Policy, Management & People

1. PEI to Close Practical Education Institute in New Plymouth is going to close, with the loss of 110 jobs (initial story). PEI lost most of its TEC funding this year, after continuing low course completion rates (49% in 2009, 52% in 2010, compared to a TEC threshold of 55%). Those with a long memory will remember PEI, then named PETC, made headlines for even worse completion rates in 2000 or so (under 10% from memory), which sparked the use of completion rates as a measurement in tertiary education (and restrictions on giving away computers to entice students to enrol…). I can imagine a few people involved back then may not be that sad at this demise. For me, I’m just happy to see TEC following through on its performance messages. I only wish TEC had put out a release setting out how the money had been reallocated to more useful courses at better performing PTEs, which would provide a more balanced picture.
2. New Prof Otago Poly has made Khyla Russell a professor (ODT).
3. Zero Fees There’s a good story on SIT’s Zero fees scheme today – well worth a read.
4. Extras: interview with Labour’s Grant Robertson; AUT’s marae featured in Tamati Coffey’s wedding (I know it’s not really about tertiary education); The Manawatu Standard gets grumpy about VSM; BOPP jazz teacher; Victoria trans-Tasman rower plans to get back to work; Unitec ads; profile of TWOA’s early learning manager; CPIT lecturer standing for Council; man accused of impersonating Massey staffer to go to court today;

Research & Innovation

1. Search Engines Victoria’s Daniel Crabtree has new ideas for search engines.
2. Extras: Massey property research; Waikato and Massey scientists using fungi to reduce dioxins.

Public Issues

1. Wilding Pines Otago Uni’s Mick Strack has an interesting piece on wilding pines in Central Otago.
2. Extras: Otago Uni scientists warn about Dunedin quake risk; blogger has a go at Auckland’s Chris de Freitas over climate change denial; Auckland’s Warren Brookbanks misses the point (or was partially quoted) about a petition; Canterbury’s Ian Lochhead on heritage buildings; EIT’s Derek Lardelli is part of a group repatriating toi moko.

Students

1. Fines Down Otago Uni’s fining of students went down by $2K to about $11K. Does any other provider fine students?
2. Top Covers The cover designer of OUSA paper Critic has won international recognition. Here are some of the covers, which are pretty good.
3. Extras: student tracking albatrosses; top school student off to Auckland; Canterbury PhD grad’s award; school science students at Otago Uni; no sign of Otago Uni student missing off Porirua; Auckland Summer Shakespeare.; Massey Black Stick.

Teaching & Learning

1. Adjunct Faculty Waiariki is putting together an adjunct faculty group to give students in its Maori school better links to industry/community expertise.

1. Whitireia Buildings Whitireia has pulled out of a $3m contribution to a performing arts development in Porirua, both because they’ve moved their course into Wellington and approved a $20m development at Porirua for classrooms etc to replace prefabs. It’s upset some people in Porirua, but it’s hard to fault the priorities.
2. Industry Training The MOE will be getting a strong submission from Horticulture NZ on the industry training review.
3. Congrats Richard Richard Handley, WITT CE, has been congratulated by iwi on meeting Treaty responsibilities.
4. Titles Race? Ha ha, last week I suggested that Auckland’s appointment of 13 Distinguished Professors might start an arms race around titles and now Lincoln has named one! To be fair, the decision would have been made before Auckland’s release, but it does look like a developing trend anyway.
5. VSM Hearing Te Mana Akonga has apparently gained a Waitangi Tribunal hearing into its claims about VSM legislation.
6. Tough Competition The Spirit of Adventure is running a special trip for unemployed 17-20 year olds.
7. Raukawa App Te Wananga O Raukawa has had some bad news recently but I just came across this cool app they have, eWai, that has waiata tawhito on it. If I have it correctly, they are the traditional chants heard on marae.
8. Extras: Victoria now has the triple crown of business school accreditation; Methven summer school enrolments; new construction and student facilities at UCOL Wairarapa.

Research & Innovation

1. Food Science Lincoln’s first professor of food science, Charles Brennan, sees a bright future in the area for NZ.
2. Extras: Auckland cigarette research; three Canterbury researchers to give papers at human-computer interaction conference; new Victoria climate change book.

