Closing out 2009 - and on to 2010
Dear Colleagues,
My last post for the year. I wrote last time that I would do some 'year in review' this time as well as focus on 2010. However, as I began thinking about it, I decided that I would instead focus on the coming year as I addressed 2009 fairly comprehensively at this month's Staff Forum. If you missed it, a copy of that presentation is at www.jcu.edu.au/vc/staff/staff_forums.
2010 is going to be a great year. We have some important events planned for the University and the broader community.
It is our 40th birthday on 20 April 2010. The week starting the 20th will feature a number of events on campus in Townsville and Cairns as well as at our other sites (see www.jcu.edu.au/forty ). The official birthday kick-off will be a terrific occasion where a slim volume history of the University will be launched and a number of prominent JCU alumni and staff will be recognized.
But we are not waiting until that date to recognize our anniversary. Orientation will be a different type of event in 2010, with an evening welcome early in the week, recalling the first 'University' orientation in 1970. It will be an occasion to which staff, new students, their parents, partners, supporters, continuing students and others will be invited and aims to welcome new students in particular to our scholarly community.
During the year, there will be other opportunities to recognize the history of the University and, most particularly, 50 years worth of contribution by staff and students, 40 years worth as JCU and the first 10 years as the University College of Townsville, then part of The University of Queensland. For example, we are planning a 'Back to JCU' day for alumni later in the year; we are hosting the 60th Anniversary Fulbright Symposium; the Australian Festival of Chamber Music turns 20 and we will be doing something with them to mark both birthdays, particularly noting JCU's involvement, through then Vice Chancellor Prof Ray Golding, in the instigation of the festival. Please see the website for more on our anniversary.
Of course, 2010 won't be just about our birthday. It will be an important year for our regular activity of teaching/learning and research.
In addition to undertaking our teaching and research, there will be a lot going on in respect of both these activities - at JCU and nationally.
In terms of teaching and learning, the new JCU Teaching and Learning Academy has been launched and will become more visibly present in our community as it develops. This is one of the most important developments in our community for 2010 and heralds a new approach to teaching and learning for us and a new opportunity to enhance T&L at JCU. This initiative is being led by Andy Vann. The curriculum refresh continues, I am keen to press our engagement with teaching and learning technologies so that we digital immigrants can better interact with the many digital natives who are our students. We have important work to do preparing for the new demand-driven model of student recruitment/engagement, starting 2012. 'The student experience' is set to loom large for us and for all universities.
The 2010 research agenda is huge. Next year, the Federal Government's new approach to analyzing and rewarding research and innovation gains traction. There is ERA (excellence in research in Australia), SRE (sustainable research excellence), JRE (joint research engagement), Collaborative Research Networks on the Government (and therefore on our) agenda. We know we will be required to look to establish the costs of our research activity in order to participate in Government funding for research.
Internally, we are looking at better understanding and supporting research institutes and centres at JCU. Research training will loom large on the national agenda and for us as well. We need to turn our minds to a different way of training research students, perhaps exploring cohort approaches. Australia is simply not producing enough PhDs. All this, while seeking to maintain and grow our research productivity as an institution.
As usual, I have established three priorities for the year, in addition to our usual work. Faculties and Divisions are orienting some of their activity to address these three. For 2010 the priority headings are:
A scholarly community
Creating pathways: fostering success
Sustainability
The business side of the University will also be extremely busy in 2010. We have our Strategic Intent and a robust University Plan. The Budget has been approved and targets set. The University is in investment mode and we have a large capital development agenda (physical and virtual) for next year, and the coming years. We will do some more work in locking in a medium- to long-term approach to planning for capital development. We have more to do in workforce planning and development, as well as risk management. Change management processes will be improved and service delivery and systems improved - and bedded down.
Next year will also involve preparation for our 2011 AQUA/TEQSA audit; the development of our University Compact with the Federal Government and getting ready for performance funding. We will have two more organization unit reviews - the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Molecular Sciences and Teaching and Learning - as well the Ci upgrade for StudentOne. We will also be actively participating in seeking to assist with shaping the implementation of the Government's change agenda, including lodging responses to a number of Government issues papers, including those to do with participation targets, performance funding and indicators, regional loadings and international research collaboration (these are just the ones we have to hand right now for next year).
Of course, we will be working on issues revealed by the 2009 Staff Opinion Survey. You'll recall from my final Staff Forum for 2009, the University level data show a general improvement in staff satisfaction since 2007. That is a pleasing result, but we know that there are problem areas, staff have made these plain, so there is nothing to be complacent about. We also know that these data will have great variation and texture at School/Office and Faculty/Division level. The drilled-down data, including staff comments, will be available in early 2010, when work will start on unpacking these and looking to get right what is wrong.
