website-
Financial Management Reports 30 June 2009Council approved the summary Financial Management Reports as at 30 June 2009. Your Voice@UTAS Staff SurveyThe University is heavily engaged in discussions of the results of the staff opinion survey and potential strategies that might result. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) and Provost held campus forums in Hobart, Launceston and Burnie during August. There have been discussions at Faculty, Division, School and Institute level, as well as in some smaller individual work areas. The results of these discussions, including interpretations of the results and recommendations for action, will be fed back to the Voice Project Steering Group (VPSG), chaired by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) and Provost, by mid-September. The VPSG will then prepare a summary report, including priority areas for action for consideration by Academic Senate and Senior Management Team. A final report will be presented to Council at its October meeting. Student SafetyThe higher education sector and the Australian Government are continuing with a number of strategic initiatives to address the issue of student safety in Australia for international students. In June Universities Australia released a 10 point action plan emphasising strong law enforcement as well as a set of complementary actions. In addition, the Australian Council for Private Education and Training (ACPET), English Australia (EA), the International Education Association of Australia (IEAA), the Independent Schools Council of Australia (ISCA), TAFE Directors Australia (TDA) and Universities Australia (UA) have met and agreed to cooperate to further strengthen and develop the Australian international education industry. A copy of the communiqué, including the 10 point action plan, is attached. Locally, in early June, UTAS set up a ‘Student Safety and Cultural Awareness Taskforce’, chaired by the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Students and Education), Professor Gary O’Donovan. While this initiative was hastened by the negative publicity relating to the attacks on Indian students in Melbourne and Sydney, the formation of a taskforce of this type had been considered earlier in the year. A preliminary meeting of the taskforce was held in early June to consider suggested membership and draft terms of reference, and also the Universities Australia 10 point action plan for student safety and possible UTAS response and actions. The unfortunate death of UTAS student Zhang Yu (Tina) in late June and the resultant publicity thrust the issue of student safety, particularly international student safety and their experiences, even further into the spotlight. As a result of these and other events since Tina’s death, the membership and suggested terms of reference for the proposed taskforce are currently being revisited. It is planned to invite various external stakeholders, including members of State Parliament, City Council representatives, Tasmania Police and the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner to join UTAS members, including student representatives, at the first meeting of the revised taskforce during September. In a separate initiative, UTAS, through the Director of International Services and the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Students and Education), is also in the process of drafting a ‘Racial Discrimination Policy’. Talloires DeclarationThe Talloires Declaration is an official statement first signed in 1990 by 22 university administrators who attended the international conference on "The Role of Universities in Environmental Management and Sustainable Development”, at the Tufts University European Center, Talloires, France. The Declaration represents the first time that universities from around the world have joined in a commitment towards sustainability in higher education. The Declaration commits universities to adopt a plan for incorporating environmental literacy and sustainability into university teaching and practices. An outcome of the Talloires Declaration has been the creation of the Association of University Leaders for a Sustainable Future (ULSF). ULSF (initially called The Secretariat of University Presidents for a Sustainable Future) was founded in 1992 and its mission is to support sustainability as a critical focus of teaching, research, operations and outreach at colleges and universities worldwide through publications, research, and assessment. ULSF is the Secretariat for signatories to the Talloires Declaration. Some 14 Australian Universities are signatories. The Environmental Management Group, a sub-committee of the Built Environment Committee, resolved that it is agreed with the 10 point declaration and that committing to the declaration would not change what UTAS is currently doing but would be seen as a commitment towards sustainability. Council authorised the Vice-Chancellor to sign the Talloires Declaration Professor in InnovationAnthony Arundel has accepted appointment to the position of Professor in Innovation, commencing from 1 January 2010. Tasmania University Union Inc Financial StatementsCouncil received the 2008 Financial Statements for the Tasmania University Union Inc. Australian Centre for Research on Separation Science 2008 Annual ReportCouncil received the 2008 Annual Report for the Australian Centre for Research on Separation Science. ARC Centre of Excellence in Ore Deposits 2008 Annual ReportCouncil received the 2008 Annual Report for the ARC Centre of Excellence in Ore Deposits. Building on Strength UpdateCouncil received the Vice-Chancellor’s report on Building on Strength. China GraduationsThe Chancellor presided over two graduation ceremonies in China in July; accompanied by a group of UTAS staff members. Zejiang University of Technology/University of Tasmania Graduation Ceremony AIEN Institute/Shanghai Ocean University and UTAS Graduation Ceremony Recognition of the highest academic achievement in both UTAS degrees and the SOU Bachelor of Management were recognised with separate presentations to three students. UTAS awarded eight professional development certificates to academics from AIEN and SOU – these were awarded for completion of the four module program developed by the Faculty of Business to assist Chinese academics in the acquisition of western learning teaching methods. The awards were presented by the Vice Chancellor. Ms Wang Na, who is both an academic lecturing