Dear Colleagues,
Welcome back to those of our colleagues who have been away over the past weeks. During the period between semesters, many take the opportunity to participate in conferences in Australia and abroad while others are in the field – with or without students – pursuing their work.
A very warm welcome to returning students too – and to new students who are commencing programs next week. I hope the semester ahead is rewarding for you all.
Orientation for Semester 2 happens on campus this week. Even as we get this study period underway, the University also gears up to encourage students to choose JCU for study commencing 2009. Some of our colleagues went to TSXPO in Brisbane earlier in the month and JCU Open Days happen next month on August 17 in Cairns and August 24 in Townsville. As mentioned via email a little while ago, I encourage you all to participate in Open Day activities. It is an opportunity to showcase our programs and our research and to bring the community into what we do.
Shortly the much anticipated Innovation Review report will be released. It is due on July 31. As you’ll recall, the Panel visited both Townsville and Cairns campuses and we were very pleased to provide a forum for the Panel to explore issues of tropical science, knowledge and innovation as well as traditional knowledge with members of indigenous communities.
Last Friday, I was in Canberra attending the IRU Australia consultation with the Bradley Review committee. You’ll recall that committee is charged with examining Australia’s higher education sector with a view to providing recommendations for Government on the future of the sector. It was a very interesting meeting. The Panel visits Townsville on Monday 28 July – consulting with a broad range of people on this issue. I feel very grateful that the Panel has chosen to gather information in our part of the world.
On Monday 21 July, I participated in one of a series of seminars about the Bradley Review convened by the Centre for the Study of Higher Education at the University of Melbourne. I suggested that we need to bring “place” back in to any consideration of the future of higher education, noting the importance of avoiding ‘on average’ assumptions, analyses and solutions. Sweeping statements or solutions about higher education misses the highly variable and textured nature of the sector and the continent. The presentation is located at http://www.cshe.unimelb.edu.au/investinginthefuture/SH%20Presentation.pdf .
Closer to home, it is a particularly busy time for faculties and divisions as work proceeds on their 2009-2011 plans and budgets. The critical issue is to ensure that these plans speak to the University Plan, itself aimed at actioning the University’s strategic intent. These will be finalized in September, in discussion and against the level of performance we need to achieve across the University.
Finally, I’d like to bring some outstanding news to your attention. Professor Terry Hughes, Director of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, hubbed at JCU, has received yet another award. He recently received the prestigious Darwin Medal from the International Society for Reef Studies for his contribution to biological science, particularly “…for his work on understanding the impact of climate change, pollution and bleaching on coral reefs.” (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/07/13/2302259.htm) I’m sure you join with me to congratulate Terry on this latest entry in his very long list of prestigious awards and eminent achievements.
Cheers,
Sandra
Sunday 27 July 2008
Sunday 6 July 2008
BIO, Beijing, Professor Emeritus Norman Palmer, SQC and AUQA
Dear Colleagues,
Much has happened since my last blog entry. During June, in addition to the usual activities, I attended the combined Vice-Chancellors/Chancellors meeting and the Universities Australia meeting in Sydney, the BIO convention in San Diego, the inaugural JCU graduation for our students studying in Beijing – and bade farewell to Professor Emeritus Norman Palmer.
Australia’s Chancellors and Vice Chancellors meet as a combined group annually. This year, the meeting coincided with the release of the Bradley Review discussion paper. The paper is carefully crafted. It provides no real indication of preferred direction or solutions. The University will respond to the paper as part of the Innovative Research Universities Australia group and independently as well.
BIO is the largest and most extensive conference on biotechnology and related fields in the world. Around 20,000 delegates attended, including JCU colleagues, over 100 Queenslanders and 450 Australians. Other Queensland universities have engaged with the meeting over many years. I was keen to better understand it and its potential for JCU. At the meeting, there are many opportunities for interaction with colleagues, with those involved in the creation and commercialization of new technologies. As is often the case for most meetings, the real value emerges on the back of vicarious interactions while waiting for formal events to unfold. During the meeting, past Premier of Queensland, the Hon Peter Beattie, was recognised for his commitment to the industry, receiving the inaugural BIO International award.
