News 19/6 – Master Plan. Flying Pregnant. Smoked Out.

June 19th 2013 at 9:31am, By Dave Guerin

Policy, Management & People

  1. Master Plan Lincoln’s 25-year building development plan for the Selwyn campus incorporates learning, working, and on-campus living.
  2. Extras: AUT to invest in $5m Waterfront Theatre project.

Research & Innovation

  1. Coast Changes Massey’s Trudie Cain to research West Coast households on demographic and economic changes (with Waikato).
  2. Indonesian MOU A new partnership between WIT and the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism. Export education is about 20 per cent of WIT’s business.
  3. Postdoctoral Awards Waikato has awarded the first of six $10,000 postdoctoral writing awards for emerging academics.
  4. Cancer Detail on Auckland’s recent HRC grant on cancer drugs.
  5. Extras: Otago’s Robin Smith researches anti-ageing skincare; Waikato’s Chris Ryan’s report on cyclists who used the Hauraki Rail Trail; Lincoln researchers to seek advice on farm succession; local paper follows up on Otago Uni public toilet research.

Public Issues

  1. Flying Pregnant Annick Masselot on flying during pregnancy (Newstalk ZB).
  2. Extras: Auckland’s Ray Miller on Q&A’s Tim Groser interview (transcript); Auckland’s Danny Osborne on public assaults; Auckland’s Dr Manuka Henare on an economic development hui in Kerikeri; Auckland’s’ Elizabeth Rata on democracy and diversity – and race politics; Canterbury’s Chris Gallavin on the Mark Lundy trial and Scott Guy murder; Auckland Uni’s Mark Keating on the Mediaworks receivership; Auckland’s Danny Osborne on public assaults; Auckland teacher Peter Lyons on equality of opportunity citing John Key’s Canterbury qualification; Massey Sean Lineham on karakia in schools.

Students

  1. Home Work A UCOL student is studying on home detention after a court appearance
  2. Extras: OUSA President Francisco Hernandez on “babe of the day”; Otago student wins award for leadership; AUT journo students write on students’ performing in Grease musical and coping with grief; Otago student’s death in car accident.

Stakeholders

  1. Smoked Out Unitec’s smokefree policy is not particularly good for the neighbours (which was, of course, rather predictable). In this case Unitec smoking refugees are smoking outside a childcare centre!
  2. Art Exhibit Elam Art School lecturer Gavin Hipkins is exhibiting at the Image Nation Conference.
  3. Global Growth Auckland’s entrepreneur challenge provides more than $1m funding and support to high growth companies – with an eye on overseas expansion.
  4. Roughing It AUT Vice Chancellor Derek McCormack is participating in the Lifewise Big Sleepout.
  5. Positive Relationship Otago Museum has developed a ”very positive relationship” with the Otago Poly Vet Nursing School.
  6. Exhibition Curator Waikato’s Ngahuia Te Awekotuku to co-create an exhibition on the contribution of NZ women at the National Library.
  7. Extras: Victoria’s Susan Balandin’s lecture on communicating without speech; Waikato’s Russell Bishop’s lecture at EIT on improving your child’s chances at school; Waikato celebrates Māori Language Week; Canadian Systems Analyst to talk at Otago; Otago Museum director made an honorary fellow at Otago Uni; top school students at Massey-hosted event off to Asia; EIT hosts top wine industry people.

Teaching & Learning

  1. Dance Residency A Victoria student – and Whitireia lecturer – is awarded a Pacific Dance Residency.
  2. 5K Scholarship Unitec and IBM to award ten Success Scholarships – each worth $5000.
  3. Christchurch Cadet A Christchurch Poly student is doing a cadetship with Aurecon.
  4. Fiji Bound Otago Uni’s Latika Samalia is among a group of NZ lecturers teaching medical students in Fiji.
  5. Extras: US student on exchange at Waikato; Waikato’s Marcus Wilson on woolly thinking; Taratahi gets access to Northland farm for training; successful AUT/UCOL design student; NorthTec students creating fabric.