in the Bachelor of Information Systems and the UTAS degree coordinator in Shanghai for the past three years, was presented with a special award for outstanding contribution to teaching and learning. She was presented with a certificate by the Vice-Chancellor at the conclusion of the ceremony. Since 2006 UTAS has graduated more than 1,000 students from the AIEN Institute program. UTAS Web SiteThe large project to upgrade the UTAS web site is reaching a point where significant changes are becoming apparent to users. The pilot testing and evaluation of the new Content Management System (CMS) have been completed and the system will now go into full-scale implementation. The CMS is the technology that underpins modern large-scale web sites. Progressive upgrades of the UTAS web site will now accelerate. A number of revisions have been completed using the new UTAS CMS, including the Staff, Current Students, Future Students and Teaching & Learning pages. The Human Resources and Accommodation web pages are in the process of being updated, and other pages will follow. UTAS College PilotThe UTAS College pilot project was discussed with the principals of Independent Schools at the Tasmanian Association of the Heads of Independent Schools Australia (AHISA) meeting in August. Feedback from involved Colleges was positive with options for the expansion of the UTAS College pilot discussed, including co-delivery of additional units, the expansion of the high achievers program, and teacher professional development. Work has commenced on the development of an intensive, tailored UniStart program. It is anticipated that the program will be offered to Associate Degree in Arts and Associate Degree in Science students in Semester 1, 2010. Work has also commenced on the establishment of a peer learning community for these students. Information Management StrategyThe Web Services Review Steering Committee has resolved to formulate an information management strategic framework that will provide UTAS with:
A consultant will be appointed for the project. The consultant will:
The project will also draw on the knowledge and expertise available through relevant professional networks, particularly the Council of Australian University Librarians (CAUL), the Council of Australian University Directors of Information Technology (CAUDIT) and the Records Management Association of Australasia (RMAA). Excellence in Research Australia Assessment PanelProfessor Don Chalmers has been appointed to the Excellence in Research (ERA) Assessment panel for the Humanities and Creative Arts disciplines. UTAS completed its submission to the Humanities and Creative Arts trial on 29 August, after a considerable effort by the team leaders in Creative Arts to bring previously ineligible outputs into the system. All 8 research clusters will be assessed in 2010, and the university will convene steering groups for each cluster in September 2009. Appointment of Manager, Quality Processes and ImprovementDr Peter Colbourne, formerly of the Tasmanian Qualifications Authority (TQA), took up the position of Manager, Quality Processes and Improvement in late August. The Manager, Quality Processes and Improvement reports to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) and Provost and is responsible for managing the achievement of a range of University-wide objectives including:
The Manager will work closely with: members of the Senior Executive; Deans of Faculties and Directors of Institutes; Heads of School; the Chair and Deputy Chair of Academic Senate; staff of the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) and Provost and the Divisions of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Students and Education); the Manager, Risk Management and Audit Assurance; the Manager, Data and Statistics and staff in the Planning Unit; and Heads of Administrative Sections. Dr Colbourne’s work will contribute significantly to UTAS achieving its high ambitions with respect to academic excellence, reputation and institutional ranking. He will be based in Hobart but work across all UTAS locations. Premier’s Visit to NewnhamThe Premier, David Bartlett, spent half a day on the Newnham campus on 4 August, hosted by the Vice-Chancellor and senior staff. The main focuses of the visit were the AMC (particularly the maritime simulator) and the HIT-Lab. Given his interest in technology, these were particularly appropriate venues and the Premier was undoubtedly impressed by, and engaged with, what he saw. The generous timetable allowed plenty of time for informal discussions with a range of staff. As a result of the visit, it is expected that Newnham will host a Community Cabinet some time before the state election in March. UniQuestUniQuest has appointed Dr Robin Fieldhouse to the position of Manager of Innovation and Commercial Development, with a focus on life sciences. Dr Fieldhouse is located in TIAR/Agricultural Sciences on the Hobart Campus. Supporting students with disabilities at UTASStudent Services is undertaking a comprehensive review of a range of policies, procedures and practices related to supporting students with disabilities at UTAS. The existing UTAS Equal Opportunity for People with Disabilities policy (1995) has been reviewed and a new disability policy and procedure has been developed. Work was undertaken in consultation with HR and Governance & Legal to develop policy and procedures which advocate a universally inclusive model. The draft documentation has been approved in principle by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) & Provost and will be presented to the Equal Opportunity Committee for consideration. The new policy documents are underpinned by the Disabilities Discrimination Act, the AVCC Guidelines for Students with a Disability and the UTAS Equity policy, and more clearly define the roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders within UTAS (including students) to enable an inclusive teaching and learning environment. The current review process will also address some challenging issues such as criteria for non-exam based assessment and the appropriateness of the release of information for student practical placements. Meeting Dates for 2010Council received the proposed 2010 meeting dates, noting that there may need to be either a special meeting or delegation to Audit & Risk Committee to enable the early signing of the 2009 annual financial statements, to meet the timing agreed with the Auditor-General.
