AAIR Newsletter September 2017
HIGHER EDUCATION REFORM PACKAGE COMMENTARY CONTINUES
See our summaries on PAGE 3
LATEST MUSINGS FROM THE INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCHER’S BOOK REVIEWS PRESIDENT CORNER INCLUDES … BEYOND PAGE 2 FIVE QUICK QUESTIONS WITH MCDONALDIZATION: VISIONS OF MARTIN HANLON, UTS PAGE 11 HIGHER EDUCATION. PLUS … A RANGE OF INTERSTING REPORTS AND NEW PUBLICATIONS THIS MONTH. SEE PAGE 9-10
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CONTENT
From the President Learning and Teaching Positions Vacant and Trainings and Development Editorial Research Trainings, Higher Education Conferences and Events
Sector News and Views Reports and Resources Institutional Researcher’s Corner Big Data, Online Learning, On the Move Analytics Graduate Outcomes and Book Reviews Employability
FROM THE PRESIDENT
LET’S GET A LITTLE BIT SIGGY…
As reported in the last newsletter, the I vividly remember the early stages of the If you aren’t part of a SIG but think you 2017 SIG Forum was a great success, but Load Management SIG, as it coincided might like to be involved, or you just what are the SIGs and what happens in with my first involvement with AAIR back want some more information, please visit these groups? A SIG is a special interest around 2009. the SIG page on our website and sign up group organised around a particular topic to our SIG mailing list. We have also talked about the possibility or functional area of mutual interest of a Benchmarking and Ranking SIG, and If you see any gaps in the represented where members of the group discuss a Quality Assurance SIG, but we haven’t SIG topics, and you’d like to propose a topical issues, produce solutions, or just yet progressed these too far. As a not- new SIG that we haven’t covered, please share knowledge. Apparently, the term for-profit organisation run primarily by do not hesitate to get in touch with either was first used in 1961 by the Association volunteers, we rely on the support of me or Don Johnston. We can support for Computing Machinery, which is ‘an members to take on some of these tasks you in establishing a new group by international learned society for and offer these services to our members. offering you advice and assistance to get computing’ that was founded in 1947 – or It is therefore not through lack of it off the ground. so says Wikipedia. interest, but most people just don’t have
For AAIR, our SIGS have evolved over the time to devote to what is needed to time, and we have the following active run a SIG. SIGs: If you’re interested in coordinating either • Data Warehousing, Business the Benchmarking and Ranking SIG or Intelligence and Analytics the Quality Assurance SIG and getting • Load Management them off the ground, please contact our • Government Reporting Vice President, Don Johnston by email to [email protected]. • Surveys and Evaluations
Each AAIR SIG is organised and lead by I would like to take this opportunity to an AAIR member. thank our outgoing SIG Coordinator, Michael Cudmore (Load Management). From time to time, various members of Thank you for stepping up and Kathie Rabel the organisation have proposed new SIGs embracing the opportunity to increase AAIR President – a notable example was the your involvement with your professional establishment of the Load Management association. SIG, which was spearheaded by Jeff Holmes (who was at the time at QUT).
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universities’ strong global performance could be taken for granted.” SECTOR NEWS AND EDITORIAL Tim Cahill, Associate Director from KPMG VIEWS writes in the Financial Review that, universities can think more creatively about Higher Education Reform Package efficiency: “It is impossible to think about efficiency as a universal measure, and the Welcome to the September 2017 Science, technology, engineering and maths efficiency solution might not be as simple as courses would be hardest hit by the reducing university funding. There are a host edition of The Institutional Government's proposed cuts to university of alternative policy, governance and funding Researcher. funding. New analysis by Universities mechanisms that could be looked at. For Australia has confirmed the STEM disciplines example, given all universities effectively are September has been dominated will take the biggest hit of any field of study if governed by the same regulatory again by the Higher Education the legislation passes, bearing 35% of the mechanisms, there are opportunities for Reform Package. Four months brunt of the $1.2 billion in cuts. Listen to this shared services models across procurement, after being released it finally podcast to find out more. finance, recruitment, reporting and so on”. made its way to the House of Representatives for debate (week Australian Education Minister Simon Don Edgar, foundation director of the starting September 11) with Birmingham has issued a tough warning to Australian Institute of Family Studies calls on much opposition. The legislation universities to focus on efficiency and value us to refocus the education debate and to for money or risk losing public trust and “call out to those who claim having a degree passed the House of goodwill. He said he welcomed new research is an individual luxury. Ask them who is Representatives after two solid from former Australian National University teaching their kids. Who is doing their days of debate and it is now economics and business dean Keith accounts? Who is caring for them in hospitals anticipated t package will be Houghton, which showed that universities and surgeries? Or inventing new technology, debate in the Senate the week had room to boost productivity to more than new jobs, new futures for this country?” After commencing the 16th of October. recoup the $1.2 billion efficiency dividend all, the notion that education is a private Universities Australia has been which the government wants to cut from rather than a public good feeds on a false vocal, as expected, via social and universities over the next four years. dichotomy. It is both, writes Mr Edgar. mainstream media and used the And speaking at the Australian Financial The tit for tat continues as universities were release of the annual OECD Review’s Higher Education Summit on 30 scrutinised for spending big on advertising, Education at a Glance report to August, Simon Birmingham has dismissed marketing and promotions whilst “crying benchmark Australia’s position in vice-chancellors’ opposition to his proposed poor,” writes Stefanie Balogh in The a global higher education market. budget cuts