News 18/6 – Massey’s Man. Shaky Headaches. Top Ranking.

June 18th 2013 at 9:45am, By Dave Guerin

Policy, Management & People

  1. Massey’s Man Massey Vice Chancellor Steve Maharey has been reappointed for a further five year term from October, (Stuff).
  2. Ministerial Moves Steven Joyce to visit Poland, Germany and the UK to strengthen connections in international education, science and business.
  3. Big Estate Auckland University has become New Zealand’s largest real estate developer, with a $1 billion 10-year order book.
  4. Extras: spam at Otago Uni; recognition for Waikato’s Roger Briggs.

Research & Innovation

  1. Top Ranking Victoria University’s School of Accounting and Commercial Law has been ranked among the best in the world for research quality.
  2. Shaky Headaches A Canterbury student is researching post-earthquake legal headaches for landlords and tenants.
  3. Ancient Future Victoria’s Dr Pauline Harris to lead research in modern uses for ancient Māori knowledge.
  4. MPOWER Massey has a new HR research hub aiming to engage stakeholders in research.
  5. Healthy Food Auckland’s Cliona Ni Mhurchu leading a team looking at healthy food choices over the next five years.
  6. Extras: Canterbury’s Phoebe Macrae on swallowing difficulties; two Auckland professors nominated for KiwiNet awards; Victoria’s Pauline Harris on ancient Maori astronomy; Massey PhD student says social control plays a big part in how young Pacific Islanders behave online; Otago Uni student’s drink bottle; Otago Uni students looking into Crohn’s disease.

Public Issues

  1. Manufacturing Auckland’s Nigel Haworth wrote the report on the MPs’ manufacturing inquiry.
  2. Oil to Milk Massey’s Grant Duncan and Chris Anderson on milk from land where oil drilling waste is spread.
  3. Extras:  Massey’s Nigel Parsons on the Iran election result; Victoria’s Michael Johnston is disappointed on a teacher boycott of a National Standards initiative; Otago’s Paul Tapsell on mapping marae; Massey’s Louise Lee on volunteering; Otago’s Grant Gillett on euthanasia; Victoria’s Geoff Bertram criticised for stance on electricity reform; Auckland’s Leith Oliver’s column on “entrepreneurial judo; Auckland’s Jim Evans on gambling; Victoria’s Vanessa Green on school bullying; Massey’s Steve Stannard, a former Australian cycling rep, on grassroots sport volunteers; Otago’s David Gerrard on steroid use; Auckland’s Linda Hand on baby talk; Waikato’s Terry Smith on the nutrient cycle.

Students

  1. Lucky Participants Massey sponsored a Global Enterprise challenge, providing each participant with a scholarship.
  2. Unlucky Participant An Iranian participant in a Victoria-run competition is now in jail.
  3. Want $3,000? Design students are wanted for the 2013 ECC Student Craft/Design Awards at the Dowse Art Museum. Winner gets $3000.
  4. Popular Victoria Marlborough school leavers are increasingly choosing to study at Victoria.
  5. Official Recognition Unitec students were selected for the 2013 Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA), and their achievements officially recognised.
  6. Extras: Hamilton’s Miss Teen to start uni at age 16; Auckland music graduate’s performance; Unitec performing arts graduate on her Shortland Street role; international students allegedly get fake jobs ; WITT journo student writes on a Victoria graduate in Turkey; Otago Poly student represents NZ in Petanque; students see opportunities arising from a joint tertiary and research campus in Tauranga; Lincoln rugby success; Waikato badminton success; final night at the Cook.

Stakeholders

  1. Maori Element Washington DC will soon have a Māori element next month thanks to students at AUT’s Māori Language Institute.
  2. Top Award Waikato’s Ryan Ko is one of just six people worldwide to receive the Knode Service Award – for volunteer efforts with cloud computing.
  3. Running Losses Redundant staff from the OUSA-owned university bookshop have had to reapply for fewer jobs after restructuring.
  4. Lab Day Waikato hosted 88 Year 13 students for a day in the University’s laboratories for a chemistry competition. Last year’s winning school came second.
  5. Extras: Victoria to host Fabian Society lecture; MIT’s Edwina Mistry on her Business Career Experience programme; Auckland School of Music’s competition; Canterbury lecturer helping out Manu Samoa rugby team; Massey-sponsored Young Enterprise Scheme event.

