Policy, Management & People

1. Resignation Aoraki’s chief exec Kay Nelson has resigned after almost four years in the role.
2. Canterbury Campus Bob Parker wants the Canterbury campus to be moved into the city centre (Yahoo, Fairfax, Radio NZ), but David Farrar of Kiwiblog is dismissive. John Key has rejected suggestions of a combined Higher Education campus in Christchurch and says moving the Canterbury campus is too expensive. We think it’s just a plain dopey idea – why rebuild the unis on a site that is less stable and will be more costly to develop foundations?
3. Moocs “Massive Open Online Courses” (Moocs) are discussed at conference.
4. Prison Programme A UCOL-run Manawatu Prison education programme has received a last-minute funding reprieve from the TEC.
5. Extras: UCOL celebrates success of Youth Guarantee Scheme; NZ School of Business and Government denies immigration wrongdoing.

Research & Innovation

1. Newspaper Bias Massey’s Claire Robinson says NZ’s top newspapers showed substantial bias toward John Key before the last election (Newstalk ZB, Radio NZ). The PM is unconvinced but Phil Goff is disappointed.
2. Sentencing Canterbury’s Andrea Menclova says fines for employers of staff injured on the job have doubled since the MBIE appealed three sentences in 2008 (NZ Herald).
3. NZ Defence Force Canterbury’s Susie Koo says the Defence Force could attract engineering students by offering summer employment.
4. Stem Cells Auckland’s Prof Charles McGhee says adult stem cells will be used to grow corneal implants in the future (NZ Herald).
5. Project Energize AUT’s Prof Elaine Rush and Otago Uni’s Prof Julian Crane on the ‘Project Energize’ project that seems to be reducing asthma in Waikato schools.
6. Extras: AUT’s Merja Myllylahti on media ownership in NZ; Auckland’s Gehan Gunasekara on franchising regulation.

Public Issues

1. 100% Pure John Key has dismissed Mike Joy’s criticism of the 100% Pure slogan (3 News, Fairfax), but the Association of Scientists is standing behind him and so does this opinion piece.
2. Pork Farming Massey’s Eric Neumann says pig farmers already face pressure from imported pork.
3. Rua Kenana Massey’s Prof Taiarahia Black on the portrait of Maori land activist Rua Kenana gifted to the Ngai Tuhoe tribe.
4. Taliban Otago Uni’s Prof Robert Patman on the death of Taliban warlord Abdullah Kalta.
5. Extras: AUT’s Prof Grant Schofield on getting enough exercise.

Students

1. LiHong He Former students of the Otago Uni lecturer killed in a cycling accident  have raised nearly $10,000 for his family.
2. NZ’s Got Talent A Canterbury student has made it to the grand final of New Zealand’s Got Talent.

Stakeholders

1. Gym Award AUT’s Nigel Harris has judged Alpine Health & Fitness the medium-sized Club of the Year.
2. Glassblowing Waikato’s Steve Newcombe wins three of four awards at annual Glassblowing Symposium.
3. Service Delivery Centre Unitec (we said AUT by mistake earlier) will partner with IBM to open a service delivery centre following a successful Australian model.
4. Honorary Doctorates Waikato, Massey, and Victoria give honorary doctorates to former squash champion Susan Devoy (NZ Herald, Yahoo), social work pioneer Merv Hancock and leading designer Peter Haythornthwaite (Idealog), respectively.
5. Rakatahi Awards Māori intermediate and secondary school students were recognised for their outstanding achievements at CPIT’s annual Rakatahi Supreme Awards.
6. South Island Buses Canterbury is partnering with Kiwi Experience offering accommodation as part of the bus company’s South Island package deals.
7. Christchurch Rebuild CPIT architecture, carpentry, and painting and decorating students have been helping with various projects in the city centre.
8. Extras: Canterbury security team searched for stolen artwork; Massey’s Prof Ralph Sims key speaker at electric vehicle symposia.

Teaching & Learning

1. Engineering Massey engineering students will represent NZ at the Engineers Without Borders Challenge.
2. Working Chefs… can now upskill by taking just one day off, with MIT to offer a unique National Certificate in Hospitality and Basic Cookery to those already in employment.
3. Extras: Massey students present innovative food products; Whitireia celebrating 10^th anniversary of Paramedic degree.