Graduation in AbsentiaThese students graduated in absentia at the Council meeting-
Additional Reports for CouncilThese reports were made available to Council members via the Council website- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS)Since the last IMAS information update, great strides in IMAS' implementation have been made, with a number of issues nearing resolution. This update highlights the main items. Media HighlightsThis report lists significant media activity from May to June in relation to events at the University of Tasmania. Global Economic Crisis: Library Consortia, Publishers and Content Providers Working TogetherLinda Luther, Director, Student Experience and Learning, attended a Council of Australian University Librarians Think Tank in Sydney on 17 and 18 August. The meeting was held to discuss perceptions of, and reactions to, the global economic crisis, and to share publishers and libraries forward-thinking on effective strategies for the next 3 years. University Librarians from Australia and New Zealand, publishers, library suppliers and academic staff were invited to attend. Discussion covered concerns around how libraries could continue to subscribe to the current range of electronic journals as prices increase but budgets remain static. The life-cycle of scholarly publishing was discussed, from the academic as author, to seeking publication, peer-review, selection and purchase of journals by libraries and then use of the published articles by the academic as reader. The impact of open access publishing and the ERA were discussed. It was agreed that new business models were required as electronic journals and books become more widely accepted, and some potential areas for development were canvassed. Multicultural NightThe 2009 Multicultural Night 'Together as One' was held on Saturday 15 August on the Sandy Bay Campus, attracting around 800 to 1000 students, UTAS staff and members of the community. The event was organised by the TUU International Students Officer Saleh BinTalib and the International Students Committee, with assistance from International Services staff, TUU and with sponsorship from Medibank Private (OSHC Provider) and some Faculties. The patron of the event Lord Mayor Rob Valentine and Minister Lisa Singh were in attendance along with the Vice-Chancellor Professor Daryl Le Grew, the Director of International Services, Paul Rigby, and International Services and English Language Centre staff. A range of food options were provided by Student Societies and entertainment was presented all night from such diverse groups as the Indian Bollywood dancers, the Swing Dance Club, Highland Dancers, the Jane Franklin Hall Singers, Taiko Drummers and a slightly unrehearsed dance group of Saudi Arabian male students in traditional dress. The feeling on the night was one of festival and celebration and it was obvious that a great many students enjoyed the opportunity to showcase their countries, eat, dance and be entertained in an inclusive event. Changes to Block GrantsSustainable Research Excellence (SRE) Incentive – 13% will be based on the relative share for each university up to $2.5 million of competitive grant (Category 1) income it receives. DIISR’s modelling suggests that is will provide around 70 cents in the dollar. There are 10 universities with less than $2.5 million per year and 28 that exceed that threshold. UTAS usually lies ninth in the national ranking for competitive funding. Last year UTAS won $33.5 million. There is a big jump (circa 100%) between UTAS and the next institution - usually Adelaide. This difference relates to size. Excellence – 67% will be allocated on an algorithm based on a performance index and transparent costing. In 2010 the suggested performance index is weighted publications; thereafter it will be ERA data. In order to qualify for the Incentive and Excellence money an institution must participate in the ERA and Transparent Costing. UTAS has argued to DIISR that total publications, rather than weighted publications, should be used in 2010. Total publications take account of the fact that some universities, of which UTAS is one, have significant national and international collaboration. Thus a large majority of our publications have other Australian or overseas authors and UTAS loses out in the weighted publications ‘game’. DIISR is urging UTAS to collaborate both nationally and internationally and total publications will reflect that. The University has also argued against the Incentive component, suggesting that the entire 80% should be allocated on the basis of Excellence. The funding will be rolled out as follows: 2010: $85 million, of which $20 million will be set aside as a one off payment to support financial management and support documentation for the SRE; 2011: $120 million; 2012: $155 million; 2013: $300 million. This adds up to $660 million, not