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| Meeting 5, 1 September 2006
The University Council met at the Sandy Bay Campus on Friday 1 September 2006. This is a report from that meeting. Agenda items included-
Presentation – Launceston ‘blueprint’Council endorsed in principle the Launceston Blueprint as part of the strategic development of UTAS, noting that this was part of the University’s ongoing planning activities and not a response to recent media and that similar blueprints would be developed for Hobart and the Cradle Coast Campus soon. Council asked the Vice-Chancellor to communicate the blueprint to the UTAS and wider community and to develop business cases and action plans for its realisation. Voluntary Student UnionismCouncil received the report on voluntary student unionism, noting advice that there would be a recommendation from management to Finance Committee by 15 September and a report from Finance Committee to the next Council meeting. Council endorsed the Vice-Chancellor’s congratulations to the student associations for the way in which negotiations have been handled. Terms of Reference – Built Environment and Finance CommitteesCouncil received the report on the terms of reference for the Built Environment and Finance Committees and on reporting on major capital projects. 2007 Meeting DatesCouncil noted the 2007 meeting dates-
National Governance ProtocolsCouncil approved the draft 2006 UTAS report against the National Governance Protocols. Governance FrameworkCouncil received the report on the governance framework project. Memorandum of Understanding with UTAS Foundation and UTAS AlumniCouncil endorsed the coordinated approach to advancement outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding with the Foundation and the Alumni. Enrolment Load ReportCouncil received the Vice-Chancellor’s report on enrolments as at Monday 14 August 2006. New places allocated for 2007Council received the Vice-Chancellor’s report on new places allocated for 2007. Financial Management Report – 30 June 2006Council approved the summary financial management reports as at 30 June 2006. Master PlanningUTAS is currently undertaking a comprehensive master planning exercise to establish a clear vision for the future of our physical infrastructure. To achieve the best possible outcome a consultation process is being established, to gather feedback on the University’s vision for capital planning across the State. To this end, Built Environment Committee has requested management to commence consultation on the draft master planning for the Newnham Campus. The Vice-Chancellor will chair the initial consultation sessions in Launceston (8 September) and Burnie (12 September). Consultation will be undertaken in the South of the State at a later date. The Vice-Chancellor will report on the outcome of the consultative process to the Built Environment Committee. The final draft master plan will be sent to the BEC for review and referral to Council by the end of 2006. Capital Management PlanCouncil received the Vice-Chancellor’s report on the capital management plan. Mercer Quarterly Investment ReportCouncil noted Finance Committee's advice that investment performance for the June quarter were marginally below benchmark (investment fund by 0.1% and trust fund by 0.4%) but that returns for the year to date were above benchmark (investment fund by 0.6% and trust fund by 0.2%). Tasmania University Union (TUU) 2005 financial statementsCouncil received the Tasmania University Union 2005 financial statements. Complaints Commissioners Annual Report 2005 RecommendationsAt its 14 July meeting, Council received the 2005 Complaints Commissioners’ Annual Report and the management response to it. Council received the Vice-Chancellor’s report on how the matters raised in that document will be addressed. Quantum Leaps AppointmentsThere has been a good response to the Quantum Leaps positions, which have all been advertised. Positions have been filled in:
There are offers under consideration in three of the five Menzies Research Institute posts; the remaining two will be filled by invitation. Positions in Separation Science, Marine Science and Government are in various stages of completion. Federal Government Policy - The Bishop EraThe Federal Minister for Education, Science and Training, Julie Bishop delivered two key speeches in July that articulated most clearly her agenda for higher education. She signalled a move away from the Dawkins and Nelson eras of “one-size-fits-all’ universities to a new era of diversity for Australian universities – in mission, discipline mix, course offerings, modes of delivery, management and academic structure. The Minister wants to see greater choice for students, increased competition and excellence among institutions, and increased innovation and invention. There are various levers through which the Minister can drive change:
Other levers include third stream activity, knowledge transfer, cluster funding and deregulation of the sector. The Minister spoke of how, in a Knowledge Transfer approach, she could envisage rewarding the application and transfer of research. In a speech to the Knowledge Transfer and Engagement Forum in Sydney on 16 June, she used current examples such as Cooperative Research Centres, ARC Linkage Grants and the CSIRO National Research Flagships and the Flagship Collaborative Research Program as examples of mechanisms for encouraging cooperation, collaboration and knowledge transfer. This engagement with community and industry, and transfer of knowledge is also sometimes referred to as ‘third stream’ activity. It is worth noting that the 2008 RQF exercise will be looking at ‘impact’ as well as quality of research. Cluster funding (where Commonwealth-supported student places are funded at a common level according to discipline) can be seen as forcing ‘one size fits all’ on universities. The Minister acknowledged the difficulties in changing this system but has indicated a willingness to consider alternatives. She has also indicated that reducing DEST red tape and regulation is another area where she is happy to listen to sensible suggestions. Minister Bishop said clearly that she wants to see the number of universities reduce (although she spoke of no forced mergers), saying she could see room for only about a dozen fully comprehensive universities. She noted that “the challenge for the sector is – how to achieve greater diversity, based on individual strengths and which are relevant to the economic growth of their regions and in the best interests of their students.” Federal Government Policy - Response to BolognaRecent pronouncements by Minister Bishop regarding Australia’s response to the European ‘Bologna Process’ (which aims to provide a more consistent framework for higher education qualifications across Europe) are now leaning less towards moving Australia’s system towards compliance with the Bologna Process and more towards emphasising the value of flexibility within Australia’s higher education system. This is the line that UTAS took when the discussion paper “Bologna Process and Australia: Next Steps” was released