for higher education, saying that Australian on 9 September. As universities universities can find efficiency savings to run a fierce campaign against higher Aside from this, the sector has allow for the shortfall. Birmingham said while education reforms that would impose been busy with plenty of activity university funding has been increasing over efficiency dividends on the sector, it can be internationally, rankings news, recent years, costs have been growing at a revealed they spent $300 million on and we found out a new data slower rate. campaigns, slogans and sponsorship last year visualisation technique via the while competing for domestic and use of Data Comics. If you are In Commentary from Carlton, Andrew Norton international students, staff and research interested, the Emerging Genre asked: Has the demand driven system largely partners. The spending was $30m more than achieved its objectives? Norton adds that the in 2015, an increase of 11 per cent. Andrew of Data Comics published by IEEE 40 per cent attainment target “itself shows Norton (via Twitter) reminded them that 1 Computer Graphics and that long-term planning is difficult ... It would per cent of revenue on promotional spending Applications is a good starting not be sensible to try to push enrolments up is “not excessive for unis in competitive point. just to meet the target. It would be better for markets”. enrolments to stabilise or decline (they have The Editors have been fortunate grown slowly since 2014)”. And as we get ready to publish the again to snag a rather excellent September newsletter, the Turnbull interview for the Institutional Margaret Gardner, Chair of Universities government’s $2.8 billion higher education Researcher’s Corner – Martin Australia, has warned that universities may reforms are expected to head to the Senate Hanlon from UTS. And, there is be at risk of collapse if the government’s after the changes were on track to pass their the usual selection of books, funding cuts go ahead. “A number of first parliamentary hurdle in the lower house. Education Minister Simon Birmingham will resources and reports. institutions in higher and vocational education will be at greater risk, creating need the support of 10 of the 12 Senate Happy Reading. uncertainty for their staff and students, the crossbenchers if the Coalition is to be communities they serve and the markets in successful in its third attempt at reining in Tracy and Monica which they operate,” said Professor Gardner. higher education costs and making the sector The risk was that federal policy would more sustainable. assume the sector could “always be made to wear cuts, that overseas student revenue Other news would cover any shortfall, and that our
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As noted in the Editorial, the release of the Graduate Outcomes and Employability engineering and computer science faculty 2017 OECD Education at a Glance Report has section. Media outlets summarised outcomes and run by Genevieve Bell, who has recently been used by the sector to highlight the around employment outcomes and graduate joined ANU from Intel. value of education and the comparative rates salaries. other countries invest. Writing for The Student surveys Conversation, Megan O’Connell from the In his keynote address to the Australian Mitchell Institute argues that spending more Financial Review Higher Education Summit, In the UK the weighting of the National money on education does not necessarily Navitas CEO Rod Jones said that major Student Survey (NSS) in their Teaching yield better student outcomes. changes in higher education are on the way Excellence Framework has been halved. The which will affect the structure of courses. “Do Guardian reported on the importance of this Universities in Australia and New Zealand are we need a three-year degrees? How do you student voice adding the “survey now feeds investing more in their advancement structure the learning [students] need to get into the teaching excellence framework, operations – specifically fundraising and into the workforce? I think we’ll see more meaning it’s driving how university teaching alumni engagement – amid growing development of shorter courses”. quality is measured. In future years it may institutional awareness of the “powerful even dictate how far they can raise their fees impact” of philanthropy, according to a new This month’s decision by Fair Work in line with inflation”. Gwen van der Velden report. The Charitable Giving to Universities Commissioner BD Williams to cancel the discussed this in WONKE this month raising in Australia and New Zealand Survey report enterprise agreement between Murdoch concerns about tracing the ‘student voice’. reveals that surveyed institutions increased University and all three relevant unions could Additionally, Michelle Morgan’s WONKE their overall investment in fundraising and have profound ramifications for the sector analysis of the NSS changes noted the alumni relations by 11% and 15% and universities’ rights to hire, fire and importance of understanding student respectively, in 2016 over 2015. restructure academic and professional staff, expectations not just the student experience. writes Stephen Parker, former Vice- Study Melbourne has become the latest Chancellor at the University of Canberra and VET news organisation to issue a counter-Trump lead higher education partner at KPMG. The message to international students, launching decision may prove to be a turning point in Executives at embattled TAFE SA say they its “There’s a place for you in Melbourne” the history of Australian universities as their are determined the organisation will remain campaign last month. traditional business model buckles under as one of four training centres in Australia for numerous stresses and strains. It will allow licensed aircraft maintenance engineers, As well, The Australian has reported that Murdoch, and other universities that choose despite a serious bungle that has left Australia’s $20 billion international education to follow suit and can satisfy the public students in limbo. About 90 students have industry is transforming the face of southern interest and other conditions of section 225 had parts of their licenses suspended after an state capitals. According to ABS figures, of the Fair Work Act 2009, the freedom to audit in April by the Civil Aviation Safety Melbourne’s CBD is facing the biggest renegotiate restrictive elements within their Authority found students at the Parafield cultural transformation in decades as higher enterprise agreements. Airport campus