Teaching & Learning

  1. Design Exhibits Students from three Auckland tertiary institutes are working with local academics on design projects at the Art Gallery. Auckland Uni’s Prof Andrew Barrie also exhibiting.
  2. Extras: Victoria students redesign Lower Hutt; Stuart Middleton on seamless education; regeneration project may retain courses when Auckland sells its Tamaki campus; Wellingtonian getting ready for WorldSkills.

News 17/6 – Engineering Hub. Top Apprentice. Student Jobs.

June 17th 2013 at 9:03am, By Dave Guerin

Policy, Management & People

  1. Engineering Hub The old Lion Breweries site in Newmarket is about to become a hub for Auckland engineering research and post-graduate students.
  2. Meeting Demand Wintec and Waikato bosses welcome Government plans to double export education earnings.
  3. Extras: Otago Uni may add costs to flood protection; Dunedin programme for young mothers may close; gas pipe hit at Auckland; carpooling at Dynaspeak English

Research & Innovation

  1. Inflammatory Bowels Two Nelson medical students from Otago’s Christchurch campus discovered Nelson has one of the highest rates of Crohn’s disease in the world.
  2. Cold Climate Waikato researchers have been given $60,000 to study microscopic life in Antarctica – where winds reach more than 230kph – while others are gearing up for Antarctic work in the National Science Challenges. Otago Uni academics are also gearing up for climate change work.
  3. Collaboration Massey University’s EpiCentre and mEpiLab have been made a collaborating centre for veterinary epidemiology and public health.
  4. World Recognition A Massey–developed hand-held device used to read ear tags on farm animals has won an international innovation award.
  5. Research $$$ Otago’s Prof Cliff Abraham hopes there will be an increase in funding for dementia research.
  6. Extras: Victoria’s QuakeSurfer launched; Otago Uni’s Nick Wilson and George Thomson on public toilet hygiene (NewstalkZB); Auckland book on contemporary art; Lincoln family farm research.

Public Issues

  1. Great Decision Otago academics laud a US court ruling that human genes cannot be patented, saying that the decision could benefit local researchers.
  2. Extras: Victoria’s Dr Michael Johnston on National Standards; Auckland’s Dr. Peter Gutmann on privacy; Otago’s Prof. Jean Fleming is amazed by the Google Loon project; Massey’s Louise Lee on releasing staff for volunteer work (NZ Herald, Massey); Canterbury’s Ursula Cheer on cyber bullying; Massey’s Andrew Murphy on pop-up shops; Otago’s Andrew Geddis hates the caregivers’ legislation and doesn’t like a new Bill too; Otago’s Geoff Hall on more pay for jurors; Canterbury’s Rakesh Dahl on earthquake damage; Massey’s Nigel Parsons on Iran’s new president; Otago’s Nicola Atwool is still on the Owen Glenn inquiry – for now; Massey’s Malakai Koloamatangi on defamation in Tonga; Otago Uni Prof Ewan Fordyce on his fossil graffiti; Auckland’s Prof Alex Sutherland on a Dunedin beach; Victoria’s Robert Ayson on friendly fire.

Students

  1. Lucky Two Otago students attending the World University Games in Russia have a Russian coach.
  2. Student Jobs While the number of students getting work through SJS has not increased since 2010, wages have – and the sourced jobs are different.
  3. Extras: Waiariki Student Association president, Tony Te Huia on the cost of heating; Otago students’ mental health issues from smoking synthetic cannabis; hundreds of students farewell the Captain Cook Tavern; university “babe” to the rescue; WITT student’s assault charge; Victoria students win global business competition (release); complaints about drinking at Massey Albany.

