AUCHMUTY UBAAAY Arc~:V"< I .r ~o;.; 216 Column Apriledition Editorial enquiries and ., contributions should be directed to the Editor, Uninews, Marketing and Media Services, phone: (02) 4956 1869 or 0412 128727, A National Day of Action email: [email protected] was held on the Callaghan Uninews accepts display Campus on 22 March 2000. The advertisements at the following event was sponsored by the rates: National Union of Students and 114 page $100 coordinated locally by NUSA, and 1/2 page $200 was very successful in highlighting Full page $800 the strong views of this group of Classified advertisements students in seeking a return to fully (non-staft) in the Etcetera section­ publicly funded university $2 per line. education in Australia. Enquiries regarding display We are all aware ofthe ever­ advertisements and design services changing policies of federal - Jacky Kuzmanovski, phone: governments on both sides of the ext 5594. political fence towards higher Classified advertisements and education. It was a conservative other contributions for Etcetera government under Menzies in the should be sent to Rose Roohan, 1960's that recognised university phone: ext 6463, email: education as a national priority [email protected]. and provided operating grants The introduction of higher international project opportunities, directly to universities, even and differential HECS fees by the although we still see some 2000Scheduie though nearly all of them at that Coalition Government in 1996, difficulties ahead. Deadline Circulation time (and currently) were during a period of Federal A strong bipartisan approach May 4 May 22 administered under State Government expenditure on the part of Federal June 8 June 26 legislation. During the Whitlam reduction, has taken this modest Governments and Oppositions July 13 July 31 'era' in the early 1970's, tuition 1989 scheme to a much higher towards the enhancement of our August 17 September 4 fees paid by students were level offees for university higher education, research and September 21 October 9 removed and the system operated students, such that they are now research training, and services to October 26 November 13 under a 'free' (i.e. funded by the comparable to fees for a number of governments, business and November 30 December 18 Australian taxpayers overall) US State based universities. In industry worldwide would be the higher education environment. addition, the 'cutbacks' to higher wisest course of action. This Publisher Fran Flavel This policy continued with education funding at six percent requires a significant quality Editor Kim Britton bipartisan support for some time, spread over 1997-2000 have had a enhancement of operating grant Writers Kim Britton although funding cuts along the significant impact on available funding and major additional Karla McCormack way provided significant funds to support core activities in investment in research and Katie Porrit challenges for universities. In the teaching, research and research development funding and in Cae Pattison late 1980's, the Hawke training, and in service. I think support for further research Photography John Freund government, during a period of that we are all aware that class and training and related scholarships. Chris Paterson major transfonnation of the tutorial sizes have increased in a Our students can clearly see Wendy Sansom Australian university system under number of academic areas by as an agenda of increasing tuition Designer Tim Bums Federal Education Minister John much as 50 percent, at a time fees via HECS with returns to the DIp Kim Britton Dawkins, introduced a new system when reductions in funded Federal Government now of user pays called HECS or the positions within faculties and approaching a quarter of annual Cover - Wayne Stuart's pianos go Higher Education Contribution other divisions of the University outlays, a decline in operating from strength to strength. An event Scheme. This was seen at the time were introduced. The University grant funding for Australian at the Sydney Opera House last as an innovative and equitable has managed this situation universities, and no additional month celebrated the latest Stuart means of introducing 'user pays', extremely well, in my view, and funding for research and grand pianos and the enterprise providing for no 'up front' fees has moved strategically to expand development through the ARC. shown in creating them. Story and with repayments being made in key areas of coursework I think the students have a pages 10 and 11. by students or graduates when they postgraduate, research justifiable and supportable case could afford to pay, based on postgraduate and international and their arguments should be annual taxable income. student enrolments and taken very seriously by all of us. Page 2 UNINEWS Outstanding graduates honoured Two Newcastle graduates parliament and parliamentary staff were honoured at the 2000 overseas," the Vice-Chancellor Convocation Annual Awards said. Dinner in March for their Mr Harris is a leader in professional excellence and reforming the administration of the innovation and creativity in a House of Representatives chosen field. Department, focusing on increasing Geoffrey Leonard, who was efficiency while encouraging work presented with the Newton-101m practices that recognise and build Award, co-founded Hospitals of family values. Australia Limited, now known as Also receiving recognition at HealthCare of Australia, the the Convocation dinner will be six largest private hospital and health final year students selected for their care group in the Southern outstanding perfonnance and Hemisphere. contributions during their final year "Geoffrey Leonard is an of study. They were: outstanding contributor to the Jane Bernard - Architecture, community, particularly in his Building and Design Above: Chancellor Ric Charlton (left), Vice-Chancellor Roger Holmes and the achievements in the private Emma Travis - Arts and Social Warden of Convocation Jill Scott, pictured at the Convocation Dinner with hospital and health care area and Science award-winning students (from left) Emma Travis, Tally Dewan, Chad Kentwell in his contributions to the Tally Dewan - Economics and and Kathryn Butler University as a Board member and Commerce Below right: Newton-John Award winner Geoffrey Leonard with his wife Ruth Deputy Chair of the TUNRA Chad Kentwell - Education and children Steven and Fiona Board, and Chairman of the Timothy Constable - Newton-John Below left: Convocation Medalist Ian Harris and wife Erika Hunter Medical Research Board," Memorial Music Prize Vice Chancellor Professor Roger Kathryn Butler - Newton-John Holmes said. Memorial Gennan Prize. Also honoured was the winner of the Convocation Medal for Professional Excellence, Ian Harris, who serves as Clerk of the House of Representatives and has, since 1977, provided advice concerning parliamentary law and practice to the Government and the Opposition. "Because of his experience '""'''''' " ~4l!it~.~·'_· and expertise, Mr Harris has been ,~,::- recognised internationally and has been called upon on numerous '--,..-.:", occasions to train members of Most satisfied graduates in Australia The University's general graduates in 10 areas: Architecture, standard of courses offered in courses delivered at the University, engineering course has been rated Banking and Finance, Building, Australia is very high. identifying specific areas where we the best of its kind for the third Chemical Engineering, General "To achieve above the can make further lifts in quality." consecutive year in the latest Engineering, Geography, Industrial national average satisfaction rate The good results are shared survey from the Graduate Careers Relations, Nutrition and Dietetics, in several courses, such as right across the University with 23 Council of Australia. Speech Pathology and Initial building and chemical different fields of study registering The national survey indicates Teacher Education (Special engineering, is extremely improved ratings over the past that Newcastle graduates were the Education). pleasing," Professor Holmes said. three years. most satisfied of all Australian The Vice-Chancellor "The results underline the commented that the overall continuous improvement of UNINEWS Page 3 HUllter Water sponsorship renewed class researchers in a variety of Hunter Water Corporation world problems and issues to to the Newcastle region. fields," David said. "Hunter Water has signed a new five-year environmental engineering They have just commenced a believes there is significant benefit sponsorship agreement with the students as part of their education. major three-year research project to the company - and through it, university as an ongoing "This ensures they will have a on how to sustainably manage the the community - in being able to collaboration in research and better knowledge of what is Tomago groundwater resource. utilise this rich intellectual student training. affecting the water industry, and This project is in collaboration resource. " Hunter Water will sponsor can tailor their studies to help with Hunter Water and the "At the same time, Hunter the Chair of Environmental address those issues." Department of Land and Water Water can provide a valuable Engineering for a further five In the first five years of the Conservation, and is supported by industry perspective to years, continuing an agreement sponsorship, Jetse and his the Australian Research Council. complement the university's struck