were not assessed to the education and cheap student correct standards and exams had raised accommodation attract mainly Chinese Campus Morning Mail’s feature story questions as to whether they were taught the students in record numbers. This soaring (September 3) was an interview with right skills. An ongoing CASA investigation is demand is also flowing into Adelaide’s CBD, Professor Shirley Alexander, DVC Education expected to be completed this month. where almost 30 per cent claim Chinese - and Students at UTS. Professor Alexander ancestry, only slightly behind central Sydney discusses UTS’s Faculty of Transdisciplinary Rankings in total numbers. Innovation and the institution’s response to the evolving education market which include QS has a new university ranking for graduate From The PIE News - A bill has been passed campus re-development and mentions their employability. The University of Sydney has by the Australian parliament learning.futures strategy. been ranked fourth in the world for graduate allowing student education outcome data to employability, coming in ahead of leading be made public which can be used to judge Campus news institutions such as the Massachusetts the performance of education agencies Institute of Technology, Cambridge overseas. The bill, proposed by the University and the University of Oxford. The Department for Education and Training, University of Melbourne is closely behind was introduced to improve with a rank of seven, followed by the transparency between education agencies University of NSW at 36, the University of and consumers, but since its announcement Reported in Campus Morning Mail (August Queensland at 49 and the University of it has faced backlash from agents globally. 29), Southern Cross University has a new Technology Sydney at 69. This data was previously only available to logo, with the constellation gone, colours institutions. changed and ‘SCU’ replaced with the full The release of the 2017 Academic Ranking of name. World Universities or ARWU, saw some The Good Universities Guide 2018 has been changes from previous years: released (registration required to access The Australian National University will • United Kingdom’s Cambridge University online guide). Bond University has topped partner with CSIRO in the Autonomy, has overtaken the Massachusetts the Guide again in terms of overall quality. Agency and Assurance Institute, which will Institute of Technology and the Bond University and the University of Notre assemble “the best researchers from around University of California, Berkeley to make Dame take the top two positions on the the world” to address “complex problems it into the top three. overall experience measure. The Guide also around artificial intelligence, data and • Among five universities breaking into the compared graduate outcomes and starting technology and managing their impact on top 100, Erasmus University in the salaries. A summary is provided under the humanity”. The institute will be based in the Netherlands (73rd) and Cardiff University
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in the UK (tie 99th) are making their first Meanwhile in New Zealand According to a recent report, Chinese appearance. students feel the employment edge they • This year the number of top 500 THE World University Rankings results: In expect is being lost to savvier and more universities has risen for Asian countries New Zealand three universities have slipped resilient domestically educated peers. such as China, Japan and South Korea, (University of Auckland, Lincoln, and with 57, 17 and 12 universities in the top Victoria), three have stayed the same According to the BBC and Bloomberg, the 500 respectively. (Otago, Canterbury and Massey) and two UK is considering allowing EU nationals to have improved in this year's global rankings freely visit the country, however working, Angel Calderon, in University World News, (AUT and Waikato). studying or settling would require examines the results of the recent Times permission. An earlier report from The Higher Education (THE) Latin American University entrance requirements are likely Times said EU citizens would be allowed to university rankings and highlights the to be tightened because too many students travel to Britain to look for a job without dominance of private universities – a cannot write well enough. The New Zealand applying for a work visa. Companies wanting consequence of under-investment in public Qualifications Authority (NZQA) will reassess to hire EU workers would have to apply for higher education in the region. which NCEA standards count towards sponsorship permits, however. university entrance (UE) literacy Angel has also undertaken a comparative requirements, but keep numeracy New figures emerging from the UK suggest review the 2017 Academic Ranking of World requirements as is, despite school leavers that previous concerns of large numbers of Universities with the 2003 ranking of the top lacking the maths skills needed for science overstayers using the student visa route have 500 universities, pointing out significant and engineering study. been inflated, and 97% of international geopolitical shifts in higher education. students leave the UK after their studies. With a looming election - A reduction in net Commentary from Miguel Antonio Lim in migration by up to 22,000 international University World News (September 8), How students was among the key policies detailed Britain’s leading universities are introducing do university rankings maintain their by New Zealand’s main political parties as their own entrance exams in a move which influence? Lim asks “…how these rankings they outlined their positions on international threatens to undermine the authority of the can be so influential given the relative education in the lead up to next month’s new A-levels. This is the first time that scepticism with which they are perceived by general election. students received their results for the new A- academics”. level courses, which were designed by former Sexual harassment and assault on campus is education secretary Michael Gove as part of a University of Sydney Business School hurtles also gaining attention in New Zealand, with drive to raise academic standards in schools. to top of BOSS 2017 MBA rankings. For the University of Otago students hitting out at But several of the elite Russell Group first time, the University of Sydney Business the institution, saying there is not enough universities have signalled that they can no School's MBA has taken out the top ranking support for rape survivors and