You will see evidence of our investment-mode, capital program on our campuses in 2010: so much happening by way of new buildings, refurbishments and moves. And I'm glad to be able to say that signage and way-finding on the Douglas campus will be rectified early in the year.
Our international activities and engagement agenda continue to thrive. Not only students and scholars, but also our engagements with partners, the Fulbright 60th, the follow-up Torrid Zone symposium and continued work on the Coral Triangle Initiative. JCU Singapore continues to grow, serving as JCU's physical presence in Asia.
All that in 2010, but that isn't all. Many of us will simply be getting on with the day-to-day, whatever that particularly means for each and every one of us, as well as deal with growing JCU's long term strength and positioning in a changing higher education environment. I'm glad that ours is a strong University with a solid future. It is so very much worth the effort.
So it will be another busy year ahead - nothing surer - but it will also be a very good one.
My final blog words for 2009 are simply this - many, many thanks for your work this year. It has been a busy one, with all its triumphs and disappointments, its pleasures and frustrations. I think we will all benefit from a break.
All the best to you and to yours for a peaceful and joyous Christmas and New Year. Here's hoping that we all can come back refreshed in the New Year. Look forward to working with you then.
Cheers,
Sandra
Posted at 02:25PM Dec 23, 2009 in General |
Approaching year end and a new Council for JCU
Dear Colleagues,
As the academic year draws to a close - for students sooner than for staff - activities linked to its finalisation are in full swing. Grading, moderation and subject and course results are considered and processed across the University. It's a strange thing that many in the broader community assume that we share the holiday rhythm of the school system. That once the students have finished for the year, we can all relax.
Of course, that isn't so. Once coursework teaching and learning have wrapped for the year, there is still a huge amount of work going on. Research students' programs continue, research activity for many academic staff gets renewed focus once again and, for many professional staff, their areas are hitting their straps, particularly those colleagues who are deeply involved in student admissions and preparations of all sorts for the coming year.
We usually expect a number of decisions from Government at this time of year. Discussion papers and decisions are often released in the few weeks leading up to Christmas. Last year, it was the Bradley Review as well as some much needed (and very welcome) funding for capital/building.
This year there are a number of change processes and reviews being undertaken at the national level. Changes to the way that research is evaluated and rewarded are more or less settled, but the outcome of much of this is not yet plain. We expect ERA assessment outcomes for the first two discipline clusters to be available within the week.
There is a review of regional provision of higher education, consistent with the recommendation from the Bradley Review. We expect a discussion paper to be released in the next week or so - and, if not then, in the New Year. No-one will argue with the idea that we need to better understand the additional costs associated with regional provision. It will be important to ensure that the costs associated with operating a research intensive university in regional Australia are brought to bear, rather than confine consideration to the costs of delivering teaching and learning. Changes to the loadings paid to regionally based operations are not expected until 2012.
Recently, we found out that none of the three JCU expressions of interest, identifying projects seeking funding from the Education Investment Fund, have gone through to the second round for preparation of a full proposal. This is very, very hard to understand. All three were extremely well prepared and positioned. A number of our colleagues were involved in putting these together and we engaged a private firm to assist us as well - folk who have a very good track record of success with other EIF proposals. We will look for feedback, but we have a Plan B and that is being engaged as I write. The good news is that now we don't have to wait until sometime next year to see if our projects will be funded. We know the position and can move ahead with certainty.
JCU has a new Council. The University's 15th Council will be inducted on Nov 30 and will meet to conduct University governance for the first time on December 3 in Townsville. Ten of the 22 members are new. I look forward to briefing them on the University, our achievements and plans. We have been very well served by the 14th Council and I'm sure the 15th Council will serve the University just as well. Lt Gen John Grey AC continues as Chancellor and JCU is extremely lucky to have someone of his calibre in this important role. All external Council members give generously - and freely - of their time and expertise in the service of the University. I'm very grateful to each and every one of them for taking on this important governance role.
My next post will be my last for the year. It will be part a 'year in review' summary and part a look towards our 40th birthday year - 2010.
Cheers,
Sandra
Posted at 06:19PM Nov 29, 2009 in General |
Some Week at JCU
Dear Colleagues,
Today was one for the books.
The Faculty of Arts, Education and Social Sciences hosted FAESS Fest. This morning was a celebration of scholarly teaching at a very well attended seminar at University Hall. And in the afternoon, FAESS Fest moved to the Mabo Library where several books produced by Faculty members were launched. I congratulate the Faculty on this important initiative. As I opened each of these occasions, I was struck by how good it felt to be part of a scholarly community, doing such scholarly things.
