The New Zealand Universities’ Academic Workforce Planning Project
23 January 2012, by Kevin Seales
For a number of years, the eight New Zealand universities have shared concerns about the future viability of the sector’s academic workforce. Like other countries, as New Zealand moves towards 2020 there will be significant pressures on universities in maintaining an effective and efficient academic workforce. The international competition for top academics is on the rise and New Zealand staff are being attracted both out of the sector and out of New Zealand. During this same period members of the existing academic workforce will be retiring at a higher rate than ever before experienced. In addition, due to the changing ethnic mix in New Zealand, it is expected that this workforce will need to include a significantly greater proportion of Māori and Pacific peoples than at present.
Quality Assurance in Hong Kong Higher Education: An East-West Approach
19 January 2012, by Rosalind Chan
The higher education sector in Hong Kong is a relatively small and exclusive group comprising of eight publicly-funded institutions. These institutions cater to about 18 percent of the eligible age group within Hong Kong’s population of seven million. The University Grants Committee (UGC) was formed by the Hong Kong government to safeguard and promote quality among these publicly-funded institutions. Since its inception, the UGC has conducted a number of reviews of universities, such as the Management Review (1998-1999), the Teaching and Learning Quality Process Reviews (TLQPR) (1995-1997 and 2001-2003), the Performance and Role-Related Funding Scheme (2004) , and, most recently, the first round of Quality Audits (2008-2011).
Overseas students help boost Australian universities research profile
30 November 2011, by Professor Emeritus Frank Larkins
Higher degree research student numbers in Australian universities have grown very strongly over the period 2000 to 2010 enhancing university research profiles. The contribution from overseas higher degree research students has increased very significantly. In 2010 one in 3.5 of the enrolled doctoral research students and one in four of the doctoral completing students were from overseas. By comparison in 2000 the numbers were one in eight and one in six respectively. The situation for Masters by Research students shows a similar trend. More domestic students are now part time compared with overseas students, such that on a full time equivalent student basis the dependence by universities on the research output of overseas students is even greater than reported above. Any downturn in overseas student demand for research places in Australia could have serious consequences for university research performance and the national benefits that follow. Australian higher education research will come under increased competitive pressure when the financial situation in Europe and the US improves. New policy initiatives are required to secure an innovative future involving talented research students.
New Ways of Education Management: Y Wait?
29 November 2011, by Jan Stevenson
Trying to select which applicant would make the best new lecturer or staff member? As you search hopefully through the stack of CVs, consider this: recent research by the Queensland Government found that by 2012 (that’s in a month or so!) 40% of the Australian population will belong to the group dubbed Gen Y - those born between 1978 and 1994. Some of them have already been in jobs in education for a few years. Have they stayed? Are they happy with the status quo? Are they happy with receiving a small incremental reward each year? Are they proving to be resolute researchers? Are they clever and resourceful academics? Are they excellent communicators?
The NZ University System Shifts Gear
28 November 2011, by Prof Pat Walsh
Though not accompanied by banner headlines, or even especially noticed by the broader populous, the last few years have seen the tertiary sector in New Zealand embark on a distinctly new policy direction.
The move from one system to another has thrown up a range of challenges, exacerbated by the degree to which previous ways had become entrenched. The new challenges cannot go unaddressed.