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Faculty of Education

May 2009 'ED NEWS'

The recent Federal budget brought with it some good news for Faculties of Education. The embargo which has been in place for some years regarding teaching courses charging the variable 25% on the HECS student contribution has been lifted as from next year. This will mean an additional $1040 for FTE place from 2010. Added to this is the fact that those of our graduates who do teach after graduation will be eligible for debt reduction which will in fact be greater than the additional cost to them in undertaking the pre-service course. Some of the more general budget news for higher education includes $5.7 billion to higher education over 4 years with a demand driven model leading to 50 000 new students commencing a degree by 2013; $108 million over 4 years for outreach programs with universities receiving a loading per student for disadvantaged students; the independence age is to be reduced to 22 years by 2012 and parental income threshold is to be raised for support qualification; a new auditing body – Tertiary Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) is to be established with some performance funding to be available against benchmarks; increased indexation will deliver $577.5 million over 3 years from 2011; $512 million for the Sustainable Research Excellence in Universities initiative – addresses gap in funding for indirect research costs; initiatives to boost industry engagement. Of particular interest to this Faculty is the $108 million over the next 4 years in the area of equity funding – this specifically refers to partnerships with schools and vocational education and training providers, and initiatives to reach students who might not have otherwise considered a university education. Universities are to be rewarded for attracting more students from disadvantaged backgrounds and also receive additional funds to assist in supporting such students. The learning and teaching Performance Fund is to be disbanded and in its place funding will be available based upon “quality of teaching and learning and participation and success for under-represented groups”.

At the last meeting of the University Academic Board the Curriculum White Paper (PDF 201KB)was accepted. I urge all staff to read this document as it forms the basis for curriculum planning for the University and will impact on all of the decisions which are made in the foreseeable future regarding programs and modes of delivery etc.

Many staff are currently working on the reaccreditation documentation for pre-service courses that are due to undergo this process through the VIT. As well as reaccreditation, a new Master of Teaching (P-12) has been designed and approved through the University programs Committee chaired by the DVC. This new program will now go to the VIT for its accreditation and will be offered as from 2010 at the Albury-Wodonga Campus in place of the Graduate Diploma in Education (P-12).

Following the review of the Centre for Excellence in Outdoor and Environmental Education which was undertaken by Professor Richard Tinning, Mr Rob Lawrence has been engaged to work with staff in that Centre to implement the recommendations of the report. In semester 2 Rob Lawrence will undertake a review of the Centre for Regional Education – these reviews are in line with the documentation which supported the Faculty restructure in which reviews of the parts of the restructured entity were planned to occur following the first twelve months of implementation. A review of the Graduate Diploma in Education (Middle Years) which is offered at the Shepparton campus has also been undertaken by an independent reviewer. The report is most positive about the course and the comments of students involved demonstrates the success of the first offering of the program in 2008. Further curriculum changes are underway in this Faculty especially in the area of postgraduate coursework and these will be in line with the University directions to streamline programs and address the unnecessary duplication and complexity of some of the offerings. Thank you to all staff involved in these curriculum initiatives which are critical to our success and sustainability as a faculty, especially after 2012 in a deregulated marketplace.

Thank you to all staff who have taken part in the various graduation ceremonies so far this year. The outward recognition of the work of our staff and our students at these events is a vital part of the life of the Faculty and showcases to the rest of the University and the local communities in which we are situated, the breadth of the offerings we provide.

The Vice Chancellor is to meet with all Faculty staff to discuss the general directions for Higher Education following the Bradley Review and the federal budget, and in particular their impacts upon this University and our Faculty. The meeting with the VC and members of the Education Faculty is to be held on Friday May 29 from 1.00pm until 3.00pm. This meeting will be held in the following locations:
Bundoora – Economics Lecture Theatre – Donald White Building
Bendigo – Business Building Room 1.33
Mildura – Brian Grogan Seminar Room 1
Albury-Wodonga – Room 4101

Please put these dates in your diaries and attend these meetings if at all possible.