1. What’s the biggest challenge for Universities New Zealand right now?

Continuing to build on our ability to engage with the government on the policy issues affecting universities, including university resourcing. The challenge is to achieve this through demonstrating the multiple ways the work of universities – research and innovation, internationalisation, encouraging greater participation and achievement for Maori and Pasifika peoples, etc – can help the Government achieve its goals for New Zealand.

2. How is Universities New Zealand’s new graduate survey going?

The first survey has been completed and the baseline report will be released soon. Over 65% of students invited to participate completed the survey – just under 9,000 final year students from the eight universities. This is a fantastic result that lays the foundation for the future of the longitudinal survey. Further information can be found on the GLSNZ website.

3. Steven Joyce has tertiary education, science and innovation, and economic development roles. What impact do you think that will have on universities?

There are genuine synergies between these three areas, and Minister Joyce has demonstrated he can manage multiple challenging portfolios. Universities are central to our science and innovation system, as well as the economic development of this country. Hopefully, the integration at a ministerial level will help us unlock the universities’ potential to make an even greater contribution toward helping the Government achieve its goals to the benefit of all New Zealanders.

4. What needs most attention in the research area right now?

The availability of contestable funding. While overall funding for science and innovation remained the same last year, the availability of contestable funds was significantly reduced. This is a real risk as a competitive funding model is a good way of identifying the best opportunities when you have limited resources.

5. What made you smile about the university sector this week?

The sector is preparing for the year ahead at this time and I can genuinely say I am looking forward to meeting some of 2012′s first year students. Encountering their enthusiasm for tertiary study is something that I never tire of and one of the most rewarding aspects of this job.

1. Aviation Liquidation Bay Flight Aviation closed just before Xmas, apparently leaving 20 staff and 60 students in limbo. A buyer is being sought and a deal could be signed soon. The current owner blamed bad weather and “something in behind the scenes” for the liquidation. I wonder whether they lost EFTS funding due to the TEC reduction of pilot training EFTS, as Bay Flight Aviation was apparently an NMIT subcontractor. The first liquidators’ report doesn’t tell us much.
2. Ag Skills Some agricultural occupations were added to the skills shortages list, so Massey’s Jacqueline Rowarth said agriculture was undervalued and Labour’s Grant Robertson said it was the government’s fault.
3. Christchurch Enrolments CPIT international student numbers are down – domestically, Canterbury is down 5% for first years and CPIT down 25% (but they closed for an extra week due to Dec quakes)
4. Want an Honorary Degree? Maori Research Institute people are heading off to India and their Indian partner wants to award a Maori Elder an honorary degree while they’re there. So, the Institute is calling for nominations, which I think is much more democratic than just brainstorming in the VC’s office or the marketing department…
5. Extras: UCOL trades academy enrolments; more from the Herald on workforce literacy, with Workbase’s Katherine Percy; Indian Newslink published old industry training stories from Steven Joyce and the ITF; Otago Uni’s Najib Lafraie features in an exhibition.

Research & Innovation

1. Drug Addiction Victoria’s Bronwyn Kivell is looking into anti-addiction compounds (RNZ).
2. Predator Diets Massey’s David Raubenheimer has been looking into the discriminating diet of predators (SMC).
3. Storm Petrels Auckland’s Mark Rayner is trying to find storm petrels – it’s an interesting story.
4. More Regulation Otago Uni’s Prof Janet Hoek wants more regulation on product marketing after a research study.
5. Extras: Massey home affordability research gets criticised in Hawke’s Bay; Canterbury’s Michael Albrow on astronomy finds; Massey’s Phil Broadhurst releases a new jazz CD; Otago Uni research on counting pigeons; Canterbury’s Prof David Schiel on Christchurch’s estuary post-quakes; Victoria research on psychopaths.