Public Issues

1. Aviation Oddity The person who allegedly impersonated Massey’s Frank Sharp, head of the aviation school, in an email that was entered into evidence at a coroner’s inquiry into an aviation accident has been revealed. It turns out that Peter Kirker, a CAA employee (he resigned last week), may have sent the email but the charges will be defended. This is very odd, but has got media coverage from RNZ, NewstalkZB, APNZ, APNZ, One News, NZN, Dom Post, Fairfax and Fairfax.
2. Summer Reading Massey’s Prof Tom Nicholson has devised a kids summer reading programme, funded by a donation, to stop kids falling back in reading ability during the break.
3. Charter Schools Auckland’s Peter O’Connor gets a swerve from Karl Du Fresne over charter schools views.
4. Extras: Unitec’s Keith Rankin on the global debt crisis; Massey’s Chris Wilkins on the war on P; Auckland’s Michael Littlewood on KiwiSaver; Otago Uni’s Najib Lafraie on an Otago Museum exhibition; Waiariki’s Narissa Bayler on social media tribute pages; WITT’s Robyn Trewern making salads.

Students

1. SVA Nelson The Student Volunteer Army is heading off to help in Nelson.
2. Glacier Art Auckland student Amelia Hitchcock collaborated with Massey’s Martin Brook and Rob Dykes to create art on a glacier lake.
3. EIT…fashion end of year show (nice pics) and art exhibition.
4. Extras: Canterbury grads get fire safety design awards in Singapore.

Stakeholders

1. Squid AUT is showing off its giant squid at Auckland Museum this summer.
2. Rowing Lincoln’s Martin Berka is rowing across the Tasman (with a group) but is battling a bad foot infection (release).
3. Extras: Unitec’s Jamie Lane is also a top snowboarding coach/selector; Otago Uni’s Dave Gerrard moonlights as the chair of the Drowning Prevention Council; Waikato’s Prof David Hamilton helping improve lake quality; Massey is supporting a new Wellington Fashion Week.

Teaching & Learning

1. Extras: ATITO’s first carding technician grad; EIT’s new music programme.

1. Youth Unemployment The Reject Youth Unemployment coalition wants to meet Paula Bennett to discuss youth unemployment issues – given it is a leftwing coalition that launched a few weeks out from the election, complained about “the last three years” and is now inviting Bennett to meet via media release, I suspect they may not be that successful in their meeting goal.
2. $500K Waikato has gained a $500,000 bequest from Zena Daysh – and her ashes will be interred in New Plymouth today. Read the releases – she was quite a woman.
3. Taratahi Profile The Taranaki Daily News has written a long profile on Taratahi’s presence in the region and you should read it (NB I work with them but it’s still a good article).
4. Extras: Young Nats dislike Otago Uni student services fees but the Uni and OUSA are getting on with Orientation; Education NZ’s future; ITF research on industry training benefits (Idealog); new IBM storage system at Canterbury; Stuart Middleton on (non-tertiary) education Ministers; the NBR Editor has some research funding suggestions for Steven Joyce.

Research & Innovation

1. Smart Crows Auckland researchers have found out how smart crows are, which we largely knew already, but this time they have video to share.
2. Extras: Canterbury PhD student looking at impact of snow on rural areas; Victoria PhD student on learning languages in a pleasurable way; Waikato Tauranga harbour study (SunLive); Auckland tobacco research; Otago Uni’s Maori research report.

Public Issues

1. Cyber Bullying Waiariki’s Narissa Bayler on cyber bullying.
2. SOE Sales Victoria’s Jason Young questions whether preference for NZers in SOE share sales might breach trade agreements.
3. Extras: Otago Uni’s Nick Wilson on turkey tails; AUT’s Grant Schofield on NZers’ health; Auckland’s Michael Littlewood on savings.

Students

1. Murderer Sentenced Honglin Yu will serve at least 17 years for the murder of fellow Chinese student Jiayi ‘Kiko’ Li (3 News, 3 News).
2. Cancelled Graduation NMIT decided to cancel today’s graduation, given all the bad weather around Nelson.
3. Disliked Graduation Canterbury’s Eric Crampton isn’t a fan of graduations so analyses why people do and don’t go.
4. Extras: Victoria rowers; Massey student’s road-inspired exhibition; Canterbury students win national accounting awards; school principal retires to attend Waiariki; Otago Uni equestrian.

