AAIR Newsletter July 2018

NEW FUNDING|NEW CHALLENGES FOR REGIONAL INSTITUTIONS

LATEST MUSINGS FROM THE INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH BOOK REVIEWS PRESIDENT CORNER INTERVIEW … PLUS A RANGE OF INTERSTING PAGE 2 FIVE QUICK QUESTIONS WITH REPORTS AND NEW PUBLICATIONS KERRY MARTIN, UNIVERSITY OF THIS MONTH. SEE PAGE 7-9 THE SUNSHINE COAST PAGE 12

Photo by Joanna Kosinska on Unsplash

CONTENT

From the President Learning and Positions Vacant and Trainings and Development Teaching Editorial Research Trainings, Higher Education Conferences and Events

Sector News and Views Reports and Institutional Researcher’s Corner Resources Big Data, Online Learning, Analytics On the Move

Graduate Outcomes and Book Reviews Employability

FROM THE PRESIDENT

To Rank or Not to Rank? The US News and World Report Best I also learned about a new ranking Global Universities Ranking seems to called the Taiwanese NTU ranking, be the most popular ’next’ exercise, which the respondent said was an That is the question with 71% following the results there. excellent measure for viewing the You might be interested to know long- and short-term research Thanks to those who responded to that US News has been doing their performance of a university. our little survey last month on The rankings in the US since 1983, but Ranking Game. that they only started the Global And for those of you who need a Universities Ranking in 2014. They do good chuckle or at least a broad Of the 51 people who responded, a great deal of ranking exercises at smile, you should check out these 78% said that their institution does US News, including an Overall Best rankings that one person shared. worry about the ranking exercises, Countries Ranking that scores and 86% said their organisations do Australia 7th and New Zealand 13th All New Dumbest University make a conscious effort to improve in the world. Rankings 2018 performance. Interestingly, only 47% said that they had a dedicated team Several survey respondents made So, happy ranking to you all! involved. One person commented comments, including one person that there were several people who noted that although the On another note, I will be attending involved who all had other improvement in ranking the AAIR SIG Forum in Canberra responsibilities, so they were not performance was a strategic aim, from 26 to 27 July, so I hope to see sure it could actually be called a that it was secondary to the strategic many of you there. ’team’, and another commented that aims of improving teaching quality it was a collaboration across the and research performance. Another QUICK! Register for the SIG Forum areas of finance, HR, research and person noted that senior staff student reporting. seemed to be more concerned with rankings than with ‘on the ground The most ’watched’ exercise was excellence’, while another observed THE World University Ranking (96%) that the reputation measures were followed closely by the QS World the hardest to predict and manage University Ranking (88%), with 67% for a regional university. following the ARWU out of Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

Kathie Rabel, AAIR President

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Regional Universities Network (RUN), SECTOR NEWS AND Professor Greg Hill, said that the Nous VIEWS Group had developed a performance EDITORIAL framework, in collaboration with RUN, that captures the contribution of The New Work Reality universities against the broad objectives Models and Mergers Since 2015 the Foundation of Young of the Higher Education Support Act: Australians (FYA) have been releasing teaching quality, equity, and contribution Last month we noted with reports focused squarely on the to social cultural and economic needs. interest two new education experiences of young Australians and the models for teaching (ANU’s ‘New implications of disruption on the world of The agreement to explore a merger Admissions for 2020’ model and work. Their latest report identifies four between South Australia’s two largest Victoria University’s new ‘First significant figures accelerating the universities announced in June has Year Model’). This month’s news transition from full-time education to already hit a major obstacle: the National that the full-time work – summary page 7. Tertiary Education Union said it would and the University of South Alarmingly, only half of 25-year-olds not accept forced redundancies and Australia have begun formal have full-time secure jobs even though would demand the best employment conditions from each institution apply to processes to merge to create a six in ten have post-school qualifications. all staff of a merged super institution. ‘super-institution’—involving a Regional universities dominate the Grattan Institute higher education six-month consultation period—is focus of this month’s news with analyst Andrew Norton has warned that indicative of the disruption commentary related to a series of a proposed merger of two major South occurring across the Australian recent reports: Australian universities will reduce higher education sector – watch competition because of the many areas this space! Funding freeze hits regional unis hardest in which the two institutions compete. RUN calls for National Regional For those attending the AAIR SIG Education Commissioner. Other news Forum on 26–27 July, don’t miss The Regional Universities Network calls Good news: There is three more years of the panel discussion on Day 1 for a national commissioner to oversee public funding for the National Centre for with the new Chief Executive of the national education strategy for the Study of Equity in in Higher Universities Australia Catriona regions. “In the national interest, we call Education. Based at Curtin University, Jackson, Phil Aungles from the on the government to take action to the Commonwealth funds the centre Department of Education and support the growth of regional university from the Higher Education Partnerships Training, and Lisa Bolton from campuses,” RUN chair and University of and Participation Program (HEPPP). the Social Research Centre the Sunshine Coast VC Greg Hill says. (QILT). As well, ANU Professor Universities Australia says government Bruce Chapman is the keynote Strong regional universities are central to and business must increase investment presentation in the morning. The driving regional development and central to support the university systems’ work. program itself has presentations to increasing regional prosperity – “Research expands Australia’s from Australia, New Zealand and according to a new report by the economy. Research saves lives. Research the US, and next month’s Australian House of Representatives creates new products and industries that newsletter will feature a Select Committee on Regional generate jobs”, UA CEO Catriona summary of the event. Development and Decentralisation. The Jackson says. UA sets out seven report, Regions at the Ready: Investing in recommendations, which are part of its And finally, it was a pleasure to Australia’s future, says the ‘pivotal’ role submission to a House of be able to interview Kerry Martin regional universities play in regional Representatives committee inquiry on in the Institutional Researcher’s development extends beyond the research funding. provision for tertiary courses and Corner this month. Kerry is conducting research. Director of the Strategic Australian Education Minister Simon Birmingham has appointed a panel to Information and Analysis Unit at From Universities Australia: Universities review the Australian Qualifications the University of the Sunshine serving communities in regional Australia Framework. Veteran education policy Coast (USC). She is also part of and the outer suburbs of capital cities expert Peter Noonan (Bradley Review, the hard-working AAIR Executive face cuts of up to 15 per cent of their core now at Victoria University) chairs the Committee, and we love her funding by 2021, new Government panel of Sally Kift, adjunct professor, at work! figures show. The Government’s own James Cook University, Megan Lilly, Ai data on its funding freeze, obtained by Group and Elizabeth More dean of the the ABC under Freedom of Information Australian Institute of Management laws, shows which universities will be the business school. They will be joined by a Happy reading – Tracy hardest hit by the backdoor cuts made in nominee from the COAG education the mid-year Budget update last council and another from the COAG skills December. council.