I officiated at JCU’s first graduation ceremony for Bachelor of Information Technology graduates who have studied their program through the Beijing University of Technology (BJUT). In all, 71 graduates were presented. It was a terrific event – my congratulations to Ceremonies Coordinator Roger Yeldham who organized and managed the whole event.
Professor Norman Palmer, DVC (Research and Innovation) retired on Friday 4 July. Norman provided 11 years of loyal and committed service to the University and had overseen the further development of JCU’s research profile and productivity. Since I’ve been at JCU, I have been impressed by Norman’s ideas, his capacity for work as well as his deep commitment to advancing JCU. His leadership in our preparation for the RQF will serve us very well in the ERA era. In recognition of the significant nature of Norman’s contribution to JCU, he has been awarded the status of Professor Emeritus of the University and will, therefore, always be a member of our community.
We have had some very good news from Singapore in the last week or so. Our Singapore campus has achieved Singapore Quality Class (SQC) accreditation; this is a major achievement and provides powerful, external validation of the quality of our work in Singapore. On quality assurance matters closer to home, we have been advised that AUQA will audit the University next in 2011.
The Australian Chamber Music Festival is happening in Townsville as I write – and JCU has supported and sponsored this event over many years. Indeed, the Festival would likely not have happened at all if it were not for the advocacy, organization and support of the inaugural event, 18 years ago, by Professor Ray Golding, then Vice Chancellor of JCU. I trust that Townsville based members of our community have the opportunity to attend one or more Festival events.
Cheers,
Sandra
Much has happened since my last blog entry. During June, in addition to the usual activities, I attended the combined Vice-Chancellors/Chancellors meeting and the Universities Australia meeting in Sydney, the BIO convention in San Diego, the inaugural JCU graduation for our students studying in Beijing – and bade farewell to Professor Emeritus Norman Palmer.
Australia’s Chancellors and Vice Chancellors meet as a combined group annually. This year, the meeting coincided with the release of the Bradley Review discussion paper. The paper is carefully crafted. It provides no real indication of preferred direction or solutions. The University will respond to the paper as part of the Innovative Research Universities Australia group and independently as well.
BIO is the largest and most extensive conference on biotechnology and related fields in the world. Around 20,000 delegates attended, including JCU colleagues, over 100 Queenslanders and 450 Australians. Other Queensland universities have engaged with the meeting over many years. I was keen to better understand it and its potential for JCU. At the meeting, there are many opportunities for interaction with colleagues, with those involved in the creation and commercialization of new technologies. As is often the case for most meetings, the real value emerges on the back of vicarious interactions while waiting for formal events to unfold. During the meeting, past Premier of Queensland, the Hon Peter Beattie, was recognised for his commitment to the industry, receiving the inaugural BIO International award.
I officiated at JCU’s first graduation ceremony for Bachelor of Information Technology graduates who have studied their program through the Beijing University of Technology (BJUT). In all, 71 graduates were presented. It was a terrific event – my congratulations to Ceremonies Coordinator Roger Yeldham who organized and managed the whole event.
Professor Norman Palmer, DVC (Research and Innovation) retired on Friday 4 July. Norman provided 11 years of loyal and committed service to the University and had overseen the further development of JCU’s research profile and productivity. Since I’ve been at JCU, I have been impressed by Norman’s ideas, his capacity for work as well as his deep commitment to advancing JCU. His leadership in our preparation for the RQF will serve us very well in the ERA era. In recognition of the significant nature of Norman’s contribution to JCU, he has been awarded the status of Professor Emeritus of the University and will, therefore, always be a member of our community.
We have had some very good news from Singapore in the last week or so. Our Singapore campus has achieved Singapore Quality Class (SQC) accreditation; this is a major achievement and provides powerful, external validation of the quality of our work in Singapore. On quality assurance matters closer to home, we have been advised that AUQA will audit the University next in 2011.
The Australian Chamber Music Festival is happening in Townsville as I write – and JCU has supported and sponsored this event over many years. Indeed, the Festival would likely not have happened at all if it were not for the advocacy, organization and support of the inaugural event, 18 years ago, by Professor Ray Golding, then Vice Chancellor of JCU. I trust that Townsville based members of our community have the opportunity to attend one or more Festival events.
Cheers,
Sandra
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