Public Issues

1. Internet Addiction Otago Uni’s Prof Dough Sellman has branched out to Internet addiction.
2. Sea Monster? Otago Uni’s Prof Ewan Fordyce thinks he’s identified a basking shark but the guy who found it still thinks it’s a dinosaur.
3. Rena Birds There’s 1 dotterel left with Massey, but more penguins are coming in.
4. Turangi Attack Auckland’s Prof Warren Brookbanks and others provide useful context on the judge’s comments in the Turangi attack case.
5. Extras: Otago Uni’s David Orlovich on a mystery smell, Prof Mark Henaghen on consent over newborn bloodspot cards and Winsome Parnell on soft drink labels; Canterbury’s Stefano Pampanin on quake risk during construction while Ian Lochhead is at the end of this long story on quake-hit heritage buildings; Canterbury’s Jarrod Gilbert is non-committal on Christchurch crime; BOPP’s Dean Tully on bluebottles at the beach; Victoria philosopher Dan Weijers on summer weather disappointment; Massey’s David Tripe on the European downgrade.

Students

1. Drowning Death An Otago Uni student may have drowned while swimming at Titahi Bay, Porirua (Dom Post, TVNZ).
2. Great Restaurant BOPP’s training restaurant has received an award again (SunLive).
3. Extras: Massey triathlete; Auckland student identified whale bones; Waikato student working with kids over summer; Victoria cricketer; cyclist off to Massey; science school for secondary students at Otago Uni; Otago rower; Auckland student coordinating a music contest; Canterbury’s Sam Johnson up for young NZer of the year award.

Stakeholders

1. South Dunedin Otago Poly students are helping to rebrand South Dunedin.
2. Extras: Profs Caroline Saunders and Paul Dalziel from Lincoln are speaking in Selwyn; savaged penguin treated at Massey.

Teaching & Learning

1. Private Tutors Samantha Berry is launching a website to match university students with tutors at Otago Uni. She wants to expand it to other universities and I wish her luck – nice idea.
2. Extras: Massey’s new international security course.

Policy & Management

1. PEI Job Losses Job losses are on the cards at New Plymouth’s Practical Education Institute, after the TEC has threatened it with lower funding due to poor completions (and has probably pretty much finalised its decisions). It is sad to see job losses but I’m happy to see TEC taking a hard line over performance across the country. More jobs will be created at other organisations with money reallocated for poor performing organisations.
2. No Raukawa Pay Cut Well, it seems that the Te Wananga O Raukawa CE has not had a pay cut – RNZ has corrected an earlier report. Meanwhile, Tariana Turia wished them well.
3. Flight Training Problems A flight safety consultancy has given advice to the Civil Aviation Authority about safety for trainee pilots. It turns out that there are quite a few deaths and near misses – many more than in the 90s even after correcting for extra training being done.
4. WelTec Precinct WelTec will have some planning certainty under a proposed education precinct by their Petone campus – the proposal will be out for consultation next year.
5. Extras: NMIT Chair Ross Butler is chairing a new AMI-related Crown company (release); Dame Malvina Major joins Waikato staff.

Research & Innovation

1. PM’s Science Prizes The PM’s Science Prizes were announced on Friday (Stuff, idealog, RNZ), with the $500K top award going to a NIWA-Otago Uni team working on climate change (ODT, NZN, Hot Topic, Otago release). Victoria’s Rob McKay won $200K for his work as an emerging scientist on glacial deposits (release, NBR). The $100K science media communication prize went to Canterbury’s Mark Quigley, for his quake work (release). Nina Huang won the secondary student’s $50K prize and will go on to study at Auckland, where she found supervision for a science project this year.
2. Signage Research I love this story about UCOL photographers going on a road trip to check out signage in 43 towns around NZ. I’d love to read the full analysis, if there is one.
3. Robots Auckland Uni’s big robotics study is going to get underway with 31 robots being part of six separate projects at a retirement village. They are doing some seriously interesting stuff.
4. Performance Stunt Auckland’s Chris Harvey is planning a performance work involving people laid off by government or otherwise feeling vulnerable. This will make news next year when it runs.
5. Bar Smoke Otago Uni’s Nick Wilson and Richard Edwards have found that second-hand smoke still gets you at bars even if you stay inside.
6. TV=Dole? AUT’s Erik Landhuis has found that TV watching as a child is correlated with later unemployment.
7. Extras: Victoria’s Devon Polaschek busting psychopath myths (RNZ, NZ Herald); Lincoln-CBRE survey on Christchurch office space; Massey’s Phil Broadhurst has a new jazz album; Otago Uni research cited on male grooming and on alcohol; Massey’s involvement in WW1 history project; Otago Uni’s Peter Saxton has done an HIV survey; Otago Uni’s Bruce Robertson on sealions; Otago Uni’s Prof Brian Cox wants Fonterra research money.