As well: Australia’s growth in international Performance Framework Proposed for education has set another new record, Regional Universities. The Chair of the with more than 548,000 overseas

4 THE INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCHER ISSUE 7/2018 students studying here in the latest RMIT’s new Melbourne city campus has citation, impact and journal standing. official numbers from April. New won the Australian Institute of Architects’ URAP cites the top ten Australian Government figures show a jump of 12 top Victorian award for Lyons universities on its global ranking as; per cent from the same time last year. Architecture, NMBW Architecture UniSydney (26th in world), More than 50 per cent of these students Studio, Harrison and White, MvS UniMelbourne (30), UniQueensland (40), are enrolled in higher education Architects and Maddison Architects. Monash U (53), UNSW (60), UWA (106), institutions. ANU (130), UniAdelaide (157), Curtin U Newcastle University pushes on with new (272) and Griffith U (269). Universities Australia has welcomed the CBD development plans after rail corridor passage of new laws to give universities, rezoning. The university acquired a two- QS Top 50 Under 50. Australia has 10 schools and libraries similar copyright hectare section of Honeysuckle from the universities in the top 50. They include protections to companies like Telstra and state government a year ago, about half UTS (10th), Optus. The Copyright Amendment of it on or beside the corridor next to (16th), Queensland University of (Services Providers) Act 2018, expands Wright Lane, and has been working on an Technology (19th), Curtin University “safe harbour” protections, giving ambitious plan including teaching spaces, (20th), RMIT (21st), University of South copyright holders an efficient way to get student accommodation and possibly Australia (25th). infringing content removed, while recreation facilities. protecting institutions that work for the THE Asia-Pacific University Rankings public benefit. La Trobe University intends to create a 2018: results announced. Universities in “health and wellbeing hub” at its East Asia are starting to outperform Will this be the last we hear on the Bundoora campus which will include a, leading Australian and New Zealand proposed Ramsay Centre? Gareth Evans, “private hospital, primary health care institutions, according to Times Higher Chancellor of ANU and Brian Schmidt, clinic, aged care and child care centres.” Education’s Asia-Pacific ranking. ANU’s VC have written a piece for The La Trobe says this will address an existing While Australia’s Group of Eight have Conversation (July 2) ANU stood up for undersupply of services in the historically dominated the region, academic freedom in rejecting Western surrounding community and is “one of emerging universities in China, Hong Civilisation degree. “The Australian the first elements of a university Kong and South Korea now outshine National University’s decision to commitment to establish La Trobe as the many of these established powerhouses. withdraw from negotiations with the economic engine room of Melbourne’s Ramsay Centre over its proposed very north.” Two Australian degrees have been generous gift in support of a new named in the Financial Times 2018 global Western Civilisation degree program Australia’s Labor government has top 50 MBAs for entrepreneurship. continues to generate strident criticism announced $50m for a science, Melbourne Business School’s MBA is at from certain quarters, enthusiastically engineering and IT “super laboratory” at number 42 and the AGSM MBA at UNSW endorsed by The Australian newspaper in the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Business School is 43rd. particular”. new Moreton Bay campus, plus $70m for new undergraduate places there. This From Inside HigherEd: Lies, Damned Lies Is higher education value for money? matches the Liberals, who have and Rankings. Temple University (U.S.) David Myton discusses the UK experience previously promised funding for 3600 has revealed that the scandal over false in Campus Morning Mail (June 14) in an new places through to 2021. The information submitted for rankings of its interesting overview. government also has committed $35m in online M.B.A. was much broader than infrastructure spending for USC, plus a earlier known. Nine ANZ universities are winners in new $121m concessional loan. awards from peak higher education Paul Greatrix from Wonkhe doesn’t communications group, Council for Major changes proposed for QUT disappoint with a round-up of some of Advancement and Support of Education. campuses. A university research facility the lesser known rankings. Greatrix The University of Sydney won the Grand will close and campuses will be takes a polite dig at THE’s ‘Golden Age’ Gold medal for “Unlearn”, its campaign reconfigured and refurbished as part of a League table (or “mid-life crisis ranking”) for the new undergraduate curriculum 10-year development plan for the and mentions the Reuters Table which successfully rolled out this year. The Queensland University of Technology. ranks the most innovative unis in University of Auckland received the silver Eurpore. As well, the UK-centric The prize for public service announcements Rankings and ratings Tab’s University League Table 2018 gets and commercial spots. a mention with important comparisons Australian universities are on all the for university issues like how cheap is a world top 100s in the new Academic Campus News pint going to be if you go to Nottingham? Ranking of World Universities’ list of 54 How much carnage are the halls in James Cook U smartens up Townsville disciplines. Australia is strong in all the Sussex? campus. The federal government will obvious areas; agriculture and loan James Cook University $96m for a environment-related sciences but also And I’m putting this in the rankings area technology innovation complex at the does well in social sciences. There are 12 (because I can): Griffith University and Townsville campus, to house STEM Australian universities on the top-100 in QUT are amongst the top 30 dad-friendly teaching and research. The federal education and 13 in hospitality and workplaces with offices in Queensland. funding is the Northern Australia tourism. So there. Infrastructure Fund’s first Queensland commitment and its first investment in The University Ranking of Academic social infrastructure. Performance ranks universities on a