staff don't longer rely on A-levels to select the in the biannual BOSS MBA rankings for take the issue seriously. brightest students and are instead bringing in 2017, knocking off two-time leader the a raft of new assessments. University of Queensland Business school Sky News NZ (September 5) reports on the which ranked second. Melbourne Business New Zealand's Labour Leader Jacinda Ardern School fell from second to third place, after who has threatened to crack down on Indian international student body shrinking – AIU report. India has the second largest losing the coveted top spot in 2013. Australians studying at universities in New Zealand if Kiwis are forced to pay more across higher education system in the world, with only China eclipsing its 33 million students. In the 2017 THE league table released on 6 the Tasman. “If they lock us out of tertiary education we'll lock them out here,” Ms But despite liberalisation of rules allowing September, Australia is clearly punching universities and colleges to recruit as many above its weight, with eight universities in a Ardern said during a Newshub election debate, to applause from a studio audience. as 15% of their students from overseas, only global top 200 ranking, but funding cuts 30,423 international students enrolled in could make the sector fall behind rapidly Around the world Indian institutions in 2016, a drop of nearly a rising Chinese institutions, warns Phil Baty, thousand on 2015 (31,126). THE Rankings Director: “Australia’s leading institutions are already falling behind peers in The Trump administration announced (via mainland China and Hong Kong, which Twitter of course) that it will end the Interesting modern perspective on academic receive high and sustained levels of state Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals conferences in The Guardian. Expensive funding”. program, or DACA, through which about academic conferences give us old ideas and 800,000 undocumented immigrants who no new faces shares insights from a survey of All up, 35 of Australia’s 40 universities made were brought to the U.S. as children have one particular large international conference the THE rankings. Out of these, 11 jumped gained the right to work and temporary which indicated the event is a “waste of time ahead, 14 held steady and 10 fell compared protection against the risk of deportation. and money” and calls for different initiatives with their results last year. Six Australian The administration said it will phase out the to be applied to academic conferences. program, which was established by President universities made it in the global top 100: Obama in 2012, after a six-month period to • University of Melbourne (32) Academic scholarship and publishing, give Congress a chance to act on legislation • Australian National University (48) campus libraries that could restore the program. • University of Sydney (61)
• University of Queensland (65) Canadian universities are struggling with A number of Chinese returnees have found • Monash University (80) the Federal Court of Canada’s recent the reality of coming home after obtaining an • University of New South Wales (85) copyright decision against York University. overseas degree is falling short of their The court ruled that York could not rely on its dreams of a better job and higher salary. fair dealing policy and per-use licensing to
6 THE INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCHER • ISSUE 9/2017 copy works as a part of course packs, but mobile language learning content for rolling out an alternative education route in must pay millions of dollars in licensing fees students in higher education. the UK. Degree apprenticeships were to Access Copyright, which sells blanket launched in the UK in 2015. These are copyright licenses to organisations. York has Giving Data Meaning: Students Should Have designed to bridge the gap between announced that it will appeal the decision. a Say In What Analytics Tell You About technical skills, employment and higher Them. The desire to understand and improve education. Parker therefore asks if the In mid-August, a major academic publisher in learning has led many educators to consider Australian higher education system is still “fit the United Kingdom originally caved in to the value and utility of this information. But for purpose”. China’s official censors and blocked online what can these data traces actually tell us access from that country to more than 300 about the students who left them, and how According to the Good Universities’ Guide, articles in a leading academic journal – The do we translate them into meaningful The University of Notre Dame achieved the China Quarterly or CQ. The boycott and action? highest level of graduate employment at 80 general condemnation of what some per cent, with an average $60,000 starting interpreted as “capitulation” ultimately led 'Smart' Campuses Invest in the Internet of salary. Curtin University recorded the second to Cambridge University overruling the Things. In the US, campuses are examining highest level of graduate employment in WA publisher’s decision and reinstating the strategies for investment in, and better use at 67 per cent, also with an average $60,000 articles in defiance of the Chinese demands. of data. Forward-thinking CIOs are exploring starting salary. Edith Cowan University Kent Anderson, founding editor of The the potential of IoT technologies in higher recorded lowest rate of graduate Scholarly Kitchen, discussed the implications education and heading off challenges along employment, with 62 per cent. The average of this issue in terms of censorship and the way. starting salary is typically around $56,000. academic freedoms. Colleges Embrace Data Analytics to Improve And, perhaps ironically, the universities that In University World News, Bruce Macfarlane Student Retention. Also in the US, are the hardest to get into may not be noted that “The wider threat to academic universities tap data-driven insights to delivering the best experience or freedom within the academic community is develop personalised interventions that employment outcomes for their students, self-censorship: skating over or simply boost student retention. Examples from according to the Guide. The University of avoiding controversial or taboo subjects in Temple University and the University of NSW, Sydney University, the University of teaching or research that might cause Nevada detail the use of analytics to detect Melbourne and the University of Western offence”. early warning signs. Australia scored below the national average for