Public Issues

1. Politics Otago Uni’s Bryce Edwards does some interesting analysis of Dunedin South’s voting pattern at the election; AUT’s Prof Rawiri Taonui on Maori party leadership;
2. Extras: Otago Poly’s Jean Ross on community nursing; Auckland’s Charles Clifton on buildings’ earthquake resilience; Otago Uni’s Miles Lamar on Wellington jellyfish; Otago Uni emeritus Prof Air Alan Mark on opencast mining; AUT’s Grant Schofield on living a healthy life; Auckland’s Prof Bill Hodge on a league player’s name suppression; AUT’s Prof Max Abbott on stingy men; Lincoln’s Caroline Saunders mentioned for her role in a climate change roadshow.

Students

1. Otago Fees Homepaddock complains about the Otago Uni-OUSA fees deal (RNZ), which sparked off many comments, while Steven Joyce offered a toothless warning, as he knew this would happen when he set his regulations. Meanwhile, Orientation will have big events at the new covered stadium (release), but will also feature some more academic elements as the Uni exercises its new financial power over the students’ assn.
2. Floods NMIT managed to put together a small graduation for its international students, after floods caused the cancellation of the main event. Meanwhile two Otago Uni students got married regardless of flood complications – here’s a pic of the happy couple.
3. Piper A Japanese student piped herself to her own graduation.
4. Extras: editorial about EIT art graduate exhibition; Auckland hockey player; profile of Victoria scriptwriter; Waikato busker, with kilt; Miss Hawkes Bay off to Massey; Media Design School has four films in a Bondi competition; Auckland student with cochlear implants.

Stakeholders

1. Sculpture Win Auckland’s Michael Parekowhai has won a Queensland sculpture competition. Here’s the Queensland release and the proposal image is below.
2. DHB Support Taranaki DHB offers 24 scholarships worth $85K to health students;
3. Extras: grads of AUT course run by The Heart Foundation; Lincoln award to Margaret Evans; Auckland and AUT jointly hosted the launch of a Pacific book; AUT involvement in Pacific media research website.

Teaching & Learning

1. Extras: UCOL sport students working with primary schools.

1. New Ministers John Key announced new Ministers yesterday, with Steven Joyce keeping tertiary education (adding “skills and employment” too) and picking up economic development, plus science and innovation – Hekia Parata gained education (all the following stories are pretty generic: NewstalkZB, NewstalkZB, RadioLIVE, Kapiti Independent, APNZ, NZ Herald, NZ Herald, RNZ, BusinessDesk, Idealog, One News, Stuff, NBR, TV3). Reaction came from TEU, Universities NZ, NZUSA, frogblog. Later stories focused on Steven Joyce’s key role, including NZ Herald, NZ Herald and Fairfax.
2. Raukawa Funding Cut Te Wananga O Raukawa has had a $1.9m funding cut for next year after a second year of poor course completions in 2010 – they went from 42% to 43% (updated story and again). The new target is 55%, the level at which PTEs are offered zero funding. The wananga is claiming they should be measured according to their Kaupapa but the other two wananga get course completions in the 70s and 80s. Personally, I haven’t seen any credible argument to explain why they should be allowed to continue their low performance. I covered the issue back in August.
3. New NZUSA Prez NZUSA has elected its first ITP President ever – Pete Hodkinson of Unitec. They also recently appointed Alistair Shaw as Executive Director.
4. Aoraki Growth Aoraki expects to grow next year and has finalised a new collective agreement.
5. Extras: Winnie Laban seeking more Pasifika students for Victoria (release);

