Policy, Management & People

1. Callaghan Innovation Mary Quin, formerly of NANA Management Services in Alaska, has been appointed to lead Callaghan Innovation.
2. NMIT… staff are protesting over a pay dispute (Fairfax), and the TEU says changes to NMIT’s pay structure could lead to students being given undeserved pass marks.
3. Sporting Fields Auckland Council could buy Auckland’s 19ha Colin Maiden Park if the Uni leaves its Tamaki campus.
4. High Demand… for IT grads, with several companies saying recruitment is their biggest challenge.
5. Campus Shift Canterbury’s Nelson campus is moving to the NMIT campus.

Research & Innovation

1. Alpine Fault Canterbury’s Carolyn Boulton is researching the effects of earthquakes on the South Island’s Alpine Fault.
2. Water Flea Otago Uni’s March Schallenberg says the non-native water flea could reduce algal bloom in Lake Hayes.
3. Cellphone Bullying A Canterbury student is studying the link between parenting styles and cellphone bullying.
4. Affordable Housing… shortages are feeding a problem of “invisible homelessness”, say Massey students.
5. Quake Preparedness Otago Uni’s Mike Ardagh on a study that found frontline doctors and nurses held back disaster planning before the earthquakes.
6. Video Games Victoria’s Steven Prime on overseas research showing video games can improve cognitive skills.
7. Medical Imaging Canterbury’s visiting lecturer Claire Vallance from Oxford is researching medical imaging in the treatment of cancer and other diseases.
8. Extras: Massey’s Prof Mike Joy on sustainability study; Otago Uni study says 1 in 5 NZ adults will develop type 2 diabetes in their lifetime; Canterbury’s Brigid McNeill on spelling education; Otago Uni has a new Virtual Environment Radiation Therapy Training, and Tony Ryall spoke at the launch; Lincoln trialling ladybird release to control tomato-potato psyllid.

Public Issues

1. Democracy Auckland’s Prof Anne Salmond says the Govt’s approach to asset sales and charter schools is undemocratic.
2. Skilled Migrants Massey’s Prof Paul Spoonley on the rising number of skilled migrants coming from Asia.
3. Soda Ban Auckland’s Prof Boyd Swinburn says the judicial blocking of a New York ban on large sodas is a political decision.
4. Same-Sex Parents Auckland’s Prof Fred Seymour and Otago Uni’s Prof David Fergusson on gay adoption.
5. Captain Cook Auckland’s Prof Anne Salmond is calling for a Maori perspective on the 250^th anniversary of James Cook’s voyage to NZ.
6. Immunity Auckland’s Prof Bill Hodge on proposed legislation giving public servants immunity from civil lawsuits.
7. Extras: Victoria’s James Renwick says NZers should expect more drought in the future; Waikato’s Claire Matthews on a proposed class action lawsuit over bank fees.

Students

1. OUSA… will hold a by-election after their campaigns officer was voted in as welfare officer.
2. Child Abuse Rally A NorthTec student on participating in a protest against child abuse in Northland.
3. Hillary Scholar A Waikato Hillary Scholar wants to become a graphic novelist.

Stakeholders

1. Maori Suicide Victoria’s Lynne Russell to speak in 3^rd and final free online webinar about Maori suicide prevention.
2. Waikato… has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Waikato Regional Council to pool their talent.
3. Health Precinct Otago Uni, Canterbury, and CPIT partnering with CCDU to plan Christchurch’s new Health Precinct.
4. Google Engineer… Craig Nevill-Manning to speak at NZ Computer Science Research Student Conference.
5. The TEU… held its Women’s Fiesta at Unitec last week.
6. Lincoln… has held its annual Accounting Fair.
7. Art Display Unitec student art exhibitions will be on display at Rosebank Art Walk next weekend.
8. Extras: LT McGuinness appointed to resume work on Victoria’s hub project; wine pioneer Kim Goldwater received Auckland’s Distinguished Alumni Award; website designer David Kelly received Massey’s Distinguished Young Alumni Award.

Teaching & Learning

1. Emerging Designer An Otago Poly grad has won the iD International Emerging Designer Awards (Fairfax, TVNZ, 3 News).
2. UCOL… is now offering an interior design diploma at its Whanganui campus.
3. Field Trip Wintec event management students are volunteering at the Womad festival in New Plymouth.
4. Extras: Tokelau students studying at Massey.