Policy, Management & People

1. Self-Indulgent Education? A Stuff blogger is going back to study (after having 2 degrees already) and invites her readers to comment on whether she’s being self-indulgent. She gets a few of the costs wrong, suggesting that because she’s paid back her previous loans, it doesn’t matter, but fees (even under the original loan interest rates) only covered 20-30% of costs. Anyway, have a look if you’re keen.
2. New Tauranga Campus The new BOPP-Waikato-Awanuiarangi campus in Tauranga will have free use of 0.4 hectares from the Tauranga City Council. The group is also seeking $15m from the regional council and $15m from a local energy trust. That’s a lot of money, but it’s the sort of amount that other institutions pay for themselves. Good luck to the group in finding alternative funding.
3. Rowarth Move Waikato celebrates its appointment of Prof Jacqueline Rowarth (Waikato Times). She actually gets less coverage than she deserves in ED Blog because her NBR columns are usually behind a paywall..
4. Starpath Auckland’s Starpath project, which helps to improve school performance in Auckland is expanding to a wider group of schools.
5. TEC Employment Case Former TEC CFO Rochelle Leahy lost an ERA case over unjustifiable dismissal.
6. Extras: two new Waiariki managers – Rosemary Johnson and Greg Brimmer; Auckland’s Russell Snell supports Otago Uni’s new neurological chair; steel pou being installed at Massey Albany.

Research & Innovation

1. Rat Urine Victoria’s Wayne Linklater is leading a team analysing rat urine to develop better baits for trapping them.
2. Extras: AUT’s Philippa Pidgeon has a new dance routine; Otago Uni student tagging albatrosses.

Public Issues

1. PNG Auckland’s Steven Ratuva comments on the PNG situation.
2. Extras: more dead whales to be checked out by Massey; Otago Uni’s Chris Gallavin on extradition and Bryce Edwards on teapot tapes; Auckland’s Fiona Pienaar was on Breakfast to discuss toi moko; caring for penguins at Massey.

Students

1. Aoraki’s Got Talent A new Aoraki student has done well at a talent competition. You can see the video and it’s a good song.
2. Extras: UCOL Wairarapa open day; Lincoln had a Decision Day; Aoraki baking students.

Stakeholders

1. Subway Citing Subway cited some Auckland research .
2. Extras: 2degrees and its Maori partner are putting up some big money for Auckland ICT scholarships for Maori students; Massey pop-up garden.

Teaching & Learning

1. Teach First Stuart Middleton has a thoughtful piece on Teach First – essentially he says it won’t solve the larger problems around curriculum structure facing secondary schools. There’s more from another blogger here. I think both tend to overstate Teach First’s claims, which are relatively modest, if you read them closely.
2. Science Comms Blogger Grant Jacobs opines on what should be in science communication courses.
3. CAM Teaching Blogger and Waikato academic Alison Campbell writes on whether universities should teach complementary and alternative medicines.
4. Extras: Massey’s Elizabeth Gray gets teaching award.

1. Loan Scheme Loses Money TV3 did a story at the weekend disclosing how the interest-free student loan scheme would fail if it was a business, although it must be said that giving away money at no cost has never been seen as a winning business strategy. I’m happy it’s being highlighted but the treatment is a bit odd. Keith Ng at Public Address got grumpy about the story.
2. ACE Numbers The Press ran a story on the decline in ACE student numbers, seemingly just citing numbers from a representative of ACE-providing schools. The numbers are probably about right but I’d love to see what has really happened in that market and what people have done instead.
3. Otago Poly to Akld Otago Poly is setting up an Auckland campus to serve international students. They’re working with PTE Future Skills and plan to offer the first year of their business degree there.
4. TEC to Go? The TEC would be abolished if Tamaki independent candidate Stephen Berry has his way – he won’t, of course.
5. Transport Training Bay of Plenty Poly has a new transport training centre.
6. NZ Studies The 2009 closure of the UK-based Centre for NZ Studies made the news at the weekend as there was some controversy in the air. I’m not sure I care either way but it seems the accusations could either spell out corruption or a negotiated settlement, depending on how you look at it.
7. People Should Google AUT’s Alan Robie has been promoted to professor and the media release claimed that he might be the first journalism professor in NZ or the Pacific (there are heaps in Australia though).
8. King’s Education Push for an inquiry into the death of a King’s Education student in the Feb quake.
9. Extras: Otago Uni disability conference could lead to centre at Uni; WITT’s Richard Handley on youth unemployment (he’s misnamed in the report); decisions on Massey’s teacher education courses in new year; NZUSA likes the Maori Party tertiary education policy; discussion on IRL reforms (and again); Otago Uni’s advanced school science programme; Shane Telfer’s Fulbright; new Otago Uni neurosurgery lecturer.