Research & Innovation

1. Higgs Boson Victoria’s Prof Shaun Hendy comments on the possible discovery of the Higgs boson, as does Massey’s Prof Tony Signal.
2. Low Carbon Transport Auckland’s Jamie Hosking helped write a WHO report on low carbon transport systems released in Durban.
3. Extras: AUT business incubation conference; Antonia Lyons on social networking and alcohol; Massey goat research;

Public Issues

1. Extras: Auckland’s Glenn Simmons on slavery in fisheries; Massey’s emeritus Prof Ivan Snook cited on charter schools; Victoria’s Gerard Kennedy on sleep;

Students

1. Graduate Success Canterbury is claiming high graduate employment on the back of a larger survey response.
2. Design The Dom Post had a long story profiling Victoria design students’ creations.
3. Extras: Victoria cheerleader and research into weeds on Nauru; top squash player off to AUT; student/club grants by OUSA;

Stakeholders

1. Jazz Tui…award nominations have been gained by Massey’s Phil Broadhurst.
2. Extras: Otago Poly’s Jean Ross getting involved in nursing politics;

Teaching & Learning

1. Extras: tributes for (I think ex-) head of NMIT’s fisheries school, who died while tramping;

1. Joyce’s Roles The NZ Herald reckons that Steven Joyce can “expect to leap to a front-bench position and the economic development and science and innovation portfolios as well as hanging on to tertiary education”. That’s been my pick for some time too.
2. Ad Complaint Unitec had a complaint made to the Advertising Standards Authority about one of their ads. The complaint wasn’t upheld, but it claimed that “”Trade skills are in demand. Join the supply. Get a headstart with apprentice training.” was misleading as the building industry was very tight. Unitec welcomed the decision. It’s probably good to test tertiary education marketing claims from time to time though. Here’s the actual decision.
3. BEST Year The Best Leadership Academy is celebrating a year of operation.
4. Weatherston Work Otago Uni has deleted some work by former tutor and convicted murderer Clayton Weatherston from an online archive. The father of his victim is happy but I don’t think that it was a good idea to delete the work.
5. Trademarks Issues Le Cordon Bleu cooking school, soon to start in Wellington, has had a trademark application turned down.
6. Extras: Victoria Chancellor/Pro-Chancellor re-elected; student services fee story; Sean Plunket on Whitireia’s journalism school building closure; new Nelson pilot training school is very confidential…; building leased by Victoria for academics is strengthened.

Research & Innovation

1. Internet AUT’s Prof Allan Bell has led the NZ part of the World Internet Project survey of Internet use (ComputerWorld, NZ Herald, Dom Post).
2. Repatriation A Neurological Foundation grant is leading to the repatriation of a NZ researcher to Auckland.
3. Whale Head Otago Uni’s Prof Ewan Fordyce dissected a whale’s head.
4. Extras: more criticism of ant research at Victoria; Auckland’s electric vehicle deal; Victoria PhD’s cancer research (Dom Post); Massey’s Antonia Lyons looking at youth drinking and social networking (RNZ); Otago Uni’s Pauline Gulliver on child maltreatment (NZ Herald, release); Otago Uni’s Prof Richard Cannon gets award for oral disease research.