the $512 million allocated in the Federal Budget for the SRE. There are key milestones in the implementation of the SRE that link into the Compacts negotiations and establishment. Joint Research Engagement (JRE) – (to replace the Institutional Grants Scheme (IGS) from 2010) Clearly DIISR will expect universities to ensure that where possible they seek overheads on grants from other public sector bodies and industry. UTAS now has a proper mechanism is place for doing this – a policy on charging overheads and costing tools to assist colleagues in doing so when applying for grants, or when we negotiate a contract with industry for them. Research Training Scheme (RTS) Students from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Backgrounds: The CALD ProgramProgressively, the UTAS CALD Program has been developed and enhanced to allow a shift from a reactive posture to a Program that proactively engages culturally diverse communities, and one that supports students’ settlement in Tasmania and seeks to positively support realistic pathways decisions and sound preparation for university life. Specific features of the Program include: development of life and academic skills to support a successful practical and cultural adaptation to the UTAS environment; self-sufficiency of students; support and skill development for staff; and collaborative developmental work with resettlement agencies and CALD communities. Recent data indicates that the number of students in this cohort experiencing a successful first year of study at UTAS has increased from approximately 35-40% in 2005 to more than 75% in 2008. The cohort has also expanded and now includes students from Burma, Bhutan and additional African countries. The successful pilot, and on-going funding for the English Assist Program has contributed to these improved results. The English Assist Program provides an opportunity for CALD students to undertake targeted language assessment and, on the basis of testing outcomes, to develop a study preparation and support plan in collaboration with UTAS CALD Support Officers. There has also been increasing emphasis placed on enhancement of the UTAS CALD Outreach Program that involves contact with CALD community members through schools, colleges, service providers and community organisations from 6-9 months before application. Planned future Program enhancements include the development of a program element that seeks to link effective education pathways to engagement with workplace cultures and successful employment outcomes. Tri-University Benchmarking ProjectAn opportunity has arisen for a new benchmarking project on academic assessment, involving 3 universities: Deakin University, UTAS and the University of Wollongong. The appeal of the project is twofold. Not only is it based on the critical role that assessment plays in demonstrating academic quality assurance and the maintenance of academic standards, but it also coincides with the common timing of the 3 institutions’ 2011 AUQA audits. The project will have access to existing quality indicators on academic assessment, developed as part of a broader Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC) funded 'Teaching Quality Indicators' project which involved 8 universities across Australia. The benchmarking project will assess two of the 4 performance indicators/statements of good practice in assessment from the ALTC project (3 & 4). These are: UTAS and the University of Wollongong already have a memorandum of understanding and are currently involved in a successful benchmarking partnership. This new project will strengthen the collaborative relationships between relevant senior officers in the 3 universities. A preliminary scoping exercise of a third benchmarking project, which will focus on the role of the Academic Senate/Board in monitoring the quality assurance of assessment policies and practices will occur in October 2009, and will further strengthen the links between the University of Wollongong, Deakin University and UTAS. 2009 Community Engagement GrantsThese grants are designed to support staff-led interactions between UTAS and any external individuals, community groups, professional bodies, business and industry, schools, government agencies and non-government organisations at the local, state, national and international levels. The Selection Committee met on 28 July 2009 and determined that the following 9 projects would be funded. Australasian Survey of Student Engagement (AUSSE)The Australasian Survey of Student Engagement (AUSSE) is a relatively new instrument (first conducted in 2007) and aims to measure students’ involvement with activities and conditions likely to generate high-quality learning. UTAS is participating in the AUSSE for the second time in 2010. The following surveys are currently being administered to UTAS staff and students- UTAS is also participating