Research & Innovation

1. Vanuatu Waikato’s Julie Barbour has a Marsden Grant to “complete the world’s first large-scale comparative study of “mood systems” in the Vanuatu languages” …
2. Climate Change Otago Uni and Victoria academics have reviewed the government’s work on climate change and found it came up short – blogger No Right Turn complains that the report is not available online.
3. Extras: Auckland’s Crown Lynn exhibition.

Public Issues

1. Election A confused Unitec student is interviewed. Victoria’s Jon Johansson on the Epsom situation. Massey’s Jane Parker on employment policies and Claire Matthews on raising the retirement age.
2. MMP Academics comment on MMP referendum: Massey’s Grant Duncan, Victoria’s Prof Nigel Roberts. Unitec’s Keith Rankin on the MMP referendum (and Massey’s Claire Robinson too)
3. Steve Williams Unbelievably, two academics were found to comment on Steve William’s behaviour.
4. Name that Sea Creature Auckland’s Mark Costello and Victoria’s Lisa Bryant try to name a sea creature washed ashore.
5. Blogging Victoria’s Danyl McLauchlan is one of NZ’s top bloggers (The Dim Post) and was profiled at the weekend. He has about 10 times my readership and is generally funnier. LawFuel also mentioned Victoria’s Dean Knight and Otago Uni’s Andrew Geddis as top law bloggers.
6. Extras: Canterbury’s Annie Potts on chickens’ history and emotions; Massey’s Claire Matthews on money personality tests and Prof Subhas Mukhopadhyay on a dodgy power saving tool; Auckland’s Rhys Jones, a public health specialist, on climate change; Victoria’s Prof John Pratt on penal systems; Auckland’s Jeff Harrison on concerns about a prescription drug; Canterbury’s Greg Newbold says prison crowding leads to assaults; AUT’s Robin Hankin on picking Lotto numbers; Prof Bruce Glavovic on the emotional toll of the Christchurch quakes; Susan Krumdieck’s UK lecture online; Canterbury’s Jeremy Finn on an IP dispute; Otago Uni’s Barrie Peake reckons that we should be testing for oil in BOP seafood; Massey’s Chris Wilkins on P’s declining popularity (Fairfax); Auckland’s Clare Wall on detox diets and Prof Tim Hazeldine on asset sales; Oamaru lecture by Victoria’s Conal McCarthy; Doug Sellman on alcohol.

Students

1. Cauliflower Winners HSI has announced its cauliflower cooking winners.
2. Intern Scheme NMIT is celebrating 14 years of an intern scheme run with a group of German universities – sounds like interesting stuff.
3. Top Otago apprentice… was Rachae Lynch of the Retail Institute.
4. Food Bank OUSA has had a big year for its food bank (ODT, RNZ).
5. Extras: Massey student who focuses more on swimming; Waikato student and netball umpire; Ohope building apprentice; Otago Poly trying to get women into the trades; Lincoln students have Red Zone ideas; BCITO expo; Otago Uni design students showing work at Arthur’s Pass; Massey Wellington design grads exhibition.

