Author Archives: Michael Barber

Innovate or deteriorate
11th February, 2013 | If we are to improve our reputation for innovation, universities must be more aware of the business approach to marketing and development. We hear often today about productivity and innovation. Productivity is seen as the key to the future, unlocking More..


Schoolgirls get hands-on experience
11th February, 2013 | You have to break things to find out how they are built, the manager of safer roads performance at Transport NSW, Delilah Marta, told a group of teenagers at the annual Women in Engineering Summit at the University of Wollongong. More..


If the hard hat fits
11th February, 2013 | Forget the stereotypes. Women are an increasing force in the university engineering ranks across Australia. They are still outnumbered almost 10 to one by their male counterparts but the winds of change are blowing. “There is an increasing recognition that More..


Good research goes missing
11th February, 2013 | Australia does well in world academic rankings but the success rate for researchers applying for grants is only about 20 per cent. The research sector is unsustainable, it is difficult to start a research career and when you are in More..


National program to increase Radiation Therapy
4th February, 2013 | Cancer patients are set to get improved access to radiation therapy as Monash University leads a new program across Australian universities to be implemented by the middle of next year. The national program will help improve access to radiation treatments More..


Cuts hit ‘at risk’ students
4th February, 2013 | A Brotherhood of St Laurence study has found disengaged youth could be left behind by recent changes to vocational training. There is an old saying that you can judge a society by how well it looks after the most disadvantaged More..


Copyright law online ‘blocking’ courses
4th February, 2013 | Law reform is needed to ensure Australian universities are able to fully utilise digital technology and to remain competitive in a global market, say industry leaders. Universities Australia (UA) and the University of Sydney have sent submissions to the Australian More..


Donning the business hat
4th February, 2013 | Universities are billion-dollar enterprises today, so the leaders need training in financial practice or an understanding of it.   Phil Dolan may just be the role model for the academic of the future. The professor, who is dean of the More..


No job security say PhDs
4th February, 2013 | A federal government report on career pathways of PhDs confirms that lack of job security is by far the worst aspect for aspiring academics. The survey has revealed that researchers like their work but not the employment system in which More..


Let the campus fight back
29th January, 2013 | With teaching numbers unable to match student growth, the idea of the huge university lecture has to be rethought. While K to 12 staff-to-student ratios have fallen over the past 30 years, higher education staff-to-student ratios have increased. Universities have More..


Public transport at record high
29th January, 2013 | Australian commuters are turning back to trains, trams and buses in record numbers, new analysis by Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University shows. The last five years have seen the biggest jump in public transport use across Australia in More..


Undergrad numbers flatten
29th January, 2013 | With only a small increase in university applications this year there is some doubt about Australia reaching the bold 2025 target for graduates. There has been a slight increase in the number of people applying for university places around Australia More..