Stakeholders

1. Maori Trade Training Hawkins Construction will join with Ngai Tahu, CPIT, BETA and others to support trade training for Canterbury Maori (The Press).
2. Dr Richie McCaw Lincoln will give Richie McCaw an honorary doctorate next year (and I know that doesn’t make him a Dr) along with some other lesser celebrities with decades of professional work behind them (NZN, Stuff).
3. Extras: Victoria creative writing prize and literary journal; WelTec students upgrading ferry air-conditioning; Massey’s Jan Dixon testifies in a fraud case; Game Jam at Waikato; Canterbury artist in residence Fata Feu’u.

Teaching & Learning

1. Extras: Open Poly’s new science qual for primary school teachers; Waikato’s Holly Thorpe off to teach on a Fulbright.

1. Centre Closes Otago Poly is closing a South Dunedin learning centre.
2. Wellness A TWOA wellness app is up for a Microsoft award.
3. VSM Kiwiblog has a post on alleged misuse of funds by VUWSA, but he’s barking up the wrong tree in my opinion (I have an involvement up there).
4. Opposition Advice Stuart Middleton offers some advice to the Opposition parties.
5. Extras: risks of giving students Internet access.

Research & Innovation

1. Ants Ant findings by Victoria academics disputed.
2. Methane Massey’s Natasha Swainson has been researching how feed affects sheep methane emissions.
3. Extras: Massey robots conference and a book on kiwi by Isabel Castro.

Public Issues

1. Forgery Arrest The man who allegedly forged an email from Massey’s Frank Sharp about a coroner’s inquiry into an air crash has been arrested (NZ Herald, RNZ).
2. Papua Coverage AUT’s Prof David Robie says the NZ media’s coverage of West Papua and other Melanesian issues is shameful.
3. Extras: Canterbury’s John Cookson on the modernisation of Christchurch; Massey’s Jane Parker on gender bias in occupations.

Students

1. NZer of the Year Massey student Kimberley White is up for NZer of the Year, for getting through a very tough situation.
2. Adopt a Kindy UCOL carpentry students are going to adopt kindy in the Wairarapa and do some free work for them as a practical exercise.
3. Extras: Waikato cellist wins music competition; Otago Uni student model plus a singer and film-maker; Wintec student’s deck problems; Waikato student off for placement at Toshiba in Japan.

Stakeholders

1. Kendo CPIT had a kendo demonstration as part of their links with a Japanese university.
2. Manawatu History Massey’s Kerry Taylor co-curated a Manawatu history exhibition.
3. Roger Awards Auckland’s Joce Jesson and AUT’s Wayne Hope are judging the Roger Awards for NZ’s worst transnational corporation.
4. Extras: NMIT tutor also co-ordinates a motorbike club.

Policy & Management

1. Industry Training Drop Labour’s Jacinda Ardern publicises the drop in industry training numbers.
2. VSM Students’ associations preparing for income cut.
3. New ATTTO CE…is Kathy Wolfe, who has been Acting CE.
4. Whitireia Shift Whitireia is shifting into a temporary Kapiti campus until their new campus is ready.
5. Extras: Stuart Middleton redesigns the education system in his lunch hour; project manager on Artena integration at EIT-Tairawhiti.

Research & Innovation

1. Pornography A Marsden Fund grant at Auckland for pornography research has caused a wee stir.
2. Indian Migrants …are the focus of a study by Massey’s Prof Paul Spoonley (Stuff).
3. Pasture Meter Massey’s Ian Yule et al involved in developing a new pasture meter.
4. Coastal Research Waikato is opening a new coastal research field centre – I know Victoria and Auckland have them and I know Otago has a big boat at least, but who else has such a centre?
5. Kids’ Bikes Otago Poly’s Scot Eady has a cool Wellington exhibition about kids’ bikes – have a read.
6. Extras: Auckland’s Hans Edge on Pacific peoples’ hearts and team games; video of Waikato’s solar powered car (release).

Public Issues

1. Elections impact of tertiary education in Dunedin North electorate; Auckland’s Joe Atkinson on Goff’s police allegations; the Canterbury study of election coverage has some interesting results, but I think their apparent lack of correction for size and prominence of story may be a weakness; find out which academics are on TV on Saturday night, while Otago Uni is running its own election TV show; Massey’s Alexander Molchanov finds that elections (and politics) can hurt business; Auckland’s Bill Hodge on the Greens’ Kevin Hague’s Pike River legal action; Massey’s Claire Robinson on John Key (and again, with Auckland’s Joe Atkinson, and both of them on Phil Goff); Te Mana Akonga student voting guide;
2. Rena Waikato’s Prof Chris Battershill on Rena dispersants.
3. Family Violence Auckland’s Janet Fanslow has a NZ herald op-ed on family violence. Otago Uni study on family violence cited.
4. Trademarks Victoria’s Aroha Mead comments on an interesting library software trademark case.
5. Extras: Massey’s Wayne Barrar wins award for art book; Otago Uni academics on the drinking age; Otago/Victoria Uni academics speaking on eco design; Otago and Auckland Uni academics on euthanasia; Canterbury’s Eric Crampton and Auckland’s Tim Hazeldine on privatisation.

