December Commonwealth Supported Postgraduate Places Submission In its submission, DASSH highlighted the need for postgraduate place capping to address historic inequity, reduce both inconsistencies between higher education policies and inefficiencies in administering postgraduate coursework. DASSH also believes it is important to take into account University Compact Agreements, local and international coursework developments, benchmarking and professional recognition and accreditation other than by external bodies. See submission
NovemberCall for $250 million for International Research CollaborationOn 22 November, the Australian Academy of Science launched a new Position Paper 'Australian science in a changing world: innovation requires global engagement.' The Paper's key message is a call for $250 million funding over 10 years, which would have a significant multiplier effect on research and innovation outcomes and enable Australia to strategically engage internationally and with the eminent technology-driven world. See paper
93% Employment Rate for Cultural & Communications GraduatesAt the Australian Academy of Humanities Symposium on 18 November, Professor Stuart Cunningham presented impressive research findings on Graduate Destinations in Cultural and Communications Studies. See presentation
October DASSH Responds to National Cultural Policy DASSH welcomes a National Cultural Policy supporting: the education of future artists; production of artistic work; engagement of Australian communities in the arts; institutions providing for the study of, and exhibition, performance and preservation of the arts and cultural works. DASSH not only reinforced the key role many Government portfolios play in realising an effective National Cultural Policy but also the key role universities, especially ASSH faculties, play in contributing to all four proposed Cultural Policy goals. See submission
September Outstanding Contribution to DASSH AwardProfessor Faith Trent received an honorary award for her outstanding contribution to DASSH. Since DASSH's inception in 2004 and as both President and Secretary, Faith helped build the foundation blocks for the organisation DASSH is today. She also drove the successful funding application for the Discipline Support Strategy, and the subsequent establishment of the Network of Associate Deans Learning and Teaching.
New DASSH Executive At the DASSH AGM on the 29th September 2011, members elected the following new executive:- Professor Krishna Sen, President - Professor John Germov, Vice-President - Professor Toni Makkai, Secretary Professor Pal Ahluwalia and Professor Majella Franzman were re-elected as Board Members. See board members DASSH Establishes Network of Associate Deans Research In September 2011, DASSH established a Network of Associate Deans Research (ADR)to support excellence in research. This network aims to provide professional skills development, knowledge sharing regarding current issues and good practice as well as an engaged collegial support network. Through this network DASSH encourages ADRs to take a leadership role in advocating and influencing higher education public policy on research issues affecting the arts, social sciences and humanities (ASSH). More information August DASSH Supports DEEWR Continuation of ALTC Activity In August, the DASSH President and Vice-President met with DEEWR and UK Consultant Alison Johns to discuss the continuation of ALTC activity through DEEWR. DASSH highlighted the success of the Associate Deans of Teaching and Learning Network and associated projects, the importance of recognising quality, achievement and funding innovation in teaching, and the need to have a clearly articulated, transparent and iterative selection process for funding and fellowships. July DASSH Responds to Teaching & Learning Standards Framework DASSH responded to DEEWR's discussion paper on a proposed Teaching and Learning Standards Framework and TEQSA’s role. Our submission supported the distinction between teaching and learning standards and the broad principles shaping TEQSA’s role. However, we highlighted our concerns about the less than optimal engagement with the university sector (due to timing and lack of involvement of discipline experts); the need to address the multi-disciplinary and diverse nature of arts and social science degrees; the need to acknowledge and incorporate work completed in this area, such as history and creative arts standards projects – a LTAS project outcome; and the complications of students failing external testing or assessment. See submissions New ADLTN project – Social Inclusion Strategies in ASSH Faculties The Associate Dean Learning and Teaching Network (ADLTN) announced a new project to investigate social inclusion strategies used in arts, social sciences and humanities faculties. All network members will be surveyed to determine effective current practices and pedagogies for teaching for diversity, with a special emphasis on the needs of low SES students. More information May DASSH supports social cohesion, diversity and equity research prioritiesIn our submission to the Strategic Roadmap for Australian Research Infrastructures, DASSH focused on the research priorities of social cohesion, diversity, equity and strengthening global engagement. We expressed concern at the current divide between data repositories, and the need for an eResearch facility to embrace non-text based data forms, such as sound and visual/image-based research. See submission New Consortium of Humanities Research Centres (ACHRC) The newly established ACHRC is holding its inaugural meeting, 'Networking the Humanities' in Adelaide 25-26 July 2011. The meeting will be hosted by the Flinders Institute for Research in the Humanities and the Royal Institution of Australia. More information Call for proposals for 2012-13 Social Sciences Workshops Program The Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia is calling for proposals for its 2012-13 Workshop Program. Submissions close 21 October 2011. More information April DASSH calls for proper recognition of ASSH social volume In our submission to the Base Funding Review, DASSH proposed proper recognition of the social volume of higher education. In particular, we highlighted the cost of teaching across disciplines and teaching innovation in ASSH disciplines, which continue to be disaffected by government funding. See submission March Impact of ERA on ASSH disciplines DASSH's response to the Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) paper highlighted how ASSH researchers are more likely to publish books and book chapters than science researchers; that the SBE and HCA clusters cover research undertaken by approximately 43% of FTE academics in ERA and 40% of weighted research outputs; and the 2010 ERA report showed that HCA and SBA have the lowest dollar to research output cost. Despite these findings our disciplines receive only 14.5% of ERA reported research outcome. See submission New US Commission on the Humanities and Social Sciences While the UK Government plans funding cuts for arts, social sciences and humanities, in February, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences announced the creation of the Commission on the Humanities and Social Sciences, with planned projects costing about $1 million. The projects' aim is to bolster teaching on the humanities and social sciences – fields seen as critical to US culture, society, education and economic competitiveness. These projects are meant to parallel a similar effort focused on the sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics and to put humanities and social sciences on an equal footing on the public agenda. More information January Support for Early Career Researchers In December 2010, DASSH responded to the ARC Discovery Program Consultation paper relating to Early Career Researchers’ (ECR) eligibility for Discovery Grants. We provided comment on the usual ECR career path in the arts, social sciences and humanities; the likelihood of ECRs moving to another institution upon PhD completion; the appropriate project support funding; the preferred selection criteria around publication patterns; the need for flexibility in institutional commitment for our disciplines and we welcomed giving ASSH researchers access to teaching relief. See submission
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The 2012 DASSH Conference - Sustainability in an 'ERA'of Change - will be in Canberra on 13-14 September.
Professor Faith Trent receives honorary award.