Between these two events, Helen McDonald from the School of Education delivered JCU's Inaugural Last Lecture. It was the beginning of a new tradition at JCU where the Last Lecture of the academic year will be delivered by one of our own on an issue reflecting their own experiences/expertise. Today, Helen spoke personally and powerfully of pedagogy, of indigenous education and the electricity that is possible been teacher, learner and body of knowledge. She spoke of issues of identity, explaining that for many students being a learner at University can be very difficult if that role is not part of their self-identity. Helen spoke with humour and passion. and topped it all off by bringing her colleagues to the front to perform a version of Jimmy Little's "From little things, big things grow." Thanks very much, Helen, for kicking off this event in such a wonderful manner.
Later today we had a visit from the US Consul General, Judith Fergin. We were delighted to have Ms Fergin on campus - among other things she delivered a most interesting address on the Obama Administration's 'take' on foreign policy. As usual, the questions were very interesting too and handled extremely well. The discussion ranged across topics such as Israel and Palestine, Iran, democracy, the UN, climate change, preserving heritage on the Moon and so much more.
Other big news this week at our place was JCU researcher successes in the latest ARC and NHMRC rounds. Our best congratulations goes to all those involved in such success. Our success rate in ARC Discovery was above the national average. Of course, there will be other grant wins where JCU researchers are collaborators on grants led by other institutions - and we'll hear about those in due course too.
Earlier in the week, we opened the Colin and Margaret Roderick Clinical Training Facility. The Roderick Trust has provided around $2 million to fit out the facility with just what students need to hone their clinical skills before they set out to hospitals and clinics. It is a large set of spaces, with great flexibility in their use. A small hiccough when we unveiled the plaque added to the humanity of the day. All fixed very quickly.
That event followed the 43rd annual Colin Roderick Award Dinner where two literary works were chosen as winners this year: Graham Freudenberg's “Churchill and Australia” and James Boyce's “Van Diemen’s Land”. Sadly James Boyce couldn’t be there on the night, but Graham Freudenberg delivered a terrific speech drawing on insights from his book, but adding person reflections on his time with Arthur Caldwell, Gough Whitlam and Bob Hawke.
Business Professionals Week was celebrated in Townsville this week too. JCU's School of Business has been actively involved and hosted an event in town last evening, together with Townsville Enterprise, the CPAs and the Institute of Chartered Accountants. It was terrific to see so many people from the broader business community there, as well as JCU staff and students.
On Monday night, the annual C.N. Barton Medal event was held, hosted by the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences. This comprises four of the most outstanding Engineering students, representing their sub-disciplines, presenting their honours project work. The students are scored by an independent panel on both the technical aspects of their work and their presentation. As is always the case, all of the student presentations were excellent and there was a deserving winner whose work on making organic semi-conductors is very impressive.
The week, though, started on Sunday with the second last Science on the Strand, hosted by the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Molecular Sciences. Prof Peter Ridd spoke to the question – is there a crisis in Maths and Science education? Among other things, he spoke of changes in the curriculum over time that, in his view, have not supported the development of maths and physics knowledge in students. His was a controversial presentation that has resulted in a deal of debate.
Finally, a thought for the broader community in TNQ. The Cairns community have been doing it tough. Last Saturday, community leaders kicked off a major campaign to focus attention on the need for assistance. Unemployment is unacceptably high in the Cairns region and the campaign aims to focus attention on the community's needs, now and into the future. We are right behind the community on this and will do whatever we can to assist.
Cheers,
Sandra
Posted at 07:54PM Oct 30, 2009 in General |
Have your say, launches, Singapore and Solar09
Dear Colleagues,
The Staff Opinion Survey was released today by Stephen Schmideg from Sicore International - the group retained to provide this service for us. We have all received an email from the group with a link to the survey. As Stephen noted, all responses are anonymous. The completed surveys remain the property of Sicore and will never be shared with the University. We will, of course, receive the combined results and while informative at the University level, these are particularly important at the School/Office, Faculty/Division level. I would greatly appreciate it if you would take the time to have your say so that we can work towards achieving a better work environment for all.
Today was an interesting day for a couple of other reasons.
First, the Hon Kate Jones, Queensland Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability, visited the Townsville campus to officially open the Campus District Cooling facility. The thermal storage tank that is part of the facility is the largest tank of its type in Australia. It holds a vast quantity of water at 5 degrees C, chilled overnight and pumped around the campus to provide energy efficient air-conditioning. The annual reduction in our emissions as a result of the new system is equivalent to taking 2600 cars off the road. What’s more, the savings for the University as far as the costs of powering the campus are concerned are enormous - ataround a 30 percent reduction in costs. All those involved in seeing this project through to completion are to be warmly congratulated. And we are delighted that Ergon Energy plan to partner with JCU and will provide funding in recognition of the saving achieved over the next 5 years.