range of publishing criteria, including

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Meanwhile in New Zealand McGovern said young people, under 24, invasion, phantom screamers and stunt Universities acknowledge funding no longer trusted institutions and brands. moped riders in parking lots – the fun increase. New Zealand’s university vice- “They trust what other people say about never ends. chancellors acknowledge the 1.6% using a taxi service or Airbnb bed and increase in tuition subsidies announced breakfast place.” late June and hope the government will invest further in the university sector in Recognition back on top of the mobility coming years to ensure it can deliver on agenda in the EU. Learners who take the its policies to build a resilient and plunge and study outside their home adaptable workforce. country must be able to trust that there are fair procedures in place for 'It's about increasing equity in recognition of their qualifications and participation in tertiary education' NZ academic credits. New political initiatives Minister of Education Chris Hipkins has have now put recognition back on top of defended his fees-free policy, despite it the mobility agenda. having little impact on increasing tertiary BIG DATA, ONLINE enrolment. The policy, which offers all new students one free year of full-time Universities suffer under free-tuition LEARNING, ANALYTICS tertiary study or training, is expected to regimes. From University World News: & TECHNOLOGY “The reality is that funding in free-tuition cost $350 million in its first year, yet countries has often not been on par with enrolments are just 0.3 percent higher UK gets world-first national learning expectations or what institutions need. than the same time last year. But Mr analytics service. The UK is taking a This is also true of countries where Hipkins said the purpose of the policy is major leap forward in its use of data in tuition fees are low and regulated. not about increasing overall numbers of higher education as the country gets the Governments in these cases are left with tertiary students, but rather increasing world’s first national learning analytics two options”. equity in participation of tertiary service. Learning analytics, which uses education. data on student performance and Students fight plan for mandatory activities to track engagement and Government extends student loans for attendance at lectures. Students in North identify undergraduates who are at risk longer courses. Students on long courses Rhine-Westphalia (Germany) have of dropping out, is being used by growing such as medicine will be able to borrow staged protests against the centre-right numbers of universities around the more through the student loan scheme state government’s plans to introduce a world; but so far the UK has been to see them through their study from new higher education law, including regarded as lagging behind institutions in next year. The Government will extend proposals to reintroduce compulsory the US, as well as Australia and New the current student loan borrowing limit attendance at lectures and seminars. Zealand. for those students from January 1, 2019. They say lectures would be full if At present, students can borrow through lecturers did a better job. Universities ‘key to bridging global digital the student loan scheme for only up to divide’. Universities will be key in seven equivalent fulltime study (EFTs) bridging new emerging ‘digital divides’ years. The cap was put on by the previous Student mental health support must within countries and globally in the era of National government. improve. Universities in the United innovation driven by artificial intelligence Kingdom are being told to “dramatically and other new technologies, a Around the world improve” support for students with conference organised by the Association UK government guarantees EU students’ mental health issues and the government of Pacific Rim Universities in Taipei heard tuition fees after Brexit. Key has announced that it will award a in late June. stakeholders and education groups have certificate of excellence to institutions welcomed the UK government’s that meet new standards of mental And from the same conference: Urgent announcement that EU students health care. need to address ethics of artificial attending universities in England will intelligence. Students and researchers must be better prepared to deal with continue to pay the same fees as home Universities demand hike in EU research ethical issues in the use of big data, students in the first intake after funding. In the wake of the European robotics and artificial intelligence so that Brexit. But there has been no decision on Commission’s release of its outline for research and applications are not used how EU students in the UK will be treated the Ninth Framework Program for for nefarious purposes, including in the long-term. Research and Innovation, Horizon weapons of war. Europe, 14 European associations of Universities’ marketing is out of date, universities released a joint statement on How To Make Big Data Digestible. From says web guru. Universities have been Friday calling upon the European Union The Evollution, interview with Gesele accused of lagging behind in institutions to double the budget for Durham, Vice Provost for Institutional understanding what is happening in Horizon Europe, improve its content and Effectiveness and Director of the Office marketing for young people in the digital reconsider the budget distribution over of Assessment & Institutional Research, age, according to one of the top the different pillars of the program. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee visionaries of recent web developments.