in a trial of a new survey targeting post-graduate students: the Post-graduate Survey of Student Engagement (POSSE). This is being administered to approximately 2500 post-graduate students. Preliminary results from the AUSSE will be received towards the end of 2009 with formal reports available early in 2010. Graduate Destination Survey (GDS)The April 2009 round of the GDS is almost complete. This round combines with the October 2008 round to incorporate all students who graduated within the 2008 calendar year. For both rounds UTAS has obtained a response rate of 53%. A response rate of more than 50% is required to enable publication of results external to the institution. The GDS and Course Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) results for 2008 graduands are likely to be released early in 2010. Mental Health InitiativeTrends in mental health have raised significant issues for academic staff who in the past were largely responsible for providing support for students with some assistance from specialist services, but now express concerns of having limited time, confidence or knowledge to assist some of the more complex issues that are often arising. The Mental Health Initiative has been developed to implement strategies that directly support students with mental health issues. The Initiative also addresses the issue of building capacity and confidence within the broader staff population to work with, teach and support students with mental health conditions in an inclusive teaching and learning environment. As part of the Mental Health Initiative Student Services is currently working with Governance and Legal to review the University Privacy Policy with a specific focus on the release and exchange of information to support and manage students with mental health issues and complex behaviours. Also under the umbrella of the Mental Health Initiative, Mental Health First Aid training has been offered to staff as part of the HR Professional Development suite and has been accessed by nearly 300 staff members across all major campuses in the first series of training programs. News from the Faculty of ArtsSchool of Art Australia Council Grants Qantas Australian Contemporary Art Award Bett Gallery Honours Prize Research Higher Degree Graduations Tasmanian Art Teachers Association (TATA) Integrated Tasmanian Creative Arts Education (Pathways) Project Art Forum Program Conservatorium of Music The national auditions for AISOI are now complete, and this year over 300 of Australia’s most outstanding young classical musicians will be in Hobart performing Mahler’s 8th Symphony – one of the most famous and largest blockbuster classical works in the repertoire. School of English, Journalism & European Languages Two English MA graduates have recently published Insight Study Guides (for senior secondary students)- On 4 August Dr Billy Badger and Dr Eva Meidl took a group of students to see German rappers Roger Rekless and Nico Suave in concert in Hobart. Journalism, Media and Communications Lecturer John Martinkus has presented a number of talks to groups within the University and the wider community (in Tasmania and interstate). School of Government Associate Professor Kate Crowley has instigated a set of climate change community forums in her capacity as Chair of the Premier's Climate Action Council. The next of these will be hosted by the University of Tasmania in September and will feature Rob Adams of Melbourne City Council. Associate Professor Marcus Haward is part of the successful bid for the renewal of funding for Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre (ACE CRC). Four members of the School of Government (Dr Bill Bostock, Dr Richard Eccleston, Professor Aynsley Kellow and Dr Hannah Murphy) participated in the recent World Political Science Congress, held in Santiago, all presenting papers. Professor Kellow was re-elected Chair and Dr Eccleston Secretary of Research Committee 38 on Politics and Business. Dr Richard Eccleston is capitalising on his recent 'Rising Stars' award and is finalising contracts on two books on significant aspects of the Global Financial Crisis. The first book examines how the GFC has impacted upon key aspects of the OECD's attempt to regulate international taxation. The second explores new relationships which have formed between international organisations such as the OECD, the Financial Stability Forum and the G20 during the crisis. Richard will be working full-time on these projects until mid-2010 School of History and Classics School of Philosophy Riawunna School of Sociology & Social Work Earlier in the year Professor Rowland Atkinson negotiated another 3 years of funding from Housing Tasmania for the Housing and Community Research Unit in the School of Sociology and Social Work of $160,000 a year, for a total of $480,000 over 3 years. Professor Rowland has now taken a position