Public Issues

1. Windy Wellington Victoria’s Michael Donn on building for windy Wellington.
2. Politics Canterbury’s John Mitchell on the Maori Party‘s coalition goals (and Otago Uni’s Bryce Edwards and AUT’s Rawiri Taonui). After the deal with National was agreed AUT’s Ian Hassall liked the poverty committee and Bryce Edwards said not very much.
3. Alcohol Two Anti-alcohol lobbyists from Otago Uni concerned about a survey not being released (TV3).
4. Extras: Canterbury’s emeritus Prof John Cookson on Christchurch heritage; Auckland’s Katie Fitzpatrick and AUT’s Grant Schofield on kids’ exercise; Victoria’s David Stewart on Kirkcaldies; Massey’s David Tripe on covered bonds; Auckland financial market regulation conference; review of Waikato River book by ex-Waikato Prof John McCraw; Massey’s Malcolm Wright on fuel discounts; Canterbury’s Ken Daniels on fertility ethics; AUT’s Paul White on a fizzy drink’s marketing; Canterbury mobile phone app; Otago Uni’s Prof Julian Crane takes aim at kids allergy advice; Otago Uni’s Stephanie Moor on kids’ post-quake anxiety.

Students

1. Chasing a Job Some top Media Design School grads climbed scaffolding outside an ad agency to show off their work – nice initiative.
2. Remaking Denniston A Victoria grad designed a new vision for mining ghost town Denniston.
3. Vet Calendar The Massey students’ vet calendar has raised lots of money for charity (Dom Post).
4. Moose Film Two Otago Uni students have made a doco about Fiordland moose.
5. Virginia Tech A NZ student was at Virginia Tech when the shooting occurred.
6. Extras: SIT student finishing nursing degree just after having a baby; Massey design student’s idea for trucks; 14 year old off to Otago Uni; Otago Uni golfer, runner, rower and Otago Poly snowsports grad; Waikato students get police commendations; two WITT students with a great back-story; the role of TV dramas in medical careers; school science student’s project overseen by Auckland academics.

Stakeholders

1. Adventure Ed NMIT has gained industry accreditation for its adventure tourism course.
2. Painted Pianos – nice photos from the Canterbury student initiative.
3. Extras: Massey cycling venue unlikely; graduations helping Dunedin retailers; Canterbury’s Prof Michael Endres raising money for Christchurch; Waiariki’s Narissa Bayler helped a 9 year old raise money for Christchurch; Isla McRae, who helped Wintec and Massey, died; Otago Uni might host court cases if Dunedin’s courthouse is closed.

Teaching & Learning

1. 3D Degree Media Design School has gained approval for a visual effects and 3D degree.
2. Extras: a debate on whether chiropractic education is worth it or a have.

The Māori Party probably need a ministerial post.

And it probably needs to go to Te Ururoa Flavell.

And the most obvious portfolio to give him is tertiary education.

If the Nats offered that portfolio it would also free up Steven Joyce to ’sticky beak’ about in other portfolios. If the Māori Party made tertiary ed its main priority for 2011-2014 would be incredibly interesting for tertiary education. The Māori Party would be in a position to offer some tangible results to its core constituency, in a field where it has expertise, experience and knowledge. And if the Nats are then brave enough to give the Māori Party some freedom to move, it would shake up the accepted normal behaviours:

• in transition from school to skills training,
• from foundation studies to jobs, and,
• among university elites about how they respond to funding priorities.

It would be fun to watch.

Will Flavell be the pick? Will Steven Joyce get another go? (That’s my pick.) Or will we get another Minister entirely? And who would be best for tertiary education?

1. Ministers Steven Joyce is picked to get Economic Development (and keep tertiary education?) while Hekia Parata is tipped for education.
2. Waiariki Settlement Waiariki has been ordered to pay a dismissed head of their nursing school $10,500 compensation and ex-CE Pim Borren has been ordered to pay $6,000 for obstructing the dispute resolution process (I imagine Waiariki will pick upon the bill for that). As I predicted in an earlier post, reinstatement was not ordered. It’s probably a reasonable outcome all around.
3. Tough 2012 Otago Uni reckons it will have a tough year in 2012 and won’t make a 3% TEC target for its surplus. I will believe it when I see it.
4. Managers are Good An Otago Uni academic (and former DVC) responds to concerns about an excessive number of managers.
5. New Gallery A new gallery at NorthTec has been welcomed.
6. Massey International Massey has launched a new internationalisation strategy.
7. Extras: Otago Uni Chancellor reappointed; discussion of Massey employment law case; story on WelTec-Whitireia Council merger; Lincoln’s Telford pre-enrolments at a record high; aviation Gateway programme supported by ATTTO.

