June 2024 Update
As David Bowie exhorted us in his song Changes we need to “turn and face the change”.
Thank you to all of you who submitted expressions of interest to be the inaugural Deputy Heads of School for Education, and for HASS. I am looking forward to chairing the forthcoming interviews, with outcomes announced in the next few weeks.
I am sad to accept the resignation of our marvellous, indefatigable, and consistently brilliant Executive Assistant Eilish O’Shea who has been at UNE since arriving during the flurry of activity caused by the super cell storm event in 2021. Working with a colleague so closely where our relationship is consistently positive and affirming is a joy. I shall miss her so much. Our loss is Armidale Council’s gain.
The goodwill from staff demonstrated through the period of changing the locks on every E11 office is appreciated. Learning a new system takes time and patience. For those of you who consistently demonstrated politeness and civility when raising your concerns about the impact of the new arrangements, we thank you. You will have received a message about this but in case this is the only time you see this advice please note your door will only lock with the key. You cannot lock yourself out. If you twist the lever at the back and close the door from the outside it is not locked.
Early career academic and new staff opportunity – STRIVE
Trimester 2 2024
As part of the faculty strategy to support and enhance academic leadership and development for new HASSE staff, and Early Career Researchers, HASSE will provide a series of academic staff workshops titled Strategic Topics in Research Initiatives, Visibility, and Excellence (STRIVE).
In the course of eight two-hour weekly sessions relevant topics will include:
- Leading self; leading others; leading teams
- Research development, excellence and impact
- Innovating in learning and teaching
- Equity, diversity and inclusion
On completing the program including full attendance and two written submissions which are intended to be academic in focus, such as a research grant draft proposal or draft of an academic paper, participants will receive $2,000 paid into their Academic Pursuit Fund accounts.
STRIVE is a program of professional and self-development aimed at early career staff. Eligible staff include all new appointments within the past four years, and academic staff who attained their PhD within the past 5 years. There is no consideration to the workload allocation in roles for participation.
Participant numbers are capped at 15. Priority is given to those who did not participate in the prior HASSE Academic Leadership Program (ALeap), and preference is given to academics at Levels A, B and C as these are staff likely to gain the most from attendance. Additionally, when selecting participants achieving a balance across both Schools is considered. If the program is over-subscribed we may be able to run it again towards the end of the year.
To apply for a place please send a one-page description to dean-HASSE@une.edu.au by 4pm Wednesday July 3rd 2024 outlining (a) what you anticipate gaining from participation in STRIVE, and (b) initiatives and ambitions in your current academic development STRIVE will support.
Promotions
I await final advice on the details of promotions for Levels A-B and B-C which become a faculty responsibility for the first time this year. HASSE additionally has responsibility for the Oorala and Education Futures promotions at these levels. Once the relevant details are advised I will call on members of the academic staff to put their names forward for service on the promotion panel.
For those of you who notified your intention to apply for promotion you will have received this information:
- Please ensure you are aware of the Key Dates and that you are familiar with the Academic Promotion Rule and Academic Promotion Procedures.
- All supporting documentation and forms are available on the Academic Promotions Website
- Please don’t hesitate to contact une-recruitment@une.edu.au should you have any queries.
I wish applicants at all levels every good wish for success. I advise you to show your application to at least one other person with academic promotion experience before submitting, and take on board their feedback. I never understand why people are reluctant to do this, it is almost guaranteed that without some review and editing your proposal will not be ready for consideration and success.
The sector
There is plenty of bedtime reading available about the higher education sector in Australia currently. Any summary should reference changes to international student visas, the roll out of the first of the Accord final report recommendations, and concerns about the perceived value of humanities and arts due to the outcomes of ARC grants seeming to overlook HASS disciplines https://futurecampus.com.au/2024/06/25/hass-dudded/
As you are aware the Accord proposes a new Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC). This body will oversee the allocation of funding to universities, including the number of international students permitted to be enrolled, and will have oversight of under-served populations and the resources universities need to enrol and support students. The Commission’s authority includes:
- Setting targets for Indigenous and other equity student enrolments
- Advising government on course pricing [NB: sincerely hope this does away with the current pernicious and inequitable fee structure]
- Monitor and promote alignment between the Vocational and Higher Education sectors
- Support for HEIs in times of crisis and/or disruption
ATEC will have its own legislation. Originally it was proposal that ATEC would incorporate our current regulator for the higher education sector the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency, and the Australian Research Council. This was rowed back last month. In March this year both Professor David Lloyd Chair of Universities Australia and Professor Margaret Sheil, Vice Chancellor of Queensland University of Technology and former CEO of the ARC, among others raised concerns about the move. Professor Sheil noted that TEQSA is already a commission, and the ARC is a statutory agency. https://universitiesaustralia.edu.au/media-item/keynote-address-2024-changing-higher-education-for-good-conference/
Higher Education commentator Professor Andrew Norton is following the changes to higher education policy and funding indicated in the Accord closely. For those interested in the sector it is worth chasing up his recent commentary. For example, https://andrewnorton.net.au/2024/06/24/accord-implementation-proposals-part-1-setting-up-atec/
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