at the University of York and his HACRU Position has been advertised and an appointment is in process. School of Visual & Performing Arts SVPA Theatre Lecturer, Assoc Professor Michael Beresford has arrived in Tasmania and had an initial briefing in Launceston. He will be introduced to staff from various Schools around the Hobart campus over the next few months. He will be offering Professional Presentation Skills (or Effective Speaking) and Body, Voice and Play as electives in 2010. News from the Faculty of BusinessProfessor Jonathan West of the Faculty’s Australian Innovation Research Centre (AIRC) and Mark Kelleher, the Head of the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and the Arts, have conducted discussions around the state relating to the Tasmanian Innovation Strategy. The AIRC has also been involved in ongoing discussions with Skills Tasmania regarding the Innovation Census, as well as the Australian Bureau of Statistics, and the Burnie City Council. Interviews were held on Monday 10 August for a new Professor of Innovation in the AIRC, and an offer has been made. Adjunct Professor Pascale Quester of the School of Management delivered a public lecture on 22 July in Hobart entitled ‘Sponsorship: creating meanings and delivering value’. The lecture was very well-received with around 140 people attending. Professor Quester was also interviewed on the day by Christopher Lawrence as part of his afternoon show on ABC Radio Hobart. Dr Angela Martin of the School of Management was featured in Campus Review (4 August 2009) for her successful ALTC Citation on the Creation of Curricula and Multimedia Resources that Develop Interpersonal Skills and Psychological Capital in Current and Future Managers. Professor Trevor Sofield of the School of Management has been invited by the Sha'anxi Province Government and the Sun Yat Sen Centre for Tourism Planning and Research to attend a Forum in Beijing from 25 to 27 August to discuss tourism planning and development for Jin-si-xia County, Sha'anxi Province, China. This forum is being held in the context of the Chinese Government's national policy of putting resources into the development of its western provinces in order to narrow the gap with the eastern seaboard provinces. The School of Management is hosting a Faculty of Business ‘Taster Series’ for students from Hobart College. A group of 45 students will participate in a series of 4 workshops weekly throughout August. Dr Gail Ridley of the School of Accounting and Corporate Governance has been appointed as one of 7 members of the International Advisory Committee for The 8th International Conference on e-Business 2009 (iNCEB2009), hosted by the Department of Computing at the Silpakorn University, Thailand. Mr Tom Baxter of the School of Accounting and Corporate Governance was interviewed for ABC radio, The Mercury and The Australian regarding issues on freedom of information, corruption and governance. The Annual Giblin Lecture, hosted by the School of Economics and Finance, was held on Wednesday 15 July. This year’s lecturer was Professor Eric Hanushek, who spoke on the topic of ‘Can improved schools lead to more growth’. This was well received by those in attendance, who included government and private sector employees and members of the community. The 15th Annual Wrest Point Economics Challenge was held on Friday 14 August. Over 190 school and college students from across the state participated in the event, which involved two competitions testing their understanding and knowledge of economics, as well as talks from well-known economist and commentator Saul Eslake and the TCCI’s Chief Economist Richard Dowling (both UTAS Alumni). The School of Economics and Finance has continued its productive research seminar program with presentations by- Dr Sarah Jennings of the School of Economics and Finance submitted a paper to the Public Accounts Committee on ‘The economics of the European fox in Tasmania – an overview’. Interviews for the position of Professor of Resource Economics have been scheduled for 25 August, with 5 candidates short-listed. On Sunday 23 August, as part of the University Open Day in Hobart, the Faculty of Business offered a free public lecture on the Global Financial Crisis. Over 250 people attended the lecture which was delivered by Scott Pape, the ‘Barefoot Investor’, and Professor Mardi Dungey of the School of Economics and Finance. News from the Faculty of EducationCreating Active Futures 8-11th July Academics Dr Karen Swabey, Dr Scott Pederson, Mr Casey Mainsbridge and Associate Dean (Research) A/Professor Dawn Penney presented papers addressing key issues for health and physical educators. The UTAS staff contributions reported research that addressed the ways in which schools can enhance children’s social and emotional wellbeing; motor control strategies for children with learning difficulties; the