This issue 2 MATES 3 Courses and Careers 4 Something fishy University of Auckland news for staff | Vol 41 | Issue 15| 9 September WORLD CUP FOLLIES It’s not just rugby fans who are gearing up for base for our activities that will ‘open up’ with a “gaining a significantly more informed sense of the Rugby World Cup. variety of interdisciplinary surprises designed to studio practice, beyond what working in Students from NICAI are using the Cup as the animate the walk from downtown to the conventional theatre contexts can bring”; and inspiration for creativity and scholarship. stadium,” says Uwe. sonic art postgraduates are experimenting with A number of respected practitioners, including “morphing everyday sounds into something that NICAI Architecture students are collaborating Sue Hillery, Mike O’Sullivan and Graham is quite different”. with Dance, Music and Fine Arts students to Burgess, are taking time from their busy Ultimately, says Uwe, Auckland’s Fan Trail create architectural installations and events that schedules to oversee the Fan Trail studio. Uwe project enables the University to be “an active will feature as part of Auckland’s Fan Trail – the says from a curriculum perspective, the project is part of the discussion within the creative scene. walking route from Britomart to Eden Park academically rigorous. We are not working behind closed doors; we are stadium. “Students are discovering there is a big a vibrant and visible part of the community.” Located in Myers Park, the installations are difference between on-paper designs and actual For a full timetable of games between 9 inspired by the theme of “Jack in a box”. They construction. This is also an exercise in project September and 23 October see: edenpark. are large-scale, architectural box “follies” that management that includes legal, financial and co.nz/rwc-2011/rwc-information/ will open to release surprises in movement and timeline issues. And it’s an exercise in teamwork. dance, sound and sonic arts, and visual arts. The This is the future of architecture: teams working park will come alive during the three hours across disciplines.” before kick-off on each Eden Park match day. Associate Professor Uwe Rieger, School of While Architecture students are taking the For Uwe Rieger, Associate Professor of Architecture and Planning, with Architecture lead in the Fan Trail project, NICAI’s Dance, students from left to right: Jaime (Ting Yan) Kwan, Architecture in the School of Architecture and Music and Fine Arts students are also working Dian (Jiayin) Tang, Lisa (Yuan Xing) Liu and Pruek Planning, participation in Auckland’s Fan Trail Lertsrimongkol testing a prototype for their Myers hard to create an innovative experience for fans offers a chance to showcase NICAI’s creative Park installation. The group is working with sound heading to the match. excellence to national and international students from the School of Music to create According to those involved, Elam students umbrella installations that will be “animated” with audiences. are using the project to “form a dialogue” with sound and lighting effects. “Six large shipping containers will form the the architectural follies; Dance students are Photo by Dean Carruthers. UNIVERSITY NEWS IS PUBLISHED BY Communications and Marketing, Fisher Building,18 Waterloo Quadrant, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142. EMAIL [email protected] www.auckland.ac.nz/universitynews EDITOR Tess Redgrave PHOTOGRAPHY Godfrey Boehnke DESIGN AND PRODUCTION The University of Auckland From the Vice-Chancellor Good mates It has become apparent to me in recent weeks that there is a poor understanding amongst many staff about the current employment negotiations with the Tertiary The achievements of MATES, the Mentoring philanthropic and government support required Education Union. This has led, amongst other and Tutoring Education Scheme run by the to continue MATES indefinitely has eluded us and things, to some quite extraordinary rumours University in partnership with Great Potentials, we are under pressure to direct our limited about what my intentions might be. formerly The Pacific Foundation, were resources towards the recruitment of students One of these is that I plan to do away with celebrated at a function on 15 August from underrepresented groups. Research and Study Leave (R&SL). Leaving “The aim of MATES was to raise the “As we look to the future, The University of aside the fact that I have said publicly – to aspirations of secondary school students towards Auckland will continue to work with schools to union representatives in December last year, in tertiary study,” the Vice-Chancellor, Professor promote pathways to university study for Mäori a letter to non-union staff earlier this year, and Stuart McCutcheon told the gathering at the and Pacific Island students. in an All-Staff email on 11 April – that I have Gus Fisher Gallery. “The evaluation conducted no such intention, that