overall experience and nationally, UNSW, Campus Libraries Are Centers of Information, From LinkedIn, Bernard Marr reviews the Sydney and UWA ranked among the bottom But Not of Diversity (At Least Among eight best data visualisation tools in 2017. seven in this category. Librarians). A report from the non-profit US Tableau, QlikSense and Plotly are included in group Ithaka S+R analyses employee the review. A US Future of Work Symposium hosted at demographics and director perspectives at a Stanford University with no questions about group of member institutions of the Stephen Few’s Visual Business Intelligence whether automation is going to take over Association of Research Libraries (ARL). It’s a Newsletter introduces a new chart that bursts jobs—but rather when, and how education partial but useful snapshot of how much the boundaries of what we can ordinarily do should respond. A few consistent themes: work the research-library community has left with bar graphs and dot plots into the realm Online courses will supplement but not to do to achieve meaningful diversity and of thousands of values. Known as the Zvinca completely replace in person courses; arts equity at all levels of the hierarchy. Plot it uses coloured data points rather than and creativity will be in high demand; bars and proposes some advantages over Inclusiveness is imperative to success. Finally, from the Scholarly Kitchen, Should wrapped graphs. Peer Review Change? Viewpoints from nine Government policy should encourage scholars who explore how we might Higher education institutions ought to be regional and rural students to attend approach peer review as volume and scope of prioritising digital literacy skills revolving university soon after school and study full academic publications increase. around digital savvy, creativity, and complex time on-campus to maximise chances of thinking, as employers increasingly value success, a leading education analyst has told these qualities in college graduates. The the Coalition’s review into rural education. BIG DATA, ONLINE World Economic Forum predicts 35% of the This could include addressing longstanding LEARNING, ANALYTICS top ten skills employers say they want will concerns about the adequacy of the change by 2020, and will increasingly include government’s income support program to & TECHNOLOGY these competencies, according to a new enable more regional students to afford the report from the New Media Consortium: move to study on campus, according to According to a learned work colleague, Data Digital Literacy in higher Education, Part 2: Andrew Norton, director of the Grattan Comics are the new Infographics (am I always An NMC Horizon Project Strategic Brief Institute’s higher education program. the last to find out about these things?). Volume 3.4 Recently published in IEEE Computer Roll-out of the My eQuals program is picking
Graphics and Applications, The Emerging up pace. The ANZ scheme gives students and graduates digital versions of their academic Genre of Data Comics presents an interesting GRADUATE OUTCOMES overview. More examples can be found here records for them to share with employers. and here. AND EMPLOYABILITY In addition to universities already operating eight universities are scheduled to go live in
Education publishing giant Pearson has September-October, ACU, ANU, JCU, In The Conversation this month, former University of Otago, UniSA, USQ, USC and announced it is partnering with leading Australian VC Stephen Parker examines the mobile language app Duolingo to develop Victoria University. A further nine will follow
7 THE INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCHER • ISSUE 9/2017 over the summer with all 46 participants due while student groups continue to criticise the Virgin and student travel and booking agency to be live in a year. often hefty prices they pay for textbooks. Campus Travel are combining to assist Also of interest, James Arvanitakis wrote women in STEM. Academics and PhD about this in The Conversation back in June candidates can submit a 500-word proposal LEARNING & TEACHING reminding us of the challenges of first-year about research that requires travel. The students overwhelmed by the costs. winner will receive $5000 worth of flights and
$1000 for accommodation. Blackboard Inc has announced the availability of the Djambarrpuyŋu version of Harvard Professor Tells Students They Should Come to Class. One year after asking The University of Queensland is set to Blackboard Collaborate, its virtual collaborative learning solution. The students to watch videos instead of coming maintain its dominance of research to class, Harvard University’s largest course commercialisation with a string of new announcement was made at the Teaching has asked students to attend all lectures in ventures that include health drinks, vaccines and Learning Conference 2017, Blackboard’s person. Last year David J. Malan, the Gordon and non-pesticide crop protection. UniQuest, annual event that brings together the McKay Professor of the Practice of Computer the research commercialisation company at education communities from Australia and Science, made attending lectures optional. UQ, now generates more licence income and New Zealand (held 6-8 September in While there was no decline in learning holds greater equity in its start-ups than Darwin). outcomes for the year, student feedback rivals at the Group of Eight universities suggested personal engagement was combined. The University of Queensland is expanding its suite of MOOCs, with a four unit significant factor they looked for. The PhD has been under a lot of scrutiny over micromasters in business leadership, via the past few years. The fact most PhD partner edX. The four subjects can all be graduates do not obtain long-term academic taken for free, but for $1500 people who RESEARCH careers has led to the view that we are complete them, plus a “capstone producing too many. The Economist assessment” receive a verified certificate. On August 22 Chief Executive Officer (CEO) magazine has observed that the length of the The increase in micromasters, established by of the Australian Research Council (ARC), MIT and offered in Australia by ANU, Professor Sue Thomas announced that the PhD, the uncertain job prospects and the lack of a clear financial advantage of a PhD over a University of Adelaide, Curtin and UQ does ARC has selected Clarivate Analytics to not seem to be abating. provide citation information for the 2018 professional masters suggest that this may not be a smart career choice. round of Excellence in Research for Australia.