Stakeholders

  1. Love Life Fono Auckland University’s Waipapa Marae is holding a Love Life Fono which aims to develop strong healthy and HIV resilient communities.
  2. Extras: Massey-sponsored Reel Earth film festival screening environmental films in Palmerston North; an Aoraki bakery tutor’s new bakery; Massey University’s discovery award; Otago Poly staff and students help out; finance talk at Victoria; PM visits Waikato at Fieldays.

Teaching & Learning

  1. Dollars for skills Employers say training is not addressing skill shortages but the BCITO wants the Government to provide extra funding for more apprentices, (RNZ). Still, building apprentice numbers are going up.
  2. Education Partnerships Waiariki Institute of Technology has signed a MOU with an Indonesian Tourism institute. Indonesia is one of three targeted countries for export education. A collaboration between Ag Challenge and UCOL to produce skilled workers for the building and motor industries.
  3. Top Apprentice A 21-year-old Mosgiel man has been named the region’s modern forestry apprentice of the year.
  4. Extras: Massey may offer a new financial adviser degree; new NMIT nursing training equipment.

News 14/6 –Higher Ratios. No Babes, Please. Theatre $$.

June 14th 2013 at 9:06am, By Dave Guerin

Policy, Management & People

  1. Pacific Artist Fale Pasifika Heritage Artist in residence at Auckland University.
  2. Cutting Costs Green MP Holly Walker blogs that cuts to postgrad student allowances have affected student numbers – and has figures to prove it.
  3. Jagged Edge MIT’s Stuart Middleton goes back in time – a good read.
  4. Aussie Loans Australia’s move to permit student loans to expat Kiwis may not eventuate if there is a change of government.
  5. Export Ed Steven Joyce says Otago Uni needs to target international students more ”aggressively” after having the largest decline of any NZ uni this year – overall student numbers have also declined.
  6. Gender Numbers of women working in tertiary education is on the rise.
  7. Higher ratios: The average ratio of academics to students at tertiary institutions has risen slightly this year – to 19.5 students to each academic – and some tutorials have 60 students.
  8. Extras: Media Design School has made promotions; Massey-school MOU; TWOA’s Bentham Ohia is to meet with the TEU over pay negotiations.

Research & Innovation

  1. Quakesurfer Pioneering technology developed at Victoria University protects equipment from up to 90 per cent of the forces generated by earthquakes.
  2. Rubbish Audit Massey auditing household rubbish and recycling, as they try to reduce their waste.
  3. Dog Tails 100 dogs would need to be docked to prevent just one tail injury, according to a Massey researcher. Now you know.
  4. Major Effort Waikato sponsored a Major Category Award at Fieldays, won by Steve Dawson for his Quad Bike GPS Monitoring System
  5. Extras: Auckland’s Prof Thomas Lumley on feeding pigs; Lincoln study on perceptions of wine brands; Otago’s Dr. Miles Lamare leads research on global warming; Massey’s Albany campus has two new research and innovation hubs.

Public Issues

  1. Housing Massey’s Andy Asquith on housing legislation (Newstalk ZB).
  2. Online Maths Victoria’s Dr. Dillon Mayhew to talk on the role mathematics plays in safely and accurately transmitting information across the internet.
  3. Extras: Otago’s Jonathan Broadbent on fluoridation; Canterbury’s Dr. Ralph Bungard on brewing beer; Canterbury Professor Jenny Webster-Brown on conserving drinking water in Christchurch; Otago’s Michael Baker on public housing; Auckland Uni’s Peter O’Connor on National Standards; Auckland’s Danny Osborne on name calling at rugby games; Massey’s Mike O’Brian on poverty; Waikato’s Martin Thrupp on media reporting of National Standards; Otago’s Dr. Susan Jack lectured on a norovirus outbreak; Auckland’s Steven Hoadley on a shooting on an unarmed Taiwanese fishing boat.