effectiveness of policy initiatives in addressing physical inactivity; and the use of digital assessment in physical education. This July the national ‘CONASTA’ or Conference of the Australian Science Teachers Association was held in Launceston. The Faculty’s Science Education team – Donna Satterthwait, recent colleague Marj Colvill, John Kenny, Tony Dowden along with recent graduate John McLaine – took advantage of this rare opportunity to showcase their research on home turf, as detailed in the presentation summaries below. It was especially pleasing to see 2007 BTch (Hons) graduate John McLaine, now Head of Geography and Environmental Science at Launceston Grammar Church School, capably and professionally discuss his research about the teaching of controversial issues such as the proposed Tamar Estuary pulp mill and then illustrate his seminar with excellent examples of pedagogy and assessment from his current teaching practice. Many thanks to the organising committee, including John Kenny and Marj Colvill, for their highly capable and thorough organisation. Mathematics Education team at MERGA 2009 The biennial AAMT conference was held in Fremantle, Western Australia. Participants included teachers of primary, secondary and tertiary students as well as teacher educators, researchers and government representatives from all states and territories of Australia as well as from overseas. The conference provides a valuable forum in which to present research that is immediately relevant to teachers. Kim Beswick presented two papers, 1 co-written with Jane Watson. The annual PROMS was held at the Hong Kong Institute of Education. The event aims to “promote objective measurement and contribute to the research and development of Rasch measurement in the Pacific Rim”. Rosemary Callingham, Colin Carmichael and Ian Hay contributed to 3 refereed papers. StatSmart Conference 2009 Australian Society for Music Education (ASME*) 2009 National Conference Publications The two books (Successful School Principalship in Tasmania and Successful School Principalship in Tasmania: Case Studies) have recently been distributed to all government school principals in Tasmania. Additional copies can be freely downloaded from the Faculty web site at http://www.educ.utas.edu.au. Dean’s Honour Roll 2008 UTAS College Symposium Raising the Bar, Closing the Gap: Progress Update New Scholarship Launch: University of Tasmanian & Tasmanian Early Years Foundation NEW Gallery Launch News from the Faculty of Health SciencePartners in Health Schools within the Faculty have recently undertaken a number of programs to engage with the wider community, for both educational and health promotion purposes. Pharmacy Nursing and Midwifery Medicine The School of Medicine underwent a review of the administration positions early this year. One of the findings of the review recommended a new position be developed to oversee the business aspects of the School. Mr Christopher Ryan has been appointed to the position and commenced on 18 August 2009. Over the past 3 years Mr Ryan has been Group Manager (Retail) with My State Financial in Hobart with major involvement in the changes which resulted from the merger between Island State Credit Union and Connect Financial. He had previously worked with Connect Financial in various positions and has also been the Manager of Financial Services at the Catholic Development Fund and Administration Manager of Centacare Training and Employment. Human Life Sciences The School of Human Life Sciences has ongoing research development in a variety of areas, including new initiatives with the School of Pharmacy, the Defence Department, Science and Technology Organisations and in the exercise sciences. The Bachelor of Health Science (Environmental Health) has received CRICOS registration and is now available to international students. Discussions with international colleges for articulation into this program are commencing. Rural Clinical School The RCS has welcomed Dr Michael Buist as Clinical Associate Professor in Simulation-based Training and Patient Safety, a conjoint academic appointment with the North West Area Health Service. Dr Buist has recently moved to Tasmania from Victoria to take on the Director of Medicine role for the NW Area Health Service, working at both the Mersey Community and North West Regional hospitals. Another significant change has been that RCS School Manager, Ms Kate Brown, has commenced a six-month secondment as General Manager for the Menzies Research Institute in Hobart. $1.2 million in funding has been made available in the last Federal budget, for an Electronic Health Information Exchange System which will enable the sharing of vital patient medical information between GPs, hospitals and allied health service providers. This NW e-Health Information Exchange System will be developed across the North West region.