University of Sydney VC Michael Spence has Clarivate (previously Thomson Reuters outlined plans to offer all undergraduates Intellectual Property and Science), provides undertaking a three-year bachelor degree the bibliometric base for the Academic (MORE) REPORTS AND the option of a four-year combined degree to Ranking of World Universities. RESOURCES be known as a bachelor of advanced studies. According to Spence in his piece in The The National Centre for Student Equity in Australian, “In addition to providing discipline Higher Education (NCSEHE) has announced area expertise, this course will ensure that its 2017 Research Grants Program projects. students are taught core skills that will set Thirteen projects have been announced out them up for success in any industry, in any of 55 submissions with priorities on student country. For some, this will include delivering financial support; graduate outcomes; equity Trend Watch 2017: Which IT Trends Is an ambitious research project; for others, an implications of the increase in postgraduate Higher Education Responding To? experience in industry to bridge to their education; and the impact of local future”. communities on equity participation. Bryan Alexander, Susan Grajek and Joanna Grama (EDUCAUSE Center for Analysis and And also in The Australian a report on the Supervising international research students. Research) casualisation of university positions. Less Nita Temmerman’s blog in University World than one per cent of new university positions News notes adjusting to life and study in EDUCAUSE is in its third year of identifying since 2005 have been ongoing teaching and another country can be daunting for the influence of major trends on the IT research jobs, with two-thirds of staff now in international students, and a positive strategy of US colleges and universities. This insecure employment, National Tertiary student-supervisor relationship can make all year’s list included 36 trends in the Education Union President Jeannie Rea says. the difference. management and delivery of IT services, personal devices and personalised Are We Recreating Segregated Education Making a difference: Outcomes of ARC environments, data and analytics, teaching Online? EdSurge highlighted growing supported research. The Australian Research and learning, security and risk, and the inequalities is the US education system Council has released this publication as a Internet of Things. These trends have been despite the increase in digital coursework snapshot of some of the research outcomes highly visible, widely discussed, and broadly and the expansion of business models from derived from research projects funded by the covered in publications, blogs, and companies like Duolingo and Coursera. Australian Government through the presentations. But what is actually in place at Australian Research Council (ARC) National our institutions, and which types of Open access textbooks are emerging as the Competitive Grants Program (NCGP). The institutions are most affected by—or latest tool for keeping students engaged as publication includes projects generating leveraging—IT trends that occupy so much educators seek to tackle persistent retention economic impacts, advancing environmental mindshare? This report presents data on rates that have seen one in five first-year science and management and developing their actual influence on IT strategy in higher students drop out during the past decade. innovative technologies. education. Experts frequently cite financial pressures as a key factor contributing to student attrition,
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The top 3 trends with the greatest influence (over 61% of colleges and universities) are: ON THE MOVE (1) continued complexity of security threats,
(2) student success focus/imperatives, and (3) QUT has announced their new VC – data-driven decision making. commencing February 2018. Professor Margaret Sheil AO is currently Provost, Notes: Need to be able to log-in to EDUCAUSE deputy to the Vice-Chancellor and the Chief to access PDF, review of trends available at Academic Officer, at the University of Inside Higher Ed Melbourne. Professor Peter Coaldrake will Leading the Academy: Distributed leave the university after 15 years’ service at leadership in Higher Education the end of 2017. Fun Fact: Professor Coaldrake is currently Australia’s longest serving VC. Professor Sandra Jones, RMIT Marcia Devlin moves from DVC (Learning The focus of this HERDSA Guide is upon and Quality) at Federation University future leadership possibilities that focus on Australia to take up the position of RMIT the need for formal leaders to be active Associate DVC (Education) and Executive facilitators for the future - to support, Director of RMIT Studios on 1 November. encourage, facilitate, guide, mentor, and Going for the higher fruit: Universities recognise the leadership contribution of the post peak public funding Flinders University VC Colin Stirling has had many experts who comprise higher his contract extended to seven years from education institutions. The Guide brings Peter Coaldrake and Lawrence Stedman January 2018 – he is currently half-way research into the theory and practice of a (This paper is the basis for current QUT VC through his original five-year appointment. distributed leadership. The experience of a Professor Coaldrake’s IFE Grand Challenge distributed leadership approach in Australian Lecture on 11 August at QUT) Human Resources director Nick Rogers is higher education institutions forms the leaving James Cook University. empirical research. The Guide captures the The metaphor of a “crossroads" has been developmental, sequential process of this used several times in higher education, David Reeve is confirmed as Chief research to identify conceptual and here and in other countries. But there is no Innovation Office at Macquarie University, organisational development. doubt that in 2017 we are at a critical after acting in the position for six months. juncture with the relationship between Key findings from the latest Australian government and universities. Society has Institute for Teaching and School Music producer and engineer Mark Opitz has never needed universities to be more Leadership ITE Data Report – an annual joined ANU’s music school as a visiting fellow effective and pervasive, but government is report on the state of teacher education where he will work with staff and students in clearly equivocal in its support. The former ANU‘s new recording facility. Mr Opitz has US Ambassador to Australia Jeff Bleich has Key findings in the new analysis include: worked with bands including Cold Chisel, referred to this as an era of “runaway • Teacher education student numbers AC/DC and the Divinyls. technology and walk-away government", grew by 30 per cent between 2006 and when unprecedented challenges are 2015. UWA has announced Owen Davies is its new confronted by the rise of populism, • There was UG retention of 77 per cent, 1 chief marketing officer. government dysfunction and widespread per cent lower than the mean for nine disillusionment, not only with the capacity undergraduate programs. Geraldine Mackenzie officially took over as of government and democratic institutions • Commencing students who entered a vice chancellor at the University of Southern to make a positive difference, but also course on the basis of ATAR of 81 or Queensland this month. manifest in the form of distrust of higher had an 84 per cent retention rate, expertise. 