Policy, Management & People

1. Skills Crisis The NZ Herald has several stories on what it call the “skills crisis”, including how training isn’t matching industry demand, a software engineering firm that can’t find suitable grads, and Steven Joyce threatening to force Auckland to take more engineering students.
   
2. Student Allowance About 5000 university students will be affected by changes to the student allowance scheme next year.
3. Art Commission Students unhappy about decision by Dunedin School of Art to raise commission on works sold at end-of-year exhibition from 20% to 25%.
4. SSI Dean Minchington appointed head of new Service Skills Institute (SSI) - the service sector ITO.
5. Merger The Board of Opportunity Training has agreed to merge Opportunity ITO with The Skills Organisation.
6. New Staff Former diplomat Michael O’Shaughnessy appointed Massey’s new international relations director.
7. Ko Matakerepo Tairawhiti Health Learning Centre has been officially opened in Gisborne.
8. Extras: Otago Uni reducing fraud risk after theft; Tariana Turia says education providers should cultivate community links; NZ India Research Institute to strengthen ties.

Research & Innovation

1. NRCGD Researchers funded by the National Research Centre for Growth and Development (NRCGD) to meet in Palmerston North.
2. Breast Cancer Otago Uni’s Ben Hudson says many overestimate the effect of breast cancer screening and other preventative medicine.
3. Hormones Waikato’s Pawel Olszewski investigating links between forming bonds and sharing food.
4. Coping Otago Uni’s Virginia McIntosh needs ‘good copers’ for a study on how people cope with difficult experience.
5. Ancient People Otago Uni’s Nancy Beavan investigating mysterious ancient people of Cambodia.
6. Obesity Auckland to lead new international network monitoring obesity worldwide.
7. Extras: more on Auckland’s green growth report; Massey survey on binge drinking (ODT, NZ Herald, BOP Times); Waikato’s Dai Morgan on morepork census; Auckland’s Mark Costello on marine species.

Public Issues

1. Workplace Prejudice Victoria’s Deborah Jones on a recent case of prejudice against a homosexual in the workplace (Fairfax).
2. Solid Energy Auckland’s Prof Klaus Bosselman is critical of Solid Energy’s sponsorship of the NZSO.
3. Morality Waikato’s Carolyn Costley says being good is about respect, not following fixed rules.
4. Extras: Massey student on fostering innovation; Otago Uni’s Prof John Drummond on Maurice Till; Otago Uni’s Martin Pollock on Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD); Otago Uni’s Robert Patman on the Gaza conflict; Auckland’s Bodo Lang on social media for businesses; Otago Uni’s Nicholas Khoo on China’s leadership change.

Stakeholders

1. Apprenticeships Waikato tradesman Aaron Rink says workplace training schemes key to raising the calibre of staff.
2. Indian Business Waikato is hosting the India-New Zealand Business Forum.
3. Open Day NorthTec’s Transitions Day invites students onto campus.
4. Extras: Victoria hosting conference on labour, employment and work; Lisa Carrington wins supreme award at Waiariki’s BOP Sports Awards (Daily Post); Waikato’s Linda Tuhiwai Smith on constitutional review panel; NZUSA President now an ambassador for the White Ribbon campaign; Victoria’s Deborah Jones to host employment forum.

Teaching & Learning

1. ESITO Excellence Northpower employees win at Electricity Supply Industry Training Organisation (ESITO) Excellence Awards.
   
2. Capitol Hill Two Victoria politics students to intern for US Congress in Washington D.C.
   
3. Racing Car Waikato engineering students have designed a car to race in Australia next month.
   
4. Carving Tai Poutini jade and hard stone carving students to show work at Greymouth Jade exhibition.
   
5. Extras: interview with AUT fashion student; Auckland drama students start theatre group; Residential College Chef of the Year comp held at Otago Uni; Unitec’s Gradfest begins; Maori trades training students compete in front of Prince Charles; Auckland students among PM Pacific Youth Award winners; HITO Awards winners announced; EIT fashion show; Auckland student among winners at AAA Unbuilt Architecture Awards; Digital Exposure 2012 to showcase work by Massey design grads; MIT baking student showcase; NorthTec art student exhibitions across region.