News from the Faculty of LawAustralian Law Students’ Association Australian National University College of Law Conference Colloquium of Superannuation Researchers Oxford University Appointment Magistrates Court of Tasmania LexisNexis Australasian Teachers Association Award Oxford University Fellowship Bar Council of India Legal Education Committee KrEdu Centre for Law and Genetics Tasmania Law Reform Institute News from the Faculty of Science, Engineering and TechnologySchool of Geography & Environmental Studies School of Computing & Information Systems School of Psychology News from ACROSSProfessor Georges Guiochon, University of Tennessee, has been appointed as a UTAS Visiting Fellow and will visit ACROSS in November and December 2009. Professor Guiochon is recognised widely as the world's leading separation scientist and he has 930 publications and close to 19,000 citations. It is a very great honour for ACROSS and UTAS that Professor Guiochon has agreed to take up a UTAS Visiting Fellowship. 2 ACROSS staff have received significant editorial appointments. Dr Emily Hilder has been appointed as editor of the international journal Journal of Separation Science. Professor Paul Haddad has been appointed to the News and Features Advisory Panel for the journal Analytical Chemistry, which is the highest ranked journal in the discipline of analytical chemistry. News from CODESSGA Conference - Townsville Science Planning and Advisory Board Meetings Top Rankings for Citations Short Course - Ore Deposit Geochemistry, Hydrology and Geochronology Southern Surveyor News from TILESProfessor Jenny Fleming was appointed Director of TILES in July. The former Director, Roberta Julian will remain at TILES on a 3 year secondment from the School of Sociology. Roberta Julian will devote much of her time to working on her ARC Linkage grant (2009-2013) - The Effectiveness of Forensic Science in the Criminal Justice System. She will also oversee and teach into the In Service Recruit Pathway of the Bachelor of Social Science (Police Studies). At a community engagement forum on July 17, TILES launched its final report on refugee-police relations at the Mercure Hotel in Hobart. The report co-authored by Danielle Campbell and Roberta Julian was launched by Laurie Ferguson, MP for Reid and federal parliamentary secretary for the Department of Multicultural Affairs Citizenship and Settlement. The forum attracted significant media interest. Danielle Campbell appeared on Stateline (Tasmania) Radio National and ABC Radio to discuss the report. Print media also provided wide coverage. TILES was the recipient of a $5000.00 Community Engagement Award (2009) from University of Tasmania. Jenny Fleming presented a paper at the Cross-Border Policing Conference in Canberra in April. The paper, Crossing the State Line- Policing across Boundaries is the subject of a recent ARC Discovery application. Jenny Fleming Chaired the Research Award panel for the National Drug and Alcohol Awards. The awards were presented at a ceremony in the Great Hall at Parliament House, Canberra in June 2009. As a member of the Australian Institute of Police Management Board of Studies, Roberta Julian attended a meeting in Sydney in July to discuss teaching and pedagogy strategies associated with ‘police as students’. During April/June Professor Jenny Fleming sat as a member of the New South Wales Parliamentary Working Party for Safety Ratings Systems for NSW Licensed Premises for the Department of Arts, Sports and Recreation Jenny Fleming has recently returned from London where, with funding from the British Academy and the Australian Academy of Social Sciences, she (in conjunction with Professor Eugene McLaughlin, City University) ran a workshop on Public, Trust and Confidence in Police at City University, London. The Australian workshop will be held at the University of Tasmania in December. While in London Jenny Fleming visited the Metropolitan Police Sexual Assault training centre (Westminster) and Child Abuse Unit at Scotland Yard. These visits were in conjunction with Professor Fleming’s ARC Linkage grant with Victoria Police on police management of sexual violence - Adult Sexual Assault: An evidence-based policy, practice and advocacy model for Victoria Police. As an Executive Board member of the Alcohol and Other Drugs Council of Australia, Jenny Fleming attended the inaugural Federal Council Meeting of the peak, national, non-government organisations representing the interests of the Australian alcohol and other drugs sector. In July, Jenny Fleming was invited to, and attended the Tasmanian Alcohol Consultation Workshop in Hobart to participate in round table discussions with representatives from Tasmania Police, Department of Health and other associated agencies. TILES submitted a Review of the Road Safety (Alcohol and Drugs) Amendment Act 2005 to the Minister for Police and Emergency Management that was tabled in Parliament on 30 June 2009. The research was conducted in collaboration with Roberta Julian (TILES), Dr Jeremy Prichard (Law) and Dr Raimondo Bruno and Dr Allison Matthews (Psychology). Publications Campbell, D & Julian, R (2009) ‘Conversation on Trust: Community Policing and Refugee Settlement in Regional Australia’, TILES, http://www.utas.edu.au/tiles/publications_and_reports/project_reports/A%20Conversation%20on%20Trust.pdf Fleming, J (2009) ‘Managing Anti-Social Behaviour’, Liquor and Gaming Review, Autumn 2009, 6. Fleming, J and O’Reilly, J (2009) ‘The Small-Scale Initiative: the Rhetoric and the Reality of Community Policing in Australia’ in Grabosky, P (ed) Community Policing and Peacekeeping, CRC Press, Taylor and Francis, Florida, USA, 71-80 Prichard, J., Matthews, A., Julian, R., Bruno, R., Rayment, K. & Mason, R. (2009) Review of the Road Safety (Alcohol and Drugs) Amendment Act 2005, Hobart: Tasmanian Institute of Law Enforcement Studies, University of Tasmania.
Top of Page
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