5 per cent higher than the all-ATAR ANU is advertising the new role of provost to entrants while 73 per cent of teacher be the VCs senior deputy. And Monash Digital Transformation in Higher education commencers with ATARs University is inviting “expressions of Education Report under 50 continued their course. There interest” from Monash staff interested in was a 75 per cent retention rate for becoming president of the university’s Navitas people not admitted on an ATAR. Malaysian operation (A five-year • Of recent undergraduate degree appointment). In July 2017, Navitas Ventures conducted completers 82 per cent were satisfied an exploratory study to gather a range of with their course, in line with the 2015 Former NSW education minister and deputy perspectives on digital transformation in all-programmes figure. Nationals leader Adrian Piccoli will quit higher education. The study’s participants • In 2015 94 per cent of new teachers with politics next week to lead a new education represent groups who are central to digital an undergraduate degree were research centre at UNSW. transformation in higher education, as employed, with 70 per cent teach full- leaders and facilitators of change and as time. Tim Dodd is leaving the Australian Financial those who will be affected by digital Review to become the Higher Education transformation. They were drawn from a For members of ATEM, the October issue of Editor at The Australian diverse group of stakeholders, including Journal of Higher Education Policy and university leaders, Ed tech founders and Management (JHEPM) is now available. Jenny Roberts will become DVC Students at students. Charles Sturt University in November. Ms Roberts will move from CQU where she is DVC student experience
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Jodieann Dawe is to head Flinders The authors offer a research-based model University’s revamped research entity taking and actionable approach for using data on responsibility for IP and strategically at community colleges to commercialisation. Jodieanne joins from the increase completion rates as well as other National Centre for Vocational Education metrics linked to student success. They draw Research, where she has managed research from the fields of psychology, neuroscience, and engagement since June 2015. and behavioral economics to show how leaders and administrators can build good Vanessa Lemm will become executive dean habits for engaging with data constructively of the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences at Flinders University in January. Interview with authors in Inside Higher Ed Presenting Data Effectively: (September 14) Communicating your Findings for At Monash University Zlatko Skrbis’s title is Maximum Impact changed from pro vice-chancellor (graduate education) to senior pro vice-chancellor Stephanie D. H. Evergreen (academic). Now in striking full color, Presenting Data Effectively, Second Edition by Stephanie D. BOOK REVIEWS H. Evergreen shows readers how to make the research results presented in reports, slideshows, dashboards, posters, and data visualizations more interesting, engaging, and impactful. The book guides students, researchers, evaluators, and non-profit workers—anyone reporting data to an outside audience—through design choices in four primary areas: graphics, text, color, and Degrees of Difference: Women, Men and arrangement. the Value of Higher Education Nancy S. Niemi POSITIONS VACANT This volume investigates the dissonance
between the supposed advantage held by Seeking another opportunity in Institutional Beyond McDonaldization. Visions of Higher educated women and their continued lack of Research in Australia? Try our Higher Education economic and political power. Exploring the Education Jobs webpage for current relationship between higher education vacancies in the profession. Dennis Hayes credentials and their utility in creating political, economic, and social success, If you are seeking an international career Beyond McDonaldization provides new Degrees of Difference identifies ways in which change see our American colleagues AIR concepts of higher education for the twenty- gender and academic achievement Careers page. first century in a unique manner, challenging contribute to women’s and men’s power to much that is written in mainstream texts. shape their lives. Interview with author in This wide-ranging text discusses arguments Inside Higher Ed LOOKING FOR SOME surrounding the industrialisation of higher education, with case studies and Higher Education Strategy and Planning: A TRAINING AND contributions from a wide range of Professional Guide DEVELOPMENT? international authors Tony Strike See our Training and Development webpage Containing chapters on each of the major focused on training for institutional functions or capabilities of strategic planners, researchers. critiques of global policy trends, framework
examples and explanations of the main league tables both in the UK and globally, the book is divided into five main parts:
• Context and Positioning; • Integrated Planning; • Centrality, Co-ordination and Connection; • Analytical Capacity and Capability; Creating a Data-Informed Culture in • Insight and Information. Community Colleges: A New Model for
Educators Compact book review from Ant Bagshaw Brad C. Phillips and Jordan E. Horowitz (WONKHE) – who offers a relevant critique of this UK publication (but relevant in light of workplace disruption occuring across Australian campuses).
10 THE INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCHER • ISSUE 9/2017
tertiary education and skills for creating key stakeholders and develop important LOOKING FOR HIGHER innovation. partnerships.