Speaking at the annual conference of the Understanding Campus Climate With an European higher education PR and Finally, another excellent True Crime on Campus update from Paul Greatrix, App. Gauging how students feel on communication network, EUPRIO, in campus is often the job of annual campus Seville, Spain, on 4 June, Gerry Wonkhe – includes, sock theft, pigeon

6 THE INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCHER ISSUE 7/2018 climate surveys, but a research and tech company announced a new search “Vertical, horizontal and residual skills development unit at the University of feature where students can type the mismatch in the Australian graduate California, Los Angeles, wants to change name of 4-year U.S. colleges and labour market”, by Ian W Li, Mark Harris that. The unit, called BruinX and based in universities and get information and Peter J Sloane identifies the extent UCLA's office of Equity, Diversity and regarding “admissions, cost, student life and earnings consequence of Inclusion, recently developed and beta and more.” overqualified graduates in Australia. tested an app that will send a notification to students' smartphones every two Online Options Give Adults Access, but Report urges adoption of 'demand driven weeks to ask them what they're thinking, Outcomes Lag. From the U.S. - Using education'. A new report (from Pearson) how they're feeling and what they're newly available federal and state-by- repeats a familiar call for higher experiencing on campus. state data, an analyst explores states' education to better train graduates with embrace of fully online learning and the skills employers need, but also makes From The Conversation (June 22) Data whether it drives adult students' access a series of recommendations about how ethics is more than just what we do with and success. institutions can initiate such “demand data, it’s also about who’s doing it. We driven education”, which it claims will be currently have a system in which power Data-driven discrimination: a new the third wave of higher education over the judicious and ethical use of data challenge for civil society. Having reform. is overwhelmingly concentrated among recently published a report on automated white men. Research shows that the discrimination in data-driven How to boost completion rates. Experts unconscious biases that emerge from a systems, Jędrzej Niklas and Seeta Peña at the recent 2018 New York Times person’s upbringing and experiences can Gangadharan explain how algorithms Higher Ed Leaders Forum contend that be baked into technology, resulting in discriminate, why this raises concerns for most people in higher education fail to negative consequences for minority civil society organisations across Europe, recognize a crucial detail. Students need groups. and what resources and support are more than just academic interventions needed by digital rights advocates and and lower tuition, as they often lack Are You Still There? How a ‘Netflix’ anti-discrimination groups in order to access to basic goods and services Model For Advising Lost Its Luster combat this problem. necessary to thrive in college. The “Netflix for education” analogy has become somewhat of a cliché for edtech How Australian universities can get companies using student data to better at cyber security. The cyber LEARNING & TEACHING recommend anything from courses to security practices of Australian textbooks. The pitch is simple: Why universities are in the spotlight after the Financial costs deter thousands of waste time choosing, or leave it to Australian National University (ANU) masters students. More than 130,000 chance of whether a human advisor will reported it had been the target of a understand your unique situation, when Australians are undertaking one or other serious attack. Hackers – reportedly of nearly 1,200 masters by coursework an algorithm can tell what you want based in China – infiltrated ANU’s based on your academic history? degrees. But while a masters degree has networks some time last year and have become the required qualification to gain proven difficult to remove. entry to an increasing number of In Wonkhe (July 2) A new dawn across the data landscape. From the UK the launch occupations, the cost is deterring many of the Data Landscape Steering Group GRADUATE OUTCOMES students. Annual Report. This report summarises State and commonwealth education the work that has been undertaken to AND EMPLOYABILITY ministers have empowered AITSL to rationalise and standardise the data enforce initial teacher education landscape and to improve data The My eQuals roll-out is nearly standards. The Australian Institute for capabilities across the sector. complete, with 46 ANZ universities Teaching and School Leadership was expected to be on-line by August. The given seven new tasks, notably: advising Is AI disrupting higher education? From system connects university student Education Dive (June 19): When it comes state regulators on education faculties’ record systems to a node which teacher performance assessments, to the future of the workforce there are students/graduates can access to acquire developing national agreement on largely two stances on what will happen. a PDF of their academic record. Higher Some predict that vast swaths of jobs will meeting accreditation standards, Education Services, which drives the analysing the “impact” of ITE programs become obsolete as automation replaces project, says My eQuals will expand, the need for human labour; others, and advising ministers on future work to “with various new ANZ and international ensure national consistency. however, claim automation will manifest education providers expected to join slowly. Nevertheless, at a Committee for What Do Online Students Want? 3 Economic Development of The Graduates overqualified for the work Findings From a New Survey Offer Some Conference Board panel briefing about they do. Researchers from the University Clues. According to a new survey, they the Higher Education Act, Scott of Western Australia (UWA), Curtin want to conduct more of their course Pulsipher, president of Western University and Britain’s Swansea activities on their mobile phones or Governors University, said higher University found that the field of study tablets, and they’d like better career- education needs to be turned on its head. chosen was a key factor in the education- planning services. Their biggest regrets?