in April, when the value of the flexibility that already exists in the Australian system was noted in the UTAS submission. UTAS representatives attended a consultation seminar on ‘Australia’s response to the Bologna Process’ in Melbourne in July, and a National Seminar has been announced for 7 September. State Government / University PartnershipA meeting of the State Government / University Partnership Management Group (PMG) on 10 August discussed how well the current partnership is working and areas for improvement. The group agreed that both the Government and University find real value in the partnership, and that the Partnership should embrace all Government / University activities, with the PMG being the forum where issues arising from these activities can be discussed, or where combined support can lead an opportunity to fruition. Involvement by PMG in individual projects should be strategic and focussed, concentrating on a few major projects. Therefore a Retreat is being organised for 25 October where the members of the PMG and other key staff will get together to identify projects. In PMG discussions, four broad areas were suggested from which two or three major projects might arise: research and development agendas, health and wellness, the Antarctic and marine sciences, and culture/creative communities. The State Government PMG members noted the importance of the Council of Australian Government (COAG) agenda to the State, and that the Government will be looking to not only respond to the COAG agenda but also identify where Tasmania can take a lead, because it has competitive advantage or can be a ‘test bed’ for ideas. Critical Incident ManagementThe UTAS Critical Incident Management (CIM) Team recently took part in a Crisis Management and Recovery workshop and hypothetical exercise program conducted by Ross Campbell & Associates. The aims of the workshop were to confirm and enhance the contents of the draft CIM Plan and to ensure that the CIM Team understood the context of a crisis and were familiar and comfortable with the CIM processes and procedures and with their roles. The hypothetical exercise provided CIM team members with a first opportunity to rehearse a crisis management and recovery response to a relatively simple scenario. During the workshop a number of possible enhancements to the University’s CIM Plan were identified and these will be incorporated. Overall the CIM team performed well and responded in an appropriate manner to most of the issues raised during the hypothetical exercise. Future training and development options for the CIM team and support staff will now be considered, including the possibility of a full-scale exercise in early 2007. Occupational Health and SafetyThe Occupational Health and Safety Committee is scheduled to meet on Thursday 28 September. A report from that meeting will come to the October meeting of Council. Successful Carrick Institute Grant ApplicationThe University of Tasmania, along with lead institution the University of Southern Queensland and partner institutions Deakin and Griffith Universities, has submitted a successful proposal under the Carrick Institute Competitive Grants Program: Bridging gaps in music teacher education: developing exemplary practice models using peer collaboration. Associate Professor Margaret Barrett from the Faculty of Education is representing the University on this project. Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student LearningTwo UTAS staff have been awarded Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning by the Carrick Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education. Their citations are as follows:
Research GrantsThe Federal Minister for Education, Science and Training attended the launch of Centre for Ore Deposit Research (CODES) as an ARC Centre of Excellence on 17 July in Hobart. CODES, led by Professor Ross Large, will receive $15 million in ARC funding over the next five years, matched by industry and university contributions. UTAS researchers have been celebrating some valuable research grants in recent weeks. These include:
News from the Faculty of Business
AppointmentsCouncil noted the appointments of-
Council received the Vice-Chancellor’s report on honorary appointments. Revocation of Rules 111, 112, 113 and 127The attached Rule revokes Rules 111 (Academic Assessment), 112 (Admission and Student Progress) and 113 (Rules of Higher Degrees by Research) all made by Council on 28 February 2003, and Rule 127 (Registration of Graduate Research Supervisors) made by Council on 18 February 2005, to enable those rules to be re-made by Academic Senate following Council’s delegation of the relevant rule making powers to Academic Senate under Ordinance 13. Distinguished Scholars Program 2007-2008The Distinguished Scholars Program Steering Group aims to invite at least three Distinguished Scholars to UTAS in 2007 and a similar number in 2008. The attached report summarises the outcome of the Steering Group meeting of 11 July 2006, including the selection of two scholars for 2007 (Professor Witi Ihimaera and Professor Stanley Brul). The report asks members of Senate to make further nominations for future Distinguished Scholars to visit UTAS.
Academic Senate meeting – 4 August 2006Council received the report on the Academic Senate meeting of 4 August 2006. The major items discussed at Academic Senate (other than those forwarded separately for approval or receiving by Council) were -
Minutes of Academic SenateCouncil received the minutes of Academic Senate. GRADUATION IN ABSENTIA AND CONFERRING OF AWARDSThese students graduated in absentia at the Council meeting-
RETIREMENT OF CHANCELLORThe Deputy Chancellor, Dr Martyn Forrest, noting that this was Dr Vertigan’s final Council meeting as Chancellor, wished Dr Vertigan well on his retirement from that position on 30 September. Dr Forrest said that Dr Vertigan’s achievements as Chancellor were significant, including the 2001 Council restructure and governance reform. He had had a major impact on fiscal policy, and had persuaded good people to join the Finance Committee. He had taken the University to the community and to government, and had been a driving member of the embryonic Chancellors’ Group. He had been a significant figure in the selection of the Vice-Chancellor and in setting the strategic tone for Professor Le Grew. He had provided strong support to the UTAS Alumni. He had enthusiastically carried out his role in graduation ceremonies, both here and overseas, understanding the importance of those occasions to the University and its community. He had been involved in national and international advocacy for the higher education sector, and had brought kudos to UTAS through his efforts. Dr Forrest concluded by saying that Dr Vertigan has had an exemplary career – first as an academic, then in high office in government and business – and has made a huge contribution to Tasmania and to the University. Council members joined the Deputy Chancellor in wishing both Dr and Mrs Vertigan all the best for the future.
Last Modified: 11-Sep-2006 |
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