Students

  1. No Babes, Please NZUSA’s Arena Williams and AUSA’s Allanah Currie don’t really like this latest ‘Babe of the Day’ craze.
  2. Extras: two Waikato students are to represent NZ in inline hockey; Wintec students welcome in the New Year; a student bar on Massey’s Albany campus is a target of new liquor controls. Auckland Uni student Shail Kaushal’s candidacy for the Puketapapa (Mt Roskill) Local Board; profile of Massey student from Turangi; The Cook closed in Dunedin.

Stakeholders

  1. Theatre $$ AUT will invest $5 million in the Waterfront Theatre Project in Auckland’s Wynyard Quarter (TVNZ, 3 News, Newstalk ZB).
  2. Tattoo You Massey lecturer Euan Robertson will don his tartan kilt and skirl his bagpipes at the Nova Scotia Military Tattoo in Canada next month.
  3. Top Model Victoria Uni is to host the NZ Model UN 2013; Massey’s Manawatu campus grounds department has won a Business Achievement Award for commitment and support to trade trainees.
  4. Extras EIT’s Hawke’s Bay campus symposium for creative artists.

Teaching & Learning

  1. Scholarships Two Auckland Pacifica nursing students awarded 3-year scholarships.
  2. Extras: Otago’s Art Exhibition will also have students from Dunedin’s school of Art; AUT students’ assignment on personalised designer lunchboxes; Massey mother and daughter graduation; Unitec’s new India programmes.

News 13/6 – Top Honour. TempMe. Water Babe.

June 13th 2013 at 8:44am, By Dave Guerin

Policy, Management & People

  1. Top Honour MIT on Maualaivao Albert Wendt being made a member of the Order of NZ.
  2. Big Bucks Nursing facilities at the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) have received a million-dollar upgrade.
  3. Bad Attitude Labour’s Megan Woods slams Minister Steven Joyce’s attitude to regional polytechs, citing Hawkes Bay EITs funding loss.
  4. Little Change The MOE says there is “very little difference” in postgrad enrolments after cuts to student allowances for postgrads, with Victoria actually posting an increase.
  5. Extras: Tai Poutini Polytechnic has a new operational base in Hokitika.

Research & Innovation

  1. TempME Canterbury PhD student has created an app for businesses seeking temps.
  2. 140 Characters A Massey PhD student will study social media at Wimbledon. Her supervisor is excited.
  3. Scholarship A recent Otago Robert Burns Fellow has picked up the $100,000 Creative New Zealand Michael King Writer’s Fellowship.
  4. Extras: Otago researchers counter human tuberculosis.

Public Issues

  1. Homes and Students Massey’s Claire Matthews on students’ dreams of owning their own homes; (and again on students’ eating habits).
  2. Extras: Massey’s Dr Jeff Stangl on students’ financial literacy (Firstline); Otago chaplain Rev Greg Hughson on the Dalai Lama’s visit; Waikato’s Brenda Midsen on the murder of George Taiaroa; Otago’s Leo Schep on the magic mushroom season; MIT’s Richard Orjis on the Grounded Festival of art and sustainability; Otago’s Jonathan Broadbent on fluoridated water; Sir Tipene O`Regan’s talk at Otago on constitutional arrangements.

Students

  1. Volunteer Army Volunteers from the Otago Scarfie Army and Otago Poly staffers are to help renovate the Carey’s Bay Rowing Club.
  2. Water Babe Kayla Imrie is a student, a surf life saver, and now a University of Auckland Babe of the Day.
  3. Extras: a weekly mag for Dunedin’s student community is called Onit; VUWSA provided 4000 student meals during “stress free study week”; some hungry students rely on charity food parcels; Aoraki students will apply makeup for Dunedin’s annual midwinter carnival, but others eat unhealthy food; AUT student is competing – and doing well – in X Factor.

Stakeholders

  1. Light Entertainment NMIT Tutor and visual artist Klaasz Breukel is coordinating a visual project for the Light Nelson Festival next month.
  2. Ace Keynote Nigerian professor Michael Omolewa will keynote at the Australasian Adult and Community Education (ACE) Conference in Wellington, and speak at Parliament.
  3. Big Weekend UNITEC to host an Image Nation conference – the biggest weekend of the year for the local photographic industry.
  4. From Afar Tertiary Minister Steven Joyce discussed government-managed funds with agribusiness leaders, including university delegates at Waikato – via satellite.