Research & Innovation

1. Defence Commercialisation the Defence Force is working with Auckland’s UniServices to commercialise defence force IP. I wonder if there will be any protests about that down the track.
2. Bad Review Auckland’s Nick Perry gets a bad review of his latest book – “pretentious prolixity” is one of the reviewer’s comments, but it’s a rather pretentious turn of phrase in itself.
3. Short Boys Auckland’s John Peek found that some fertility drugs seem to lead to shorter boys (but not girls).
4. Extras: Waikato’s Nigel Calder launches maths book (SunLive); Auckland’s Janet Fanslow on family violence; UCOL’s Kane Parsons doing a Victor Borge homage; Massey’s Pasifika spirituality conference; Auckland’s Richard Milne on a trans-Tasman medication study; Waikato’s new coastal research centre; emeritus Prof Lee Erasmus’ work on a 1961 plane crash (Canterbury).

Public Issues

1. Post-Election Auckland’s James Young on capital gains tax and Prof Raymond Miller on the low turnout (and again) and on selling asset sales and on quake handling; Victoria’s Jon Johansson on Key’s mistakes and Auckland’s Joe Atkinson too; ex-Otago Uni hostel warden wins Dunedin North (profile of him); Otago Uni’s Bryce Edwards assesses the media coverage and comments on Labour’s Clare Curran; Victoria’s Stephen Leven on the Wellington vote; Auckland’s Jennifer Lees-Marshment on Don Brash; Auckland’s Jian Yang gets in off the list.
2. Pre-Election Waikato’s Alan Simpson on a possible low turnout; Phil Goff finished election eve chatting to Auckland Uni cleaners; Bryce Edwards on text polls, but what was more amazing was the man in the article who thought text polls were one person, one vote; Otago Uni election show; Victoria’s Maria Bargh on the Mana and Maori parties’ poor communication; Victoria’s Kate McMillan on voting as a permanent resident.
3. Recidivism Victoria’s Devon Polaschek gave lecture on reducing recidivism among violent offenders.
4. The World Etc Long interview here with Auckland’s Prof Klaus Bosselmann about globalism, values and all sorts of other things. Victoria’s Prof Warwick Murray is also giving an inaugural lecture on globalism and the GFC. Victoria’s Ralph Chapman on climate change.
5. Maori Burial Massey’s Prof Paul Spoonley and Avril Bell comment on a court case over Maori burial practices.
6. Shaky Buildings Auckland’s Jason Ingham gave some good advice to Dunedin property owners about quake strengthening while Otago Uni is starting work on strengthening; comment on Prof Stefano Pampanin’s (Canterbury) prescription for Auckland’s quake-prone buildings;
7. Prostate Cancer Otago Uni’s Brian Cos opposes a prostate cancer screening programme, and the work of colleague Elspeth Gold on an alternative test.
8. Extras: Otago Uni academics on euthanasia (and an Auckland one); comment on porn research (and another story); Canterbury and Lincoln academics in on liquefaction research; Waiariki’s Debbie Thyne on artist Charles Blomfield; Waikato’s Natalie Jackson on the end of population growth in most of NZ; Canterbury’s Greg Newbold on police informants; Otago Uni’s Phil Bishop on the bad outlook for frogs (and how Kermit is partly to blame – I kid you not!); Otago’s Stephen Wing on shark tourism; Auckland’s Prof Miriam Meyerhoff on Obama’s grammar; Otago Uni’s Penny Field and Robin Gauld on the food industry’s power; Auckland’s Cameron Grant on immunisation.