suggestion is plainly Pictured from left: Rennie Douglas, BHSc student and each year shows that students do benefit from coordinator in the MATES programme; Ken Rapson, ridiculous. It is just about the last thing anyone this kind of involvement with a tertiary Director of The Schools Partnership Office; Tanya Heti, would do in a University such as ours which institution and 90 percent each year moved on MATES Project Leader; Angus Fletcher, Chairman of seeks to build strong international research the Great Potentials Board; Lesley Max, CEO of Great to tertiary study, approximately 50 percent at relationships. Which of course is why, in recent Potentials; Professor Stuart McCutcheon; Kalesiana The University of Auckland. Buliruarua, BHSc/LLB student, former MATES Mentee, years, we have actually increased the level of “Regrettably, however, the level of MATES Mentor. support provided for this type of leave. Likewise the rumour that I plan to prevent staff doing outside work on University time. Although the Policy on Outside Work is relevant to fewer staff than is R&SL, engagement with external bodies is important University on show during Cup in professional faculties and Deans certify to The University is stepping up promotion of its me each year that staff are permitted to • The interfaculty rugby being held on 24 offerings as part of the Rugby World Cup engage in outside work on University time only September at Colin Maiden Park along with a tournament. where it does not impede their performance as game pitting veteran French players against a University academics. The Cup is a unique opportunity to showcase team of Auckland University Rugby Football In any event, the right to apply for R&SL or to a large and influential audience the Club veterans. This ties in with a French to do outside work will remain in the contribution we make to New Zealand and the Festival being held the same day and the All employment agreement and so would not be world. To this end the University is engaging Blacks versus France pool match at Eden Park affected by my proposals to transfer the with business, current and potential donors, and that evening. policies from the employment agreement to the parents of potential students. • The John Drake Memorial Scholarship dinner the University Policy Framework. Our outreach also demonstrates to for up to 750 people on 11 October which will My email to all staff in April also explained government and local government our role in reunite the remaining 1987 All Blacks for the that the main advantage I see in changing making New Zealand globally relevant. At the first time since they won the inaugural Rugby policies is the ability to give staff clearer same time staff and students are invited to take World Cup. The scholarship honouring the guidelines about expectations in relation to part in and enjoy events with a University late John Drake is awarded annually to an appointment, continuation and promotions. flavour. Staff can register their interest at: www. outstanding all-around school leaver enrolling That point seems to have been lost in the auckland.ac.nz/rugby-events. at The University of Auckland. rumour mill too. And so, if you would like to • A panel discussion on the evening of 18 Examples of the University’s involvement are: know more about the background to my offer October led by Kevin Roberts, CEO Worldwide • The Cloud at Queens Wharf where footage – one which has already been accepted by of Saatchi & Saatchi and Honorary Professor of INRO and PowerbyProxi, two University 1200 academics – I invite you to view an of Innovation and Creativity at the Business spinout companies, will be shown on huge interview on the issue at http://bit.ly/ School; George Foster, Professor of plasma screens. This and other imagery vcnegotiations I hope you will find that Management at Stanford Graduate School of including Charlie, our medi-robot, will explanation of the current situation helpful. Business; Farah Palmer, a former Black Fern; demonstrate the University’s contribution to Dr Kerry Spackman, author of The Winner's New Zealand’s entrepreneurial and Bible and Murray Mexted, former All Black. innovative thinking. PowerbyProxi will also feature on CNBC Asia as one of this country’s “global game changers”. 2 9 September 2011 an early start to fly to Auckland and they appreciate the chance to fortify themselves for the busy programme ahead while mingling with others from afar. "It's a nice way for them to start the day," says Sue Heggie, Manager, Student Recruitment and Course Advice at the Schools Partnership Office who instigated it. "They meet staff and get a feel for the University.” The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Stuart McCutcheon, and the Director of Administration, Adrienne Cleland, were among senior figures at the breakfast on 27 August. Hearty breakfast welcomes visitors Twenty-six pupils from Gisborne Girls’ High School were there.