I enjoyed meeting NZUSA and ITI people this week – always nice to get out of the office and meet some people doing interetsing stuff, Dave

Policy, Management & People

1. Avonmore…is back in the Christchurch CBD. Hopefully their new site helps them build up their students again.
2. Union Meeting The TEU’s president Sandra Grey has invited Steven Joyce to meet and discuss tertiary issues, but is yet to receive a reply.
   
3. Tertiary Trends The MOE has released Profile & Trends 2011, while the NZUSA has released its own set of trends based on OIA requests.
   
4. Court Case Otago Uni’s insurance payout for its Christchurch campus could be affected by a pending High Court case.
   
5. Elections Ian McKinnon has been re-elected as Chancellor of Victoria by the University Council, and TEU elections will open next week and run through until the end of January.
   
6. Extras: Maori student association supports TEC decision on Victoria fees; TEU among unions partnering with It’s Not OK on family violence campaign; AUT TEU members are voting on a new collective agreement; Massey’s website re-design to launch on Tuesday.

Research & Innovation

1. Clinical Governance An Otago Uni report on clinical governance (Fairfax, Radio NZ) has been launched by Tony Ryall.
2. Young Researcher A St Cuthbert’s College student won the PM’s Future Scientist Award for her work with Auckland researchers on myopia.
3. Asthma The Global Asthma Network (GAN) has been launched at Auckland.
4. Milk Auckland’s Cliona Ni Mhurchu says the Fonterra Milk for Schools programme has increased milk consumption of Northland kids.
5. Maori and Pasifika Researchers from Auckland’s Success for All project recognised for study on Maori and Pasifika tertiary success.
6. Genetic Diversity Otago Uni’s Prof Lisa Matisoo-Smith to study genetic diversity of NZ population.
7. Te Reo Maori A Massey student will trace Te Reo Maori among teenage speakers to track the language’s survival.
8. Volcanoes Victoria’s Prof Colin Wilson will be studying supervolcanoes like Lake Taupo for the next two years.
   
9. Extras: Canterbury student engineer developing emergency communications system; Otago Uni report shows favourable attitude to safe sex; Massey’s Suraya Dewing has launched digital publisher The Story Mint; Auckland studies show shellfish may not have recovered to sustainable levels.

Public Issues

1. Waterfront Hotel A joint submission from Otago Uni’s geography and applied sciences depts says consent should be declined for a $100 million hotel proposal.
2. Auckland Weather Victoria’s James Renwick on the random nature of tornadoes, and Canterbury’s Marwan Katurji on the west coast climate (Fairfax, Science Media Centre, Sciblogs).
3. Exemplary Damages Auckland’s Prof Bill Hodge on the high threshold required for exemplary damages.
4. Christchurch Education Canterbury’s Lindsey Conner says Christchurch could be an “education magnet” if managed correctly.
5. Cow Deaths Massey’s Richard Laven says nitrate poisoning may be responsible for sudden death of 120 cows.
6. Burger King Massey’s Jane Coad says Iain Lees-Galloway’s opening of a Burger King franchise is inconsistent with his role as Labour’s associate health spokesman.

Students

1. Food Parcels OUSA president-elect Francisco Hernandez says a spike in Otago Uni students seeking food parcels indicates they are struggling financially.
2. Uni Blues The NZ University Blues have been awarded at Massey, with rower Hamish Bond taking out top honours.
3. Power Shift Otago Uni student cycling to Auckland youth climate summit, and these Waikato students are going too.
4. Film Awards An NZ Film and TV School grad has won 8 awards at the Sorta Unofficial NZ Film Awards.
5. Extras: Auckland student in Howick Children’s and Youth Theatre show.

Stakeholders

1. Climate Change Massey’s Prof Ralph Sims has been appointed to the science and technology advisory panel of the Global Environment Facility.
2. Arcactive Canterbury has sold its equity stake in high-tech company Arcactive Ltd to existing shareholders.
3. Engineering Firms… in Hamilton and Auckland opened their doors for a recent Competenz careers open day.
4. Extras: Massey holds online open days for distance learners; Hayes International committed to training apprentices.

Teaching & Learning

1. Christchurch Rebuild Marlborough Mayor Alistair Sowman says NMIT may offer training module for rebuild.
2. Alternative Education MIT and Nga Rangatahi Toa Creative Arts Initiative offer short visual arts course to alternative education students.
3. Fine Artists Three Canterbury fine arts students have been selected to have their work added to Canterbury’s permanent art collection.
4. Film Festival Media Design School short films have been featured at a film festival in Santiago, Chile.
5. Extras: SIT annual award recipients; Whitireia visual art and design grad exhibition; Whitecliffe fashion show.