Students

1. Grad Shows Massey’s new grads’ fashion is here and here with pictures. Film School graduation in Wellington.
2. Meningitis Auckland’s Nikki Turner on a student vaccination drive.
3. Top Actors Toi Whakaari grads going well in Wellington theatre awards.
4. Extras: disabled people bullied in Nelson, including possibly an NMIT student; Otago Poly tramper rescued; motor racing Canterbury student; hospitality pathways; AUT student model; student film-makers.

Stakeholders

1. Manufacturing Help CPIT and MIT have put together what sound like a great seminar for Christchurch manufacturers.
2. Climate Change A Unitec staffer, Malia Talakai, is becoming a climate change envoy.
3. Extras: profile of Massey’s Sue Prescott; Victoria lecturer’s conviction; Otago Poly’s Matt Carter was a finalist for young exec of the year.

Teaching & Learning

1. Top Salon A New Plymouth salon has been named the top hairdressing training salon by HITO plus 3 Christchurch hairdressers won.

1. Fees up Lincoln’s fees are up 4% but the story also has some enrolment stats which show that it’s down, but nowhere near as much as Canterbury (media release, NewstalkZB). Here’s also an AUSA media release on fees and the Auckland protestors’ demands.
2. Quake Stuff Canterbury’s Prof Jarg Pettinga spoke yesterday at the Royal Commission on faults, including the need for a new tool to find hidden faults (RNZ, TVNZ with the video, NZ Herald). Canterbury’s George Parker has an op-ed on bringing the circus to town. New Canterbury scholarships and management students are helping out in the community.
3. Hall of Fame Massey’s design hall of fame has four new inductees, including the design school’s founder (from the 1880s) Arthur Riley.
4. Cannibalism There are allegations of cannibals in the Pacific and Canterbury’s Ruth McManus comments on our fascination with the topic.
5. Bishop in Trouble? Otago Uni’s Greg Dawes reckons that Dunedin’s Catholic bishop might be in trouble for criticising the Pope, but a priest thinks it’ll all be sweet.
6. Rena A volunteer’s experience of the Massey bird facility, while others have knitted penguin PJs (I kid you not – there’s a photo). Steve Maharey and John Key check out the penguins. Nice review of the constructive work by BOPP people.
7. Second Careers University features in the second careers of many of these people.
8. Baby Fish Jeffrey Shima, of Victoria, is checking out how baby fish breed in Wellington Harbour (it’s a good spot for them).
9. VSM Massey student newspaper may fold due to VSM, according to this stupid story. Since student media is in the list of approved uses of the student services levy and since Massey has collected enough money to cover all current students’ assn fees, I can’t see any scenario where Chaff will fold.
10. Top Website Victoria’s Deaf Studies Research Unit received an Australia-NZ Internet award (Idealog). The actual site is a bit dull, but I assume the award was for the online dictionary of NZ Sign Language.
11. Confucius Victoria’s Prof David Lamond presented research in Beijing on how Confucian thinking affects Chinese business ethics.
12. Science Comms Aimee over at SciBlogs has a nice review of a Victoria initiative for science communications – like speaking with your friends.
13. RWC The link between heart troubles and watching rugby is being explored by CPIT’s Peter Olsen.
14. Short Bits Waikato: Paraguayan grad gets right job; expats getting back into Kiwi life; Warren Deane farewelled. Otago Uni: measles has been contained for the moment; ride-share scheme dumped; more on freezing soft toys; Prof Tony Kettle on enzymes; postgrad’s pho bo recipe; Prof Barry Taylor on overweight people. Auckland: meningococcal vaccine research. TWOA: whakairo tutor has great experience in Peru. Massey: smart young scientist helped by Massey academics: Marsden funding for English project. Canterbury: homework programme going well. UCOL: Anne Tolley visiting. ATTTO: went pink for the Pink Ribbon Appeal day on Friday; developed an online tool for prospective pilots.