job mismatch, although this was greater They all relate to not having done Last Year, Google Entered the Job Search for graduates from the broader fields of enough research about the college and Space. Now, It’s Entered the College study. The research, published in the what it would cost before they enrolled. Search Space. Google is entering the journal Economic Record, entitled The survey, produced by Learning House college search space. In a blog post, the

7 THE INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCHER ISSUE 7/2018 and Aslanian Market Research, is based research in social media, engaging with are being offered the open access (OA) on responses from 1,500 past, current, open access, “if a paper is more widely crown, locking in OA contracts and article and prospective online students. available, it has more chance of being flows. But, European policy targets are cited,” attending UNSW impact adding complexity. The emergent Teaching quality- a sticky wicked workshops and asking expert staff on problem is straightforward: there problem? From the UK, Alastair profile building. appears to be no realistic path forward Robertson, Director of Teaching and that achieves the 2020 OA targets Learning Enhancement at Abertay This year, Clarivate Analytics, publishers without resulting in substantial revenue University, discusses academic quality of the Journal Citation Reports (JCR), reductions for existing publishers. enhancement as a definitive ‘wicked suppressed 20 journals, 14 for high levels problem’; “it is complex, messy, there are of self-citation and six for citation multiple factors to consider and it is very stacking — a pattern known informally as difficult to measure. Policymakers don’t a “citation cartel.” In addition, it assigned like wicked problems, for obvious an Editorial Expression of Concern to five reasons”. journals after it became aware of citation anomalies following the completion of Has teaching in higher education become the 2018 report redundant? The internet is transforming how students learn and by comparison Peer review has some problems – but the And finally, from the ‘Is this a real thing?’ students find traditional lectures boring. science community is working on it. files: Journals Mafia – this group aims to To compete, universities need to rethink There’s now considerable movement “monopolize (the) publication market”. teaching, from the way it is structured towards tweaking or even remodelling Plenty of blog sites querying whether this and what it offers to what value-addition the peer review system. Key areas of group/organisation is real – or a very it can provide to students. focus include making journal editors clever attempt to satirise predatory more directive in the process, rewarding publishing (surely the latter). reviewers, and improving accountability RESEARCH of editors, reviewers and authors.

Australian researchers increased their 'Back To Basics' Will Future-Proof REPORTS AND output by 112 per cent in the decade to Australia's R&D. In an opinion piece for RESOURCES 2016, according to the Innovative Universities Australia, QUT VC Margaret Research Universities Group. This was Sheil has called for increased investment way ahead of Australia’s competitive set, in research, lest the national effort with UK output up 49 per cent, the US 30 becomes, “the CD in the age of Spotify.” per and all of the OECD 39 per cent. However, the QUT vice chancellor also (However, China’s output was 249 per warns, at length, that spending on basic cent.). The data is released as the IRU and applied research is now undervalued. releases its submission to the House of Representative’s committee inquiry on From Nature, Six researchers share their research funding ideas for improving representation: What does it take to make an institution The New Work Reality The new Australian Code for the more diverse? Many research institutions

Responsible Conduct of Research, have made efforts to increase diversity Foundation for Young Australians 2018 (the 2018 Code) and Guide to among their administrations, faculty and (FYA) Managing Potential Breaches of the staff members and student bodies. But

Australian Code for the Responsible research shows there is work to be done The New Work Reality identifies the four Conduct of Research (the Investigation — and that the pay-off is immense. most significant factors that can Guide) demonstrate Australia’s accelerate the transition from full-time commitment to ensuring the highest From Wonkhe Open access – are we education to full-time work, including an quality research in Australia. The 2018 almost there for REF? A report published education that builds enterprise skills, Code provides a new principles-based by Research England (on behalf of the being able to undertake relevant paid approach to the responsible conduct of research councils, Jisc and Wellcome) work experience, finding paid research. shows that UK universities are working employment in a sector which is growing hard to ensure that they are compliant and an optimistic mindset. UNSW wants to lift its research with funders’ open access policies. The reputation and is offering academics support from authors, professional This report reveals that young incentives. DVC Research Nicholas Fisk is services staff and academic libraries has Australians face a number of significant telling staff that the UNSW goal, “to be a been crucial in implementing open access barriers when seeking full-time work. top 50 university” by 2025 involves and ensuring that research outputs from While nearly 60% of young Australians improving on an average of the Times UK universities are shared as widely and aged 25 hold a post-school qualification, Higher, QS and Academic Ranking of as freely as possible 50% of them are unable to secure more World Universities’ citation/publication than 35 hours of work per week. Among scores. Professor Fisk presents six “tips: Will Europe Lead a Global Flip to Open 18 to 24 year-olds looking for work, 28% for improved citation impact,” having an Access? From a distance, you might reported anxiety in the previous year and ORCID unique identifier, creating a think that journal publishers should be more than 40% said they were affected Google Scholar page, promoting celebrating their success in Europe. They by stress