EDUCATION ITS in Tertiary Education ASCILITE 2017 Conference CONFERENCES AND 24th and 25th of October 2017, CQ EVENTS? Functions, Melbourne, Victoria
With a focus on achieving operational Here is a selection of upcoming events (or past excellence during successive events) that may be of interest. See our transformations, the ITS in Tertiary Events/Fora webpage for more national and Education conference will showcase 4-6 December 2017, The University of international events. leading case-studies and strategies to southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia Australian International Education deliver world-class university ITS in a global service environment. Conference The ASCILITE conference is the leading Higher Education Standards Seminar annual conference for practitioners and researchers committed to best practice 3 November 2017 and excellence in the use of technologies for teaching and learning in the tertiary As part of the NSW/ACT Region ATEM sector throughout Australasia. Conference program, this session will cover views from the two peak Standards Australian Council of Deans of Education bodies, the private education sector, two Vocational Education Group 3rd Annual university Academic Boards, the National Conference importance of partnering with students, 7-8 December 2017, TAFE Queensland and the role of professional support staff. Two Q & A sessions in the morning and Brisbane South Bank Campus afternoon will give participants full scope 10-13 October, 2017, Hobart Grand Hosted by the Australian Council of Deans for questions. Chancellor, Hobart, Tasmania of Education Vocational Education Group,
Australian Association for Research in the 3rd Annual Conference on VET teaching AIEC 2017 will explore this landscape in all Education (AARE) Conference 2017 and VET teacher education brings together its variety by embracing our ‘diversities’. a range of VET workforce practitioners, Whether it be people, cultures, languages, policy makers and researchers from across places, partnerships, education sectors, the nation. Together, these committed pathways, delivery models, approaches to vocational educators will advance and learning and teaching or careers and share the knowledge and projects they are employment, we will look critically at what generating to drive the future quality of 26-30 November, Hotel Realm Canberra, we are achieving. VET teaching in Australia. Australia ATEM Admissions Conference 2017 Save the date: The theme of this year’s conference is ‘Higher Education Admissions - A Vintage ‘Education: What’s politics got to do with HERDSA: (Re)Valuing Education Approach for a Modern Blend?’ it?’ with a focus on the importance of educational research and its ability to 2-5 July, 2018, Adelaide, Australia 19-20 October, National Wine Centre, effect positive change both in Australia Adelaide and internationally. HERDSA offers an annual international conference on topical teaching and The ATEM Admissions Conference is now 28th ISANA International Education learning issues with opportunities to meet one of the most important conferences for Association & 22nd Australia and New colleagues with similar interests, exchange University Admissions and Recruitment Zealand Student Services Association ideas about teaching and learning and staff. Registrations open shortly and we Conferences learn about current developments from expect up to 100 people to attend from experienced researchers and practitioners. across Australia. 5-8 December 2017, STAR, Gold Coast, Australia A great selection of Speakers are already confirmed on the Program and the Call for The theme for the conference is Widening Papers is now open. Perspectives of Student Success.
View the 2017 draft program The conference will give us the opportunity to explore and discuss the Service Improvement and Innovation in many factors that contribute to the overall Universities student success, both within and outside the classroom. There will be an exciting 19-20 October 2017, Pier One, Sydney program of speakers, workshops, social Harbour activities and lots of networking opportunities. Delegates will be able to This year’s conference will sharpen the share successful strategies, engage with focus on innovation; what innovation is in
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university rankings and ratings INSTITUTIONAL agencies for comparing performance at CALL FOR institutional and national levels. RESEARCHER’S CORNER CONTRIBUTIONS b) Developing alternative mechanisms Five questions with Martin for gathering regular student feedback The Institutional Researcher before survey fatigue, social media and Hanlon, UTS micro-credentials kill off the beloved Issue 10, October 2017 survey! A great way to get involved with the AAIR c) Developing predictive models which community is to share your thoughts and link together institutional planning in ideas. Do you have something you would all its flavours: e.g. load planning, like to share with your IR colleagues? The curriculum planning, workforce next AAIR Newsletter will be published in planning, space planning, revenue late October. Please send your planning. contributions to the [email protected] by Monday 16th of October 2017. What do you believe will be the future priorities for institutional research? AAIR on Twitter @AAIRaustralasia Building on my answer above, comparing government-sanctioned national frameworks for measuring institutional performance in What is your job title? higher education. To my knowledge no country has developed a fully comprehensive Director, Planning and Quality Unit at the approach which measures the teaching and University of Technology Sydney (UTS). learning, research and external engagement performance of each institution in an I also have the honour of being the current integrated framework. (If I am wrong let me chair of the Australian Network of University know!) Developments in the UK are worth Planners (ANUP). watching as they roll out their Teaching Excellence Framework to complement their Briefly, how would you describe your role Research Excellence Framework. in terms of your place in your institution? Complete this statement: In my role, I can’t Monica Chen and Tracy Creagh I’m sometimes referred to as the ‘PDRI [Plan operate effectively without … The Institutional Researcher Editors. Do Review Improve] guy’. Day to day I try to work on transitioning the university’s view of My amazing Executive Assistant Leigh! And the unit as primarily a data vending machine the impressive team of professionals in the (credit to my team for that nice analogy!) to unit with deep expertise across the range of one of a trusted business partner. And the unit’s functions. And a few short black seeking to solve resourcing issues and coffees and a few laughs each day. remove roadblocks that hinder the unit’s ability to provide the services our clients expect.
From your perspective, what are the emerging areas of interest in institutional research?
a) International comparative analysis. In recent years, I’ve been involved in some collaborations which have given me a global perspective on IR practice. Higher education is now a global commodity, and yet our IR practice in each country tends to remain fairly independent. I think we should start approaching our IR from a collaborative multi-national perspective. Sure, our education systems may be different but there is much commonality in our contexts and missions. There is also an opportunity for IR practitioners to collaborate globally to offer alternative approaches to those adopted by