[HERDSA]: News on Wed 2 June 2010

[Roger Landbeck]

Dear List Members

This week we have:

	
	HERDSA 2010 FULL PROGRAM NOW ONLINE

	Forthcoming HERDSA Seminar in ACT

	Forthcoming AUQA Forum

	News from Higher Education



1) News of the 2010 HERDSA Conference (34 days to go)


HERDSA 2010 FULL PROGRAM NOW ONLINE

I am delighted to let you know that the full program for the HERDSA 2010
Conference, proudly hosted by the Higher Education Research Group of Deakin
University, is now available online at:
http://conference.herdsa.org.au/2010/program.html


CEO of the Australian Learning and Teaching Council, Dr Carol Nicoll will
address the conference on new challenges and opportunities for the ALTC as
the higher education sector prepares for the introduction of new educational
architecture including the creation of the Tertiary Education Quality and
Standards Agency (TEQSA). TEQSA is just one of the elements in this new
student-centred approach being introduced by the Australian Government. New
challenges as well as opportunities for learning and teaching are likely to
emerge as this concentrated focus on improving the student learning
experience strengthens. Dr Nicoll will discuss how ALTC can best position
the organisation to respond to these challenges so that it can continue to
support Australia's higher education sector through its programs and range
of activities.

Other invited speakers include the Director of the Institute for the
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning at the University of British Columbia,
Associate Professor Gary Poole; Chief Executive of Otago Polytechnic, Phil
Ker; Associate Professor Leesa Wheelahan from the L.H. Martin Institute for
Higher Education Leadership and Management; Professor Carmel Mcnaught from
The Chinese University of Hong Kong and manager for student engagement at La
Trobe University, Ngaere Blair. 

The program includes a range of full papers, showcases, posters and
workshops relevant to the theme of reshaping higher education.  Contributors
from across Australia and New Zealand as well as from the UK, Canada, Hong
Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and elsewhere will come together for 4 days of
presentation, discussion and debate at the beautiful Hilton on the Park.

Register online at: http://conference.herdsa.org.au/2010/registration.html


We look forward to seeing you at HERDSA 2010 in July.

Marcia Devlin
HERDSA 2010 Conference Convener



2) FORTHCOMING HERDSA SEMINAR IN ACT

Higher Education Research and Development (HERDSA) Seminar
 
Preview of three ACT presentations at the HERDSA 2010 Conference

This seminar provides the opportunity to listen to presentations around
research and innovation in higher education occurring in the ACT; for the
presenters to fine-tune their presentations; and for attendees to discuss
the presentations in advance of the HERDSA 2010 July Conference Reshaping
Higher Education in Melbourne.

Exploring critical conceptions of student-led evaluation in Australian
higher education [Stephen Darwin, ANU]

Do Australian universities short-change teaching to subsidize research?
[Lawrence Cram, ANU]

The impact of assessment on learning achievement [Dennis Bryant and Felicia
Zhang UC]

Presenters: as above

Date: Wednesday, 9 June

Time: 4.30pm - 6.00pm

Location: 5B85

More detail: http://www.canberra.edu.au/tlc/current-events

Registration: It would help if you registered for this event at:

http://www.canberra.edu.au/tlc/asd/programs/registration


 
3) FORTHCOMING AUQA FORUM

The Australian Quality Forum: Higher Education (AuQF) is the premier
national annual event for the discussion of quality assurance and quality
enhancement in the Australian higher education sector. The Forum's aim is to
stimulate debate about quality assurance within the sector and to share good
practice.

AuQF2010, the 9th annual forum, will be held at Sofitel Gold Coast
Broadbeach, 30 June - 2 July 2010.

The forum theme is 'Quality in Uncertain Times'. The program is intended to
reflect the evolving Australian higher education quality assurance
landscape.

The program will address issues of particular relevance to universities,
those operating in non self accrediting institutes, and students.

Further details may be found at http://www.auqa.edu.au/auqf/2010/


4) News from Higher Education


AUSTRALIA: Worrying evidence of rapid changes
Tim Thwaites
A national forum on climate change, organised by Universities Australia in
Parliament House in Canberra, heard unequivocal evidence that climate change
was occurring across the country, that it was accelerating and that the
impact on Australian society and the national economy was already apparent.
Speakers, including academics, scientists, social scientists and public
servants from universities, research institutes and government agencies,
revealed the extent of the challenges facing the nation. 
Full report on the University World News site
http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20100528185313963




AUSTRALIA-NZ: More academic-student contact needed
Hamish Coates and Ian R Dobson
Universities should increase student interaction with academics because this
is critical for students' retention and graduate prospects, a new survey has
found. A report of the survey notes that science students have the highest
drop-out rate - a disappointing outcome given the shortage of science
graduates in the Australasian workforce.
Full report on the University World News site
http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20100528183922568



UK: Teaching resources available worldwide
Cayley Dobie
An online resource network 'Jorum' is offering professors and educators
worldwide access to a growing database of teaching resources posted by
fellow educators working in the United Kingdom.
Full report on the University World News site
http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20100528183922568

Check out www.jorum.ac.uk


US: Credit for teaching 
At many colleges and universities, the tenure trinity of teaching, research
and service is widely viewed (at least by those coming up for tenure) as a
myth, writes Scott Jaschik for Inside Higher Ed. A new book (or articles in
the right journals) will trump a great teaching idea every time, say many
professors. Classroom innovation doesn't get any credit. Last week the
American Sociological Association announced a new effort that, organisers
hope, could change that.
More on the Inside Higher Ed site
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2010/05/26/sociology



Roger Landbeck
List Moderator