Teaching & Learning

  1. Paint Marks NorthTec Students are to paint a Whangarei Church as part of a new trades course.
  2. MOUnion Lincoln and Canterbury Rugby Union have signed a MOU so international students studying English can learn how to play Sevens.
  3. Practical Work Four NMIT students are curating an exhibition with a local jeweller as part of their studies.
  4. Extras: Unitec students revive Maori architecture form; Open Poly to offer a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering; WelTec’s new cyber security and information assurance course.

News 12/6 – Resigned. Kura App. MARS@AUT

June 12th 2013 at 8:59am, By Dave Guerin

Policy, Management & People

  1. Resigned MOE Deputy Secretary of Tertiary, International and System Performance, Anne Jackson, has resigned. She was responsible for Novopay as Deputy Secretary Schooling until July last year.
  2. Aussie Loans Kiwis who live in Aussie for 10 years may get government loans to cover university fees (Timaru Herald, NZ Herald).
  3. Extras: Otago Uni’s Prof Sarah Todd on fee hikes for international students; successful year at The Open Polytech.

Research & Innovation

  1. Food Budget Massey says a third of students’ diets are affected by lack of funds.
  2. Kura App New Victoria mobile phone app looks set to change the way New Zealanders learn te reo Maori.
  3. Scholarship Graduate Women Wellington (GWW) awarded a new $100,000 PhD scholarship.
  4. Extras: Waikato student’s research on children’s use of scooters (TVNZ); Otago Uni’s Dr. Lisa Te Morenga on a study on sugar intake and weight; five Otago scholars get career awards for research.

Public Issues

  1. Power Prices Prof Bob Lloyd, a University of Otago physicist, says we are paying too much for power prices.
  2. His Holiness The Dalai Lama is in town, and held a question and answer session with students at Otago Uni (NZ Herald).
  3. Extras: Otago Professor Hank Wolfe on surveillance, (as is colleague Prof Greg Dawe); Auckland’s Gehan Gunasekara’s on big brother surveillance; Massey’s Professor Howard Lee on National Standards (and Waikato’s Martin Thrupp and Victoria’s Michael Johnston); Otago Uni’s Brian Cox on CT scans; Auckland’s Danny Osborne on rugby and homophobia; Canterbury’s Greg Newbold on the death of drug lord Brian Curtis; Victoria’s Richard Norman on Wellington’s creativity; Massey’s Hamish Gow on culture change in meat industry; Waikato’s Clive Pope on winning in sport; Victoria’s Dr Richard Hill and Otago’s Chris Brickell laud book on anarchy.

Students

  1. MARS @AUT Two students at AUT to link students and industry professionals through MARS@AUT (MARS being Marketing, Advertising, Retail and Sales).
  2. Reeling It In Auckland’s Peter Simpson has had a film accepted for the Shanghai Film Festival.
  3. Critic Appointment Otago students’ association mag Critic has a new editor after the last one left after an employment dispute.
  4. Odd Job Student Job Search wants an Aucklander to deliver a Georgie Pie to Christchurch for $15.
  5. Extras: Otago Uni won’t save student pub from closing.

Stakeholders

  1. Shining Light Massey partners with the Wellington City Council for a weekend extravaganza of light.
  2. Pressure Cooker About 80 school students are taking part in the Junior Achievement International Trade Challenge (ITC) at Massey University in Auckland this weekend (Yahoo).
  3. Professor Talk Harvard Professor Edward Glaeser is to speak on densification and urban agglomeration at Auckland University on 1 July.
  4. Wellington Massey cooking school Le Cordon Bleu business director Guy Pascoe on Wellington as the culinary capital.

Teaching & Learning

  1. Extras: Victoria Architecture students redesign Lower Hutt; Massey students to compete in an agri-foods competition in Atlanta; brother and sister from EIT are top apprentices.
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