1. Uni Access There’s a really good NZ Herald story today about university entrance, covering a wide range of issues. It’s probably got the widest coverage of any I’ve seen on the issue, without being a feature story.
2. New Education Bill Anne Tolley has released a new Education Bill that covers PTE refund criteria, secondary-tertiary programmes and other school matters.
3. Maharey’s Authority Challenged While Steve Maharey’s in China, the TEU is challenging his authority at Massey. I covered the closure of Massey University’s teacher education programme in Hawke’s Bay yesterday. Now the TEU is saying that closing such a programme should be a Council, not a management, decision. Interesting take.  There’s a short Newztalk ZB story here.
4. Sorting Sheep The impressive looking machine at left is the Gallagher Sheep Auto Drafter, unveiled at Fieldays yesterday, and was designed with the help of Massey Professor Tony Parker. It sorts sheep in new and exciting ways and if you like design, read the story. While I’m on Fieldays, Wintec journalism students are producing a daily paper – here’s yesterday’s edition.
5. Scarfie Flats Otago flats are due for a cleanup and TV1′s Closeup did a story on them last night (HT DC).
6. NMIT Strategy There’s a good piece in the Marlborough Express about NMIT’s strategy.  (HT TEU)
7. Whitireia Happy Whitireia Community Poly is very happy about the government’s changes to student permit conditions.
8. PTE Honour Sandra McKersey, a past NZAPEP President and founder of People Potential, Whangarei,  has been awarded the Queen’s Service Medal for services to education and the community. (HT NZAPEP)
9. Bridge Death Alistair McWhannell was found guilty yesterday of the manslaughter of Catherine Peters, a Massey student who died when a bridge swing went wrong. The story has been covered by Radio NZ, NZPA and the Dominion Post - jail appears unlikely.
10. Outward Bound OK Outward Bound is celebrating a “highly confident” rating by NZQA in their external review.
11. Friendly French A University of Auckland architecture student has won the inaugural excellence scholarship by the France-New Zealand Friendship Fund.
12. Stab in the Dark A University of Otago masters student has done some impressive research on the effect of stabbing on different fabrics, including taking account of the age of the fabric – apparently it’s a cap in crime-related research.
13. Boatbuilding Bay of Plenty Poly’s dropping of boatbuilding is inspiring some people to find alternative ways to interest people in the industry. It’s all a bit informal, but that’s where a lot of things start, and informal education can be a great launching pad.
14. Waikato Honey This seems to be a new story on the Comvita-University of Waikato stoush, but most fo the details are the same as last week’s story.
15. New CPIT CEO There’s a Christchurch radio interview with CPIT’s new Aussie CE here. She sounds like she’s good value.
16. UCOL Corner UCOL has put out some releases about successful ECE stduents and a mentor for fine arts stduents.
17. It’s not just Michael Laws Wanganui’s deputy mayor Dot McKinnon has some strong educational ideas to rival Michael Laws’ outspokenness : “If we can encourage school leavers to take on skilled trade training, instead of the university track, we are doing them and our communities a favour. Let’s face it, you can make a lot more money in trades than you can in academia.” Read more here.
18. Geography Book The University of Canterbury is publishing a book of papers by George Jobberns, NZ’s first Professor of Geography (1942-60).
19. Top Glass Ross Holmes is this year’s most promising glass apprentice, announced by the Joinery ITO.
20. SIT Student Gets Chance An SIT student has had multiple convictions discharged after being given time to turn his life around - it’s a nice story.
21. Tairawhiti Wine A Tairawhiti Polytechnic chardonnay has again won a wine prize.
22. Immersive Art An AUT PhD student is using Macs for her immersive reality art.
23. Spitting on Babies… can have health benefits in passing on healthy bacteria, but only if you’re the mother and part of this University of Otago study.

Just before Xmas, the Government passed the Education (Polytechnic ) Amendment Act 2009, which will result in smaller Councils. Compulsory appointment types have also been removed, such as the CEO and student, staff, employer and union representatives. In short, there will now be eight Council members, four appointed by the Minister and four appointed by the Council. The current Councils are deciding appointment methods now.

UCOL decided last week that they would only specify roles for the CEO and an iwi representative, while the other two roles will apparently be chosen by the Council, on skills and background.

The council also agreed on a new statute which outlined the skills nominees required. UCOL chief executive Paul McElroy said the statute aimed to create a balance of representatives. Applicants’ gender, ethnicity, and location will be considered, as well as skills such as tertiary knowledge, governance experience, business background and leadership qualities.

Students and staff (other than the CEO) will probably miss out under this approach, although UCOL might set up a committee to get student input.

ITP Council Musical Chairs Series

1. UCOL
2. The Backstory
3. CEO, Student and Staff Roles
4. Otago
5. External Roles
6. Ministerial Appointees
7. Minister’s Decisions
8. The Final Shape of ITP Councils?