Students

1. 20 Years NZCER has released a report on 20-year olds in a long-term longitudinal study.
2. Maori Opportunities BCITO’s Ruma Karaitiana and others at the CATE conference on opportunities for Maori.
3. Students’ Tough Time Two Otago Uni PhD students are seeking a scholarship extension after their clinical supervisor was convicted on fraud-related charges and had his registration suspended.
4. Streaming Graduations Massey streamed its latest graduations live and will leave them up on the Internet for friends and relatives far away to check it out. Good idea.
5. Top Hairdresser A Dunedin trainee was the Hairdressing ITO’s top apprentice.
6. Extras: Massey grad in PNG plane crash; new Massey flying grads (Manawatu Standard); Victoria student’s Christchurch design concept to happen; NMIT student in speed dating social services event; Aoraki student’s film; Massey PhD thesis on Maori and Western spirituality; Waikato student selling cookies; UCOL Chekhov production, chef grads off to Oman and glass awards; Otago’s Robert Schadewinkel checking out a 1080 drop’s impact; Otago Uni doctoral scholarships up.

Stakeholders

1. Chess Anyone? Canterbury students have helped to get a new outdoor chess set up and running (release, RNZ).
2. Extras: Otago Uni-Pasifika partnership and East Otago links; Otago Poly house sold for charity.

1. Whitireia-WelTec Merger Steven Joyce has approved the Whitireia-WelTec council merger.
2. Fees There were fears that Otago Uni’s fees would rise by 4% and they did.
3. CPIT Settlement CPIT has settled an agreement with TEU members.
   
4. National’s Policy Me on TV about National’s policy yesterday morning.
5. Artena Merger Artena put out a release about how well the EIT-Tairawhiti merger went on the student management system side.
6. Extras: progress on Otago Uni building at new stadium; Massey’s new natural sciences degree; assessment services provider wins award; NMIT building wins another award (it will win my “most-mentioned building” award this year).

Research & Innovation

1. Sequelae A Canterbury release about a book for children might show why academics shouldn’t write their own releases, with the introduction of the word sequelae with no explanation. Or it could be a ruse to encourage you to Google it and find out what it means, in which case I’ll let you find out.
2. Urgency Victoria’s Claudia Geiringer, Polly Higbee and Prof Elizabeth McLeay have researched Parliament’s use of urgency.
3. Extras: Waikato electric car; paper cites Auckland meth baby research; Waikato’s Ngahuia Te Awekotuku sells out French translation of tattoo book.

Public Issues

1. Election Massey’s Deborah Russell on second class citizens; the tea tapes attracted comments from Massey’s Claire Robinson (good piece) and Victoria’s Steven Price; Victoria’s Ana Gilling on Back Benches; Massey’s Grant Duncan on coalition options; Otago Uni’s Bryce Edwards on last leaders’ debate;
2. Penguins Massey released penguins (Stuff). Back In less telegenic work, Waikato will be researching the long-term impact of the spill on the environment (SunLive).
3. Extras: Otago Uni’s Phi Bishop on saving frogs; Auckland’s Prof Kenneth Husted on innovation; Auckland’s Prof Raymond Miller on MMP; AUT’s Grant Schofield and Auckland’s Katie Fitzpatrick on kids’ fitness.

Students

1. Student Unrest An Otago Uni Council member complained about publicity over student unrest and the impact it might have on enrolments.
2. Extras: Otago Poly careers day in Central Otago; Unitec’s Grad Show; BOPP end of year shows (BOP Times); baking showcase at MIT; Waiariki runner Samara Shepherd; ESITO’s top trainee.