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The Foundation for Young Australians has appointed as the Melbourne Accelerator Former Labor premier of Victoria John published reports since 2014. Their ‘New Program’s director. Brumby will become chancellor of La Work Series’ reports annually and has Trobe University next March. He will become a longitudinal study surveying UNSW’s engineering faculty has replace present chancellor, and former over 14,000 young people over a decade. appointed an associate dean for equity VC, Richard Larkins. and diversity. Lucy Marshall takes the job from a future fellowship in the Curtin University’s new head of the university’s school of civil and school of public health will be Rosa Alati. environmental engineering. She will move from the University of Queensland later in the year. Judyth Sachs becomes chief academic officer at online study support provider, La Trobe University has appointed Studiosity. Professor Sachs is now a Simon Evans as PVC of the College of member of Studiosity’s academic Arts, Social Sciences and Commerce. He advisory board. moves from the University of Melbourne. Measuring Success: An Innovative

Approach To Evaluating Indigenous Lisa Adkins is moving from the Juliet Gerrard is appointed the New Higher Education University of Newcastle to become head Zealand PM’s chief science advisor.

of the social and political sciences school Professor Gerrard is a biochemist at National Centre for Student Equity in at the University of Sydney. the University of Auckland. Higher Education

Chief Defence Scientist Therese Wilson is the new dean of law at A new report has called for urgent reform will be the next vice-chancellor of the Griffith University, replacing in the evaluation of Indigenous higher University of Newcastle after its current Pene Matthew. education policy and practice if student leader, Caroline McMillen, steps down in outcomes are to continue improving. November. UNSW has a new head of the School of The research, led by Professor James Information Systems and Technology Smith under a 2017 NCSEHE Equity Professor Suzanne Chambers will Management. Lemuria Carter joins from Fellowship, recommends the become dean of health at UTS in Virginia Commonwealth University. development of a performance and December. She leaves Griffith University evaluation strategy, supported by where she is Director of the Menzies Lesley Seebeck is moving to ANU as improved collaboration between Health Institute Queensland. inaugural CEO of the Cyber Institute, Indigenous leaders, government and which will address security issues at the universities. James Cook U is recruiting a DVC “intersection of people, technology,

students, who will also head its Cairns’ organisation, society, economics and ON THE MOVE campus. The appointment was security”. Also at ANU, Catherine announced in March, in the second Bridges joins the National Security executive structure in three years. The College as cyber adviser. The CRC Association reports Jennifer role is in place of two abolished DVC Kay is the new manager of the portfolios, academic-global strategy and Murray Hurps has been appointed to the cooperative research centre program in engagement. newly created role of Director of the Department of Industry, Innovation Entrepreneurship at UTS. The former and Science. Recently departed Universities Australia Fishburners CEO and Startup Muster co- chief, Belinda Robinson becomes new founder will be in charge of growing the Rod Camm is leaving the Australian chair of the Cooperative Research number of student-founded startups Council for Private Education and Centres Association. As well, she is set to coming out of UTS and helping to shape Training, which he has led since 2014. join the University of Canberra as the and drive a strategy for a vibrant startup part-time vice-president for partnerships environment around the Ultimo precinct. Gary Thomas is the University of the and strategy. Sunshine Coast’s first dean of indigenous Victoria University has appointed engagement and advancement. Johanna Lowe is confirmed as Professor Marcia Devlin as its new Professor Thomas moves from Batchelor University of Sydney director of deputy vice-chancellor and senior vice- Institute, where he was acting CEO. From marketing and communications. She has president. Devlin took up the position at 2013 to 2017 he was an associate worked in comms functions at the the start of June. Rhonda Hawkins, who professor at QUT. university for five years. filled the role temporarily, has returned to her position as a member of the is appointed to SA Premier Nicole Bunning joins consultants Nous University Council ’s economic advisory Group from QUT where she was HR council. Professor Monro is DVC director until January. Professor Warren Bebbington has been Research of the University of South appointed the new chair of the board at Australia. Michael McNally has a new term as LCI Melbourne. The former vice- National Tertiary Education Union chancellor of the University of Adelaide The University of Melbourne’s start-up Queensland secretary. (2012–17) has also spent time as the accelerator has a new boss, with director of the Victorian College of the entrepreneur Campbell Walshe Mark Gustowski is the new head of Arts. QUT’s Creative Enterprise Australia.

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Professor Patrick Parkinson is the new important to note that Caplan does not basic rules of the digital economy, he academic dean and head of school at the deny that some education provides offers a simple solution. The answer is University of Queensland’s TC Beirne socially valuable skills and knowledge – not technological but political: a choice School of Law. basic literacy or numeracy, for example. between making information Open, His claim is that, in many cases, this shared by all, or making it Closed, Willy Zwaenepoel, has started as dean benefit is small enough that education is exclusively owned and controlled. Today of engineering and IT at the University of not worth the time and resources it uses in a Closed world we find ourselves at the Sydney. His appointment, from the École up”. mercy of “digital dictators”. Rufus Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne was Pollock charts a path to a more “Open” announced in December. future that he believes works for everyone. Colm Harmon moves up at the University of Sydney, from head of the And – a bit of fun for those AFL fans … economics school to vice provost for academic performance.

Kerry Sanderson will be the next chancellor of Edith Cowan U. She replaces Hendy Cowan who is to stand- down after 14 years as chancellor. Mrs Sanderson was governor of Western Australia for nearly four years, finishing in May.