Second, we launched ResearchOnline@jcu - our new research publications repository. It can be accessed through the website (go to the Library from the front page and see the link there) and means that the work of JCU’s researchers will be readily available to view and/or download. It also means that all our research is discoverable by the major research engines, including Google. Already this accessibility is securing better connectedness - with, for example, the BBC using it to locate a JCU researcher whose work is relevant to a documentary they are making. Theses are also accessible via the site, providing exposure to original work by our talented students. Our colleagues from the Library also revealed that papers in the repository have a higher citation rate than those that are not in the repository. Citations are important for building research activity and reputation - and for building careers.
Important to also let you know that on the weekend just gone, we held a Graduation Ceremony in Singapore. In all, 320 JCU Singapore graduands were presented with their degrees and diplomas. Always a happy occasion, the enormous diversity of the graduates in terms of their country of origin was particularly striking. Students from Norway to the Maldives to Chile, as well as Singapore, India, China and so many more countries of origin were present on the day. That happy event was followed by a terrific alumni function. Around 250 alums came along. It was easy to see how much these past students enjoyed catching up with their former classmates. Congratulations to the team in Singapore for putting together such wonderful occasions and to Roger Yeldham who organizes, manages and oversees events across JCU so very well.
Finally, back to today, congratulations are due to our colleague Associate Professor Ahmad Zahedi from the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences for organizing ANZSES Solar09 conference being held at Jupiter’s in Townsville. Around 200 delegates from industry, government and academia have come along to examine renewable and clean energy technologies. Expressing leadership in areas of importance to the University is critical for us and a focus on sustainability in this way aligns powerfully with JCU’s strategic intent. Well done Ahmad.
Cheers,
Sandra
Posted at 02:56PM Sep 30, 2009 in General |
Founder's luncheon, Open Days - and the tropical agenda
Last Sunday was a very special day at the Cairns campus. Not only did we experience a very successful Open Day, with around 3200 visitors on campus, we hosted the ‘Founders’’ luncheon. This was an opportunity to honour members of the FNQ community who, 21 years ago, had been involved in fundraising for the purchase of the land on which our campus was built and supporting the development of JCU in Cairns.[Read More]
Posted at 01:29PM Aug 29, 2009 in General |
The expanding tropics, JCU in the frame, IRU and compacts
Dear Colleagues,
July 2009 saw the release of a major review paper authored by Dr Joanne Isaac and Professor Steve Turton, concluding that the tropical region of the world is expanding. Of course the lines on the map are not changing - they represent a mapping convention. However, climatically, the tropics has widened and there is every expectation that the tropical zone will continue to expand. The implications of this ‘finding’ are immense. Not the least, the issues that our University focuses upon are becoming more relevant for more of the world.
We released this review to coincide with a presentation to the United Nations Youth Association Conference where some very smart and committed university students from across Australia and abroad were encouraged to engage with the issues of the tropical world. A week or so later, our new information campaign aimed at informing the community about JCU, what we do and how well we do it, commenced. Taken together, these initiatives are helping to raise the profile of our University and have been well received. In particular, the review paper has been picked up and reported on around the world.
Professor Steve Turton has had a particularly successful time of it. The review and his media commentary in support of it, but he also led JCU’s bid to become one of seven universities worldwide to develop and offer a Masters in Development Practice, with very generous funding support from the US-based MacArthur Foundation. Other members of this international university network include NY’s Columbia University and China’s Tsinghua University. This means that we will be responsible for offering an outstanding program aimed at training development professionals for and in our part of the world. All faculties will be involved. This is an exciting prospect for us and for our students and speaks directly to our aim to build a brighter future for the tropics.
In addition to these very important developments, regular university life has continued during the month. We have had the semester break, with many academic staff taking the opportunity to take a break or change the rhythm of their work to focus on research for a while.
VCAC members attended the IRU senior staff conference at Murdoch University in Perth. The sessions canvassed a range of higher education policy issues, with presentations from senior Federal Government officials and from industry and higher education policy experts. We also provided each other with an update on progress on a number of projects being undertaken across the group. The big news of the event was the announcement that Charles Darwin University has joined IRU, adding to the geographic reach of the group, our diversity by virtue of CDU’s dual sector nature and our strength as a result of CDU’s impressive research outcomes. CDU is a pioneering institution, tracing its roots to the 1950s development of post-secondary education in the Northern Territory. We were all delighted to welcome CDU to the IRU family.
Finally, the Federal Government has released a consultation paper on ‘compacts’. An extensive consultation process will guide the implementation of this policy. As anticipated, each University will negotiate a compact – an agreement - with the Federal Government identifying a distinctive focus in education and research as well as agreed performance targets. For 2010 temporary agreements will be made with compacts being finalized during 2010 for implementation in 2011. Given the work undertaken on JCU’s strategic intent and the University Plan, we are well placed for this new era.
Cheers,
Sandra
PS... I've recently signed up to Twitter and aim to tweet on a fairly regular basis. Just so you know.....
Posted at 09:21AM Jul 29, 2009 in General |