Stakeholders

1. Fibre Training EIT and Unison have signed a training deal, including a facility, to support fibre rollout (Hawke’s Bay Today).
2. Court Case Victoria’s Yvonne van Roy on trial over the death of a cyclist.
3. Avocado WITT’s Denis Duthie cooks with avocado.
4. Extras: Auckland’s Icehouse signs deal with iwi; Open Poly’s Merilyn Merritt on cleaning up the Waiwhetu Stream -it runs by the campus; Unitec students arrive in Haiti; Massey-supported community garden; Massey won Maori language award in tertiary education sector; AUT refugee education conference; Massey’s global entrepreneurship week; Chinese visit to Massey; recognition for Massey work after Christchurch quake.

Teaching & Learning

1. Top Lecturer Massey’s Prof Jill Hooks gets Albany lecturer of the year.

1. Demolish, Build Fresh from announcing the demolition of two buildings, Canterbury is building a new one, as long as the resource consents go through (Gerry Brownlee can sort that out over lunch). They’re building an events centre apparently, but it sounds a bit like a student pub.
2. Teacher Training…changes at Massey were not commented on by Anne Tolley, which was probably wise.
3. Steven Joyce…has too many jobs, according to a columnist in The Press, who wants him to just have transport after the election. Strangely, he gives as an example of the problem the fact that we don’t really know why the road toll is going down. I’d say that we do know why but even if we don’t, who cares?
4. 24 Years That’s how long it took Prof Paolo Ribeiro to take up a fellowship at Canterbury – it’s a cute story, so why not read the release.
5. The Nexus Canterbury’s Ekant Veer has gained the UCSA top lecturer award, along with an Early Career Researcher Award – a good example of a great teacher and researcher. And since his latest work was on voyeuristic Facebook use, he’s media friendly too
6. Quake & Religion Laidlaw College co-hosted a conference yesterday in Christchurch on Theology and Church Architecture – Otago Uni and Victoria academics commented on the post-quake options. What a good idea by Laidlaw!
7. MBA Tour Massey has sent almost 50 MBA students offshore to learn about the wider world – nice idea.
8. Cars After hitting a tree in June, MIT students have helped a rally driver get his car back on the road. 50 WelTec students are racing modified mobility scooters on 30 Oct, along with the local Labour and National MPs. Secondary school students’ mini motorbikes.
9. Same-Sex Marriage Massey’s Deborah Russell has a Dom Post op-ed on the need for same-sex marriage.
10. Suicide Two Wintec researchers have been talking to people who attempted suicide (and obviously didn’t succeed).
11. WITT in the News Andrew Little, Labour’s New Plymouth candidate, commented on cuts to industry training and WITT – read the op-ed and you’ll get a sense of why he will go places in Parliament. Labour’s tertiary spokesperson was with Little yesterday and had some lovely words for WITT and some policy ideas.
12. Politics Doug Stevens, a former staffer of MIT, AUT and NMIT, is number 2 on United Future’s list (which sounds better than it is).
13. RWC The Massey rugby player size story even made the BBC website. AUT statistician Robin Hankin on the post-RWC 1987 win baby boom. Victoria’s Marc Wilson, Massey’s Malcolm Mulholland and Canterbury’s Camilla Obel all on the likely reaction to a RWC win/loss (and a longer version).
14. Short Bits Auckland: positive evaluation of pharmacist initiative; end of year student party; business plan competition winners. Victoria: student protesting; BOPP: student did well in fashion comp (release); Rena response. Otago Poly: grad does practical 3D modelling project. AUT: grad’s hotel booking app; student off to APEC youth event. Massey: latest numbers on bird rescue; Mark Brown on e-learning strategy; Mick Roberts on mathematical models for disease spread; design hall of fame inductee. Undergrad interns in Christchurch for summer. Canterbury: study centre wins award; Prof Jack Heinemann on milk consumption. Ag ITO: working with women to reduce quad bike deaths. Waikato: 50 students helping with Rena cleanup. Unitec: work-based learning in Christchurch. Otago Uni: national park apps; VC Prof Harlene Hayne at a She’s Motivated conference and awarding the top lecturer awards (as voted by students). TEU: fee rises, NZCA and PEETO settlements; and on a Treasury project.