Charles Sturt University reports the Anti Social Media: How Facebook Disconnects Us and Undermines resignations of DVC Research Mary Kelly and government relations director Peter Democracy

Fraser. Footballistics. How the Data Analytics Siva Vaidhyanathan Revolution is Uncovering Footy's

The Australian Institute for Teaching and Hidden Truths School Leadership has five new directors; In Antisocial Media, Siva Vaidhyanathan Beth Blackwood, Renez Lammon, explains how Facebook devolved from an James Conventry Peter Lind, Mark Mowbray and Donna innocent social site hacked together by Pendergast. Harvard students into a force that, while Australian Rules football has been it may make personal life just a little described as the most data-rich sport on more pleasurable, makes democracy a lot Earth. Every time and everywhere an AFL BOOK REVIEWS more challenging. It's an account of the side takes to the field, it is shadowed by hubris of good intentions, a missionary an army of statisticians and number

spirit, and an ideology that sees crunchers. ABC journalist James computer code as the universal solvent Coventry, author of the acclaimed Time for all human problem and Space, has joined forces with a group of razor-sharp analysts to decipher the Barbara Fisher reviews Anti Social Media data, and to use it to question some of in Inside HigherEd football's long-held truisms.

POSITIONS VACANT

The Case Against Education: Why the Education System is a Waste of Time and Money.

Bryan Caplan

In this “explosive” book, Bryan Caplan argues that the primary function of The Open Revolution: Rewriting the education is not to enhance students' rules of the information age skill but to certify their intelligence, work ethic, and conformity-in other words, to Rufus Pollack signal the qualities of a good employee. In The Open Revolution, Pollock exposes Book review by Aveek Bhattacharya in the myths that cloud the digital debate. The LSE Review of Books who adds “it is Looking beneath the surface, into the

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workshop will rapidly enhance the hard 14-17 September 2018, Chinese LOOKING FOR SOME and soft skill sets of participants. AAIR University of Hong Kong, TRAINING AND members receive 10% discount. Hong Kong, China DEVELOPMENT? AAIR SIG Forum 2018 The international challenges of the twenty-first century place institutional development and reform at the top of See our Training and Development webpage the agenda. Organised in collaboration focused on training for institutional with the Faculty of Law of the Chinese researchers. University of Hong Kong (CUHK), the Fifth WINIR Conference will explore 26-27 July, 2018, Canberra, Australia these institutional challenges The theme for this year’s forum is:

"Politics, Planning and Performance: Good Governance Starts How?”

The 2018 Forum will be hosted by the University of Canberra and held at THE World Academic Summit Rydges Capital Hill on the edge of the parliamentary triangle, only a few 25-27 September, National University hundred metres from Parliament House. of Singapore

Higher Education Information 27th National Vocational Education Hosted by the editors of Times Higher Management System (HEIMS). and Training Research Conference ‘No Education, the global authority on Frills’ university excellence, the summit offers Visit the HEIMSHELP Training page with two full days of interview, debate and details of the training resources that are discussion, as well as networking events available to help you meet reporting and including a gala dinner, drinks reception, verification deadlines lunches and social events.

Higher Education Executive Assistants Aerial UTS Function Centre, University Intensive LOOKING FOR HIGHER of Technology Sydney EDUCATION 15 - 17 August 2018 10 - 11 October, Melbourne CONFERENCES AND In 2018, the 27th National Vocational 16 -17 October, Sydney Education and Training Research EVENTS? Conference ‘No Frills’ will be co-hosted Within an evolving and dynamic Higher with New Zealand partners, the Industry Education sector, executive support Here is a selection of upcoming events that Training Federation and Ako Aotearoa. professionals are faced with demanding may be of interest. See our Events/Fora expectations. This two-day intensive is webpage for more national and designed to equip Higher Education international events. Executive Assistants with the knowledge and practical tools to develop professional excellence and step up as an expert influencer in their organisation.

AAIR members receive 10% discount. The Higher Education Institutional Research (HEIR) Network is calling for abstracts for its HEIR Conference the Changing Landscape of Higher Education – Challenges and ATEM have released their 2018 event Opportunities for Institutional calendar 12th Higher Education Women's Research. The Conference is on 20th to Leadership Summit https://www.atem.org.au/documents/ite 21st of September 2018 in Dublin, Ireland. m/790 14th & 15th November, Rendezvous Hotel, Melbourne, Australian Financial Modelling for Higher Education Workshops The 12th Higher Education Women's Leadership Summit will provide you with 25 -26 July, Sydney the skills, strategies and technical know- More than ever, it is crucial for Higher how to transform your leadership journey and make your way to the top. Unleash Education finance professionals to create more forward looking accurate models your potential, connect with like-minded based on relevant data to provide leaders Fifth WINIR Conference professionals and kickstart your with the metrics to drive organisational leadership journey. AAIR members Institutions and the Future of Global direction. This intensive two-day Capitalism

11 THE INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCHER ISSUE 7/2018 receive 10% discount - Use booking 2014 Forum, Roni and Wendy are planning a code Q3. follow-up ‘ AAIRies from the Last Century’ dinner which will precede the upcoming 29th AAIR Forum in Melbourne. This dinner will not be part of the official 2018 AAIR Forum, so you don’t have to be registered to the main Forum to attend.

