AAIR Newsletter June 2017 2017 AAIR SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP (SIG) FORUM OUR PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT PREVIEW THE UPCOMING AAIR SIG FORUM IN LATE JULY PAGE 2 DOUBLE TROUBLE: LATEST INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCHER’S BOOK REVIEWS MUSINGS FROM THE PRESIDENT CORNER PLUS … A WIDE RANGE OF AND VICE PRESIDENT. PAGE 2 FIVE QUICK QUESTIONS WITH: INTERSTING REPORTS AND NEW DR ANNE STATHAM, QUEENSLAND PUBLICATIONS THIS MONTH. SEE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY PAGE 6-8 PAGE 10 2 THE INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCHER ISSUE 6/2017 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 and VICE PRESIDENT Let’s get networking – it is To entice you even more, I will now hand The dinner on the Wednesday night will worth it! over to Don Johnston, our hardworking be held at the wonderful Curzon Hall (an Vice President, to give you some details iconic sandstone castle located close to I am definitely not going to get all about our theme, the action packed Macquarie University). There will also be political on you again, but I can’t help but program we have prepared for you, and some casual drinks on the Tuesday night confirm that the recent budget here in the social activities we have in store at (before the formal proceedings New Zealand did virtually nothing for the this year’s AAIR SIG Forum. commence on the Wednesday), to tertiary sector, as I suggested last month. provide an opportunity for new attendees to meet other delegates, as That may be a bit unfair as we did get a one per cent increase in per-student well as offering a great opportunity for funding, but that was after years—I think Thanks Kathie. Our theme this year, you to start networking with colleagues almost eight—of no funding increases Creating Connections & Exploring from around Australasia who do similar across the board, or cost of living Possibilities, offers you the chance to work to you. adjustments! So, I will be grateful for spend time connecting with your The full program will be available shortly, about two minutes and then get on with colleagues and making some new and so be sure to check the AAIR SIG Forum it. I do however despair for my Australian valuable connections. You can discover website for more information and to colleagues and what it looks like they will new ideas in your field of expertise, register. be going through for a while yet in terms explore some of the innovative changes that are taking place in this space, as well of reforms and funding. as indulge in interesting projects. Now, on to more important things… We are also very excited to have Peter Kathie Rabel One of the more significant events in the O’Donnell (Monash University) and AAIR President and Don Johnston AAIR calendar each year is the AAIR SIG Monica Ikladios (Toyota) as our two AAIR Vice President Forum, which this year is being held at keynote speakers this year. It’s wonderful Macquarie University in Sydney. If you to have an industry speaker who can haven’t attended an event like this, I can offer you a perspective on institutional assure you that it is worthwhile, research from outside the higher particularly for the practitioner-oriented education sector. We also have a number nature of the presentations, and the of quality presentations scheduled across networking opportunities and exchanges the two days (26–27 July), which will that go on as part of the event. I would cover areas such as data analytics, urge all of you to consider attending and business intelligence, data warehousing, taking a colleague along if you can. surveys, student feedback, load planning Registrations are open, and the theme and government reporting. So, it is this year is, Creating Connections & expected to be a full and informative Exploring Possibilities. program. 3 THE INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCHER ISSUE 6/2017 organisations around Australia, entered SECTOR NEWS AND voluntary receivership in late May after it VIEWS was refused access to the new VET Student Loan scheme earlier this year. EDITORIAL Post Australian Budget Increased regulatory powers have also been announced to veto unscrupulous Perhaps the most universally positive vocational education providers accessing outcome from the Australian Higher both higher education and international Education Reform Package (announced Welcome to the June 2017 edition education. The Education Legislation just prior to the Budget) was the of The Institutional Researcher Amendment (Provider Integrity & Other commitment to retain the Higher Measures) Bill 2017, which incorporates Education Participation and Partnership The AAIR SIG Forum in July is not changes to the ESOS, TEQSA and HESA Programme (HEPPP). Subsequently, the far away! Make sure to check out Acts is now before Australia’s House of HEPPP Evaluation Report was made Representatives. the forum’s page for details of available (see ‘Reports and Resources’) what