Stakeholders

1. Universe Tweets Otago Uni’s ScienceTeller Festival has an “explain the origins of the universe” tweeting competition.
2. Rena No new oiled wildlife found by Massey team (Stuff), but the Palmie Wildlife Centre will stay closed until January due to diversion of resources to Tauranga;
3. Top Farmer Lincoln’s South Island farmer of the year named.
4. Extras: top user of Otago Poly’s biodiesel consortium; Telford hosted a Clutha District Council meeting; sports academy link for TWOA; Unitec community garden; Bay of Plenty Poly students setting up Xmas decorations; student-built house fails to sell at BOPP; wine competition at Auckland.

Teaching & Learning

1. Adult Learner Awards…in Bay of Plenty.

1. Uni Bailout? Canterbury is seeking another $150m from the government to deal with its quake woes.
2. Kids Barred? Some kids may be pulled from school if Canterbury builds a bar next door (NB sounds like hyperbole to me).
3. Maori Trades Otago Poly is helping to encourage more Maori into trades.
4. Extras: NZUSA on the student loan burden on students; Waiariki involved in wood chip power plant;

Research & Innovation

1. Royal Society Fellows 13 new fellows were elected to the Royal Society, including 2 from Otago Uni.
2. Antarctic Waikato team off to the Antarctic.
3. Whales AUT’s Emma Beatson talks about her work analysing stranded whales, while Massey academics have ruled on cause of death for 2 whales.
4. Extras: Massey’s Caroline McQuarrie to exhibit; Otago Uni Fulbright winner Jacinta Ruru to look at indigenous property law; Canterbury’s Misko Cubrinovski has new quake research; community research seminar at Unitec; book on Canterbury art launched.

Public Issues

1. iPhones Victoria’s Paul Warren reckons that the Kiwi accent might baffle the new iPhone’s Siri voice recognition system.
2. Extras: Otago Uni’s Doug Sellman on alcohol and free trade; Massey’s Grant Duncan on the electoral referendum; Massey unconference on sustainability; Massey’s David Tripe on Westpac profits; more penguins moving into aviaries in BOP; part-time Unitec lecturer on housing density;

Students

1. Krazy Karts WelTec welding students held a race with their pedal karts in Petone.
2. New Apps Waikato students have developed some useful smart phone apps.
3. Extras: Raukawa student standing for Mana; Jade Prize winners at Lincoln; WelTec student exhibition on Wellington wharf; Canterbury Maori leader scheme; CPIT has 100 new scholarships; awards for UCOL students; electoral sausage sizzle for NorthTec students; BOPP end of year exhibition coming up.

Stakeholders

1. Top Accountants TWOA’s Joe Hanita is a finalist for outstanding new accountant, while Auckland Chancellor Roger France is up for the top accountant award.
2. Extras: CPIT tutor judging olive oil;

Teaching & Learning

1. Te Reo WITT’s involvement in Te Reo o Taranaki.

Policy & Management

1. Big ITO News The NZ Herald had two big stories at the weekend on ITOs: one on issues over the assessment of plumbing apprentices and another with more details on clawbacks from ITOs for 2009-10 and ongoing monitoring of some ITOs. I’m doing some work for the ITF right now so will refrain from comment.
2. UCOL Design Review UCOL’s Council has decided on 3 focus areas and is reviewing one of them (arts and design) across its Whanganui, Manawatu and Wairarapa areas (releases are essentially the same). The Wanganui Chronicle has covered it (and a summer school story). I have to say that this review looks like a superb idea at first glance.
3. Agricultural Deal NorthTec and Taratahi have done a deal to deliver agricultural courses in Northland – “real training on real farms”.
4. Youth Wage National proposed a new start-out wage, which included coverage for those in industry training (TV3). Canterbury’s Eric Crampton commented (NewstalkZB)
5. Extras The NZ Herald reviews the latest annual student loan scheme report; NZ First announced some tertiary-related policies; Wintec House won two regional NZIA awards (Idealog); Roger Kerr died on Friday night (Stuff) – I intend to write more about his work in education later.

