AAIR Newsletter September 2018 Mapping the (whole) education landscape REGISTERED FOR THE 2018 AAIR INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH BOOK REVIEWS FORUM YET? CORNER INTERVIEW PLUS A RANGE OF INTERSTING PAGE 2 FIVE QUICK QUESTIONS WITH DAN REPORTS AND NEW PUBLICATIONS JOLLEY, CURTIN UNIVERSITY THIS MONTH. SEE PAGE 7-11 PAGE 13 Photo by Paolo Nicolello on Unsplash CONTENT From the President Learning and Teaching Positions Vacant, Training and Development Editorial Research Higher Education Conferences and Events Sector News and Views Reports and Resources Institutional Researcher’s Corner Big Data, Online Learning, Analytics On the Move Graduate Outcomes and Book Reviews Employability Don’t miss your chance to be part of the AAIR Forum 2018! The Annual AAIR Forum is the leading institutional research event Evidence-based strategic planning and continuous quality in Australasia, and is an ideal place for you to expand your sector improvement, supported by a solid survey and evaluations knowledge. Join with the many institutions who continue to framework, are on the agenda. All of this is underpinned by support the Forum and enjoy what we anticipate will be an business intelligence, analytics, visualisation and modelling. exceptional event. Pre-Forum workshops and Special Interest Groups will run on the day prior to the main Forum, with sessions including a full day survey manager’s workshop. AAIR welcomes new and experienced presenters and a presenter briefing tailored to new presenters will be held on the 19th November. As always, there will be plenty of networking opportunities, including the welcome reception and dinner both to be held at uniquely Melbourne venues. If you haven’t already, register now and join in the conversation, as well as the unique social program, or just eat a donut off The Forum program is guaranteed to challenge and excite as the wall! specialists share their rich experience, discuss key topics, and strategize in response to the ever-changing higher education sector. Keynote speakers include: • Kerri-Lee Krause, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) and Professor of Higher Education, La Trobe University; • Christine M Keller, PhD., Executive Director of the Association for Institutional Research (AIR), Tallahassee, Florida; and • James Fazzino, Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow, La Trobe University, Chairman, Manufacturing Australia, Member of Male Champions of Change Institute. With thanks, from This year’s theme, Reflecting on the Past, Experiencing the Present, 2018 Shaping the Future, will encourage conversations and questions about the value of higher education and the changing role of the institutional researcher. 3 THE INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCHER ISSUE 9/2018 announcement by the Shadow Minister SECTOR NEWS AND for Education and Training, the Hon VIEWS Tanya Plibersek as did Universities EDITORIAL Australia. Other news The highly anticipated (by me at least) report from the September has seen the release of two Grattan Institute Mapping significant reports. As mentioned in the Editorial, Mapping Australian Higher Australian higher education Education 2018 from the Grattan 2018 has been released (see Institute, plus, the OECD's annual brief summary p. 9). The report Education at a Glance report. The latter shows that in 2016 a record 41 looks at who participates in education, per cent of Australian 19-year- what is spent on it, how education olds were enrolled in higher systems operate, and the results education institutions. Our achieved. This year’s report notes the recommended summary is the proportion of public money being spent podcast from HE Program on private schooling in Australia is higher than in any other advanced economy and Director Andrew Norton and (Image from Gwen Blake has increased significantly over the last Fellow Ittima Cherastidtham. @Glamgwenblake) decade. In the last decade, tertiary The value of the report is attainment of 25-34 year-olds in Australia comprehensive. Not only does Universities Australia wasted no time had “increased significantly”, reaching it present a range of data urging new Prime Minister Scott 52% in 2017. That increase has been sources that map outcomes and Morrison to overturn the effective cap on especially pronounced among women trends, it also outlines and student places imposed last December (analysed and discussed in the new describes the Australian higher and reverse the Government’s $2.1 billion Grattan report) The OECD report and the education landscape. This year, university funding cuts. Chief Executive Australian outcomes are discussed by Catriona Jackson said she looked forward Geoff Sharrock, University of Melbourne the Grattan Institute has to working constructively with the new in The Conversation (September 18 ) in explored the topic of graduate leadership of the country, including Australian tertiary education funding is employment and earnings in newly elected Deputy Liberal leader Josh not as low as it seems in OECD metrics some depth (see Mapping Frydenberg. and by Julie Hare, in her new role with Australian higher education Wonkhe, (September 