ASCILITE 2018 TEQSA Conference 2018

25-28 November 2018, Deakin 28-30 November, Grand Hyatt, Melbourne, University at their Waterfront Campus Australia in Gheringhap Street, Geelong, The theme for this year's Australia conference – Innovation, Excellence, Diversity – will explore key objects of the 35th International Conference on TEQSA Act which call for us to protect and Innovation, Practice and Research in the enhance these values in Australian higher Use of Educational Technologies in education. The additional student theme will Tertiary Education continue important discussions and

involvement of students championed at last (Pictured: AAIRies from 2014 Reunion Dinner year's conference. Registrations and call for – Past Presidents) papers now open

More information about the dinner will be ANZSSA Conference 2018 sent out to potential/interested attendees

AAIR Forum 19-21 November, and posted on the AAIR website closer to the Melbourne, Australia date.

We invite you to save the date for the Register your interest in the event 29th AAIR Annual Forum, Reflecting on the Past, Experiencing the Present, Shaping the Future. Join us this November in the trend-setting metropolis of Melbourne The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Specialists will converge on the city to discuss key issues in the sector and we 2 - 5 December 2018 encourage first timers and veteran AAIRies alike to submit an abstract and The University of Melbourne will host the be part of the concurrent sessions. Australian and New Zealand Student Services Association Inc. (ANZSSA) Discussion topics will include: Conference in December 2018. The theme, Authentic Partnerships for Quality • The Evolving Role of the Outcomes, aims to provide opportunities to Institutional Researcher learn news ways to enable students to • Justifying the Value of Higher achieve their educational and life goals Education and Research through actively working together. • Evidence Based Strategic Planning

and Implementation • Benchmarking for Continuous Quality Improvement INSTITUTIONAL • Informing Learning and Teaching RESEARCHER’S CORNER through Evaluation and Surveys • Realising Benefits - The Role of Institutional Research in Five quick questions with Transformation Projects Kerry Martin, University of • Compliance and Government Reporting Reform the Sunshine Coast

• Business Intelligence, Analytics, Visualisation and Modelling - The Save the Date – AAIRies from the Last Foundations of IR Century Dinner

18 November (prior to AAIR Forum, Melbourne)

Following on from the very successful ‘Original AAIRies’ dinner held as part of the

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While not disagreeing with the future and have one meeting a day at one of the opportunities, I am faced with a more campus coffee shops, and you should pragmatic reality relating to managing never underestimate the amount of limited resources and continuing to move business you can get done in the coffee us forward on our development path. We queue! want to continue to ensure that staff have access to the ‘right information in Connect with Kerry on LinkedIn the right format at the right time’ to be https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerry- able to do their core business and martin-34609248/ ultimately identify areas that will improve the student’s experience and success. I am continually faced with the dilemma between what’s ‘interesting’ CALL FOR and what’s ‘critical’, and with the ever- CONTRIBUTIONS increasing compliance requirements, changes to funding and the opening of What is your job title? new campuses, the ‘interesting’ part Issue 8, August 2018 tends to fall to the bottom of the priority A great way to get involved with the Director, Strategic Information & list. When determining new priorities or AAIR community is to share your Analysis Unit at the University of the developments for our Unit, I constantly thoughts and ideas. Do you have Sunshine Coast, and a member of the ask our clients to focus on purpose: something you would like to share with AAIR Executive Committee. • What will you do with this your IR colleagues? The next AAIR information/analysis? Newsletter will be published in late July Briefly, how would you describe your • What action will you take when you 2018. Please send your contributions to role in terms of your place in your have this information? the [email protected] by August 10, institution? • Is the information aligned with a 2018. key improvement strategy? Our Unit currently reports to the Deputy • If so, how will you measure its A reminder about the organisations’ Vice-Chancellor (Academic). The work success? social media links to keep you up-to- that we engage in involves building and date and in touch with all the latest maintaining relationships with all What do you believe will be the future news and events. members of the executive and senior priorities for institutional research? staff to ensure that we remain abreast of and inform key university initiatives, Skilled staff, particularly those with changing priorities and pain points. strong skills in critical analysis. I have Creating strong relationships with key recently read Stephen Few’s presentation staff is such a critical part of my role, as it from the Higher Education Data provides insight into how we can best Warehousing Forum (HEDW) held in April support initiatives, and how we can 2018 in Oregon State University, USA, ‘value-add’ to continue to support and much of what he said resonated with AAIR on Twitter @AAIRaustralasia effective decision making. I am involved me. With all the new technologies and in a range of committees, working systems that are available to provide groups, advisory groups, project steering data, information and analysis, the value groups, and other ad-hoc meetings…not can only be realised when it includes the sure I am ever actually at my desk! ‘people’ component. The knowledge and I spend a lot of time talking to groups of insight that is added by people who have staff or individuals about what we do, the context and the institutional about the power of accessing data, and experience creates the true value. how it can assist in effective decision Surround yourself with great staff! making. Complete this statement: In my role, I can’t operate effectively without … From your perspective, what are the emerging areas of interest in Tracy Creagh …great people! The relationships that institutional research? Editor, The Institutional Researcher you build within your team (and I have a This is an interesting question and one great team!) and within your university we often have to manage internally are paramount to success. These around expectations. There are staff in relationships help you stay in the loop, the institution who are very committed make it easier to have the tough to technology advances and are keen to conversations, and make work way more discuss big data, machine learning etc., enjoyable . Having a wonderful how we need to move into these areas, network of colleagues external to your and how amazing it will be for the university is also critical, as the sharing of University. information and advice is extremely valuable…and is often a good leveller to ensure that you aren’t going crazy! I try