Research & Innovation

1. Rugby Fairfax’s Adam Dudding reviews how rugby made us a bit smarter, covering a few academic stories of the last few weeks. AUT’s Kelly Sheerin is doing a study for the IRB on RWC injuries. You can check out the seismic impact of the RWC final crowd, thanks to Auckland’s Liam Wotherspoon.
2. Entrepreneurs Otago Poly students win NBR award. Auckland entrepreneur competition winners plus extra funding (and a related piece on Auckland/Otago Uni entrepreneurship courses).
3. New Colonial Resources Waikato’s Kathryn Parsons has announced a digitised version of colonial papers relating to NZ from 1830-70. Incidentally, my wife’s employer, NZ Micrographic Services, did the scanning and related work.
4. The Hagfish …got coverage by APNZ, TV3, One News, Stuff and NZN for Massey’s Prof Marti Anderson.
5. Extras Angie Farrow’s new play and Prof Bernhard Breier on omega-3 levels (Massey); Victoria Metcalf’s interesting work on Antarctic shellfish (Lincoln); map exhibition by Auckland’s Kathy Waghorn and Unitec’s Cris de Groot; Otago Uni’s Cameron Lacey on quake-related heart conditions.

Public Issues

1. Election Auckland’s Prof Jack Vowles on list MPs’ accountability. Otago Uni’s Bryce Edwards will speak (or has spoken) to John Minto (ODT), Holly Walker, Bill English – he also commented on Phil Goff’s unpopularity. Victoria’s Peter Thompson on RWC and politics. Auckland’s Campbell Jones on the need for a Robin Hood tax. Waikato’s Prof Natalie Jackson on super age changes (NZN). Massey’s Prof Chris Cunningham on the super age impact on Maori.
2. Maui Gas Line Unitec’s Jonathan Leaver on detecting gas leaks and doing preventive work.
3. Links: four academics on green growth; Victoria’s James Liu on forbidden love(ish) and Venezia Kingi on murder victims’ families; Otago Uni’s Prof Mark Henaghen on victims of crime; Massey’s Prof Ravi Ravindran on eggs; Auckland’s Prof Jane Kelsey on Pharmac ad Prof John Craig on nature sanctuaries (audio); Canterbury’s Greg Newbold on parole breaches, Jon Harding on Christchurch river silting and Prof Lucy Johnston on post-RWC afterglow; Waikato’s Prof Natalie Jackson on world population growth.

Students

1. End of Year Shows Massey has its big Blow creative arts festival at Albany and Wellington coming up. BOPP fashion and graphic design show.
2. Top Carpenter On Saturday the ODT was writing about the top southern building apprentice, but by Sunday he had been named national winner (NewstalkZB, Stuff).
3. Maori Otago tertiary education awards for Maori school students (ODT).
4. Sport: Waikato’s Tania Law becoming top netball umpire; Otago Uni’s Storm Purvis playing netball (My Netball). Canterbury’s Nick Ross in NZ junior rugby squad. Diesel apprentice’s karting. Otago Uni’s Campbell Makea in NZ softball team.
5. Links Otago Uni rubbish cleanup; Lincoln and Massey students in World Shepherds’ Challenge; EXITO blaster coating graduation; Unitec student wins furniture award.

Community/Industry Links

1. Heat Wintec’s heat chamber used to prepare athletes.
2. Kiwi Op Otago Uni @ Wgtn has helped operate on a white kiwi.
3. Links Auckland’s Rod Wills involved in disability arts festival; DairyNZ CE notes link with Massey; Aoraki hosted a multicultural festival.

Teaching & Learning

1. Literacy Workplace literacy by Sadler & Associates.
2. Links Quad bike training by Ag ITO and Taratahi; simulation game for Retail Institute won award; community ed by Occupy Wgtn; Otago Uni’s top medical school teachers; NZ Herald on Waikato-Tainui MBA in a quasi-advertorial.