17) in Australia puts 2018, Chapter 10). Cabinet re-shuffle: Dan Tehan is the new high price on HE premium. education minister with Simon And for something a little Birmingham moving to trade in the new Also, from Julie Hare (Wonkhe, different, our Institutional government line-up. The Chair of RUN, September 13). Protecting the high front Researcher this month is Dan Professor Greg Hill, welcomed the gate. TEQSA has now published a report Jolley, PhD candidate in the appointment of Dan Tehan MP as analysing its decisions around new Minister for Education, Karen Andrews School of Psychology at Curtin applications for registration and re- MP as Minister for Industry, Science and registration as a HE provider. The University. AAIR sponsored Dan Technology, Sussan Ley MP as Minister conclusion: it ain’t easy. Jolley as part of the Early for Regional Development, Michaelia Career Researcher Scholarship Cash as Minister for Small Business, The National Centre for Student Equity in to present at the 27th National Skills, and Vocational Education and Higher Education have released a VET Research Conference ‘No Training. discussion paper on the need for a Frills’ in Sydney in August. new higher education access strategy for Dan’s research reflects the Editors pick for best summary of events Australia through to 2030. The paper is pivotal role VET plays in (and some clarity around “where we are designed to encourage participation in at”) from Wonkhe (September 9) with education. the policy process and sets out eight former The Australian HE editor and issues, which will likely shape access to Finally, AAIR is currently on the new Wonkhe associate editor Julie Hare HE in the next decade. They include, New PM, new minister, same old the impact of funding constraints and look-out for a new Newsletter chaos: what happens next? the role of digital delivery, how and Editor for 2019. I can’t why equity should be central to the recommend this role enough Australian Labor party pledges an extra education system and national objectives and if you would like more $174m for disadvantaged uni students. and how we define and measure the information please email the The Federal Labor party is promising to achievement of equity outcomes. Executive Officer at uncap university places if it wins the next Feedback from written submissions and [email protected] or email me election, but crucially now, it is also face-to-face workshops will inform the at [email protected] with any promising an extra $174 million to help development of a long-term vision questions. students from poor areas to enter tertiary statement, Student Equity 2030 which education. The Regional Universities will be launched at World Access to Network (RUN) welcomed the 4 THE INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCHER ISSUE 9/2018 Higher Education Day on 28 November entry base for ARC-funded Indigenous into the computer systems and 2018. researchers.” databases of seven leading Australian universities to steal secret research, High university fees and the hefty cost of The WA government has announced a according to a senior computer living in Australia were the reason almost graduate migration list, “to attract the researcher. half a survey group of would-be best global talent with the advanced international students decided not to qualifications, skills and experience and “Two-speed economy” a threat for come to the country. QS Enrolment help grow Western Australia’s share of Australian HE, according to Nous. Solutions, a global company that surveys the international education market.” Australia’s international higher education student opinions, said of more than 3000 sector has developed a pronounced “two- international students who wanted to Victoria University’s new block teaching speed economy” and its reliance on come to Australia in 2017 but ended up model has cut the dropout rate and led to China and South Asia raises questions of not doing so, more than half said they students scoring higher grades than last its ongoing success and susceptibility to couldn't afford the fees. A similar number year when students were taught in the downturns, according to a new report said it would be cheaper to study in traditional way. from consulting firm Nous. another country. The nation's highest-paid university Student and staff wellbeing Australian students reluctant to study leaders. University leaders are picking up abroad. Unlike their counterparts in major pay rises, taking the annual Brad Wright and Charles Winslade from many other countries, notably America average salary of vice-chancellors in NSW Charles Sturt University have written for and many European nations, Australian and Victoria to just below $1 million. The Conversation (August 21) on student university students show little Michael Spence, the vice-chancellor of and staff health and point to the The enthusiasm for studying outside their Sydney University, is the highest paid of Healthy Universities framework as a own nation. An American search engine all, having seen his salary rise 60 per cent good example of a holistic approach optimisation company called SEMrush in just five years to $1.45 million.