exciting programs to expect which identified 2679 HEPP The federal government has announced a for the two days (26-27 July)! projects across 37 universities, review of the legislation underpinning engaging 310,000 students between 2010 the national training regulator, Australia The buzzword this month is still and 2015. Some 40% plus of programs Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), which budget, budget, budget! and funding supported low Socio- will be led by Valerie Braithwaite, Universities across Australia had Economic Status (SES) students starting, Professor of Regulatory Studies in the a busy start in June putting in studying, and completing university. Regulatory Institutions Network at the submissions to the Senate Close to 20% of funding was allocated to Australian National University. Education and Employment work with students who are Legislation Committee on the both Indigenous and from low SES Other news … Higher Education Reform backgrounds. Universities Australia Package. The full report will be endorsed the program further and Queensland University of Technology's released on 9 August 2017. commended the current government on Caboolture campus will be transferred to adopting the key recommendations. the University of the Sunshine Coast Also, don’t miss our summary of (USC) by next year. The transfer comes the New Zealand Budget which Until now, university enabling programs after an announcement last year that USC was announced on 25 May 2017. have been subsidised by the government would build a full campus in the nearby - and are therefore free for students. Petrie area. USC Vice Chancellor Greg Hill The other word of month is of Announced in the higher education said the university would expand the course, phigital. Read on to find reform package, a new plan will shift the educational platform established by QUT at Caboolture. out what it means! cost to students which may deter some students and potentially affect who is We recognise there is a significant able to access higher education. The Australian Government has released the Higher Education Standards Panel’s focus on Australian news and Many Australian universities may be in discussion paper on Improving content but are mindful of all surplus, but does that mean there’s fat to Completion, Retention and Success in Australasian members, cut? Mark Warburton from the LH Martin Higher Education and has invited particularly our New Zealand Institute reacted to the proposed 2.5% submissions to this consultation process. members. Please don’t hesitate efficiency dividend (HE Reform Package) The Chair of the Panel, Professor Peter to make contact with us if you and notes that while it might be correct Shergold said: ““There are two things that have a significant news item or that many universities are in surplus this we lack very significantly: an activity in your region you wish to is not the same thing as a profit. understanding of why people at a share - or would like covered in personal level are leaving and whether, The Regional Universities Network (RUN) indeed, this is a good thing or a bad thing. future issues. has formally opposed the proposed Universities are very bad at doing reforms to higher education noting that And finally, Dr Anne Statham effective exit interviews or follow-up…We the changes will disproportionately hurt need a much more detailed from Queensland University of regional universities. Innovative understanding about whether people are Technology (QUT) is in the Research Universities (IRU) have also making career passports for themselves Institutional Researcher’s Corner opposed the reforms and have made a or wasting the investment they have this month with her responses to formal submission to the Senate made and the government has made on our five quick questions. Education Committee. their behalf.” Vocational education Australia has bolstered its popularity as a Happy Reading! One of Australia’s largest education and world class education destination training provider groups has suspended with new data showing international Tracy and Monica operations, affecting some 15,000 student numbers jumped up by 15% in domestic and international students and the first three months of this year 1,000 staff. Careers Australia Group, compared to 2016. Minister for Education and Training Simon which operated 11 education 4 THE INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCHER ISSUE 6/2017 Birmingham said the surging international Universities New Zealand Chair, Argentina, Iran and the Czech Republic) student numbers came on top of growth Professor Stuart McCutcheon, has experienced the greatest falls in of around 10.5% since the Coalition welcomed the increases to research resourcing. Chris Whelan, Executive government came to power in 2013. funding, acknowledging the additional Director of Universities New Zealand, funding for the PBRF and the Endeavour says the ranking is a great reflection of a However, in University World News Bob fund.