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| Peter Rathjen, former VC and president, U Adelaide |
Such is the fate of Australian scientist Peter Rathjen, immediate past Vice-Chancellor and president of the University of Adelaide. Today in Australia, Bruce Lander, an Independent Commissioner Against Corruption, released a statement about his investigation of Rathjen, who has a long history of sexual misconduct.
The statement, a brief summary of a much longer report that is being kept secret, outlines Rathjen's latest abuses, which included the sexual harassment (including unwanted sexual touching) of two women employed by the University of Adelaide. Lander found that their allegations of harassment (or perhaps more properly, assault) after a university function in April 2019 were true. Lander also found that Rathjen lied both to him and the university's Chancellor about a number of matters related to his past misconduct.
I was gratified to see (pp. 5-6 and 8 of Lander's statement) that the inquiry included questions about prior misconduct that I had previously published on this blog. My first mention of allegations against Rathjen were very brief, part of a much longer report in July 2019 on bullying and sexual harassment by the former director of the University of Adelaide's ancient DNA lab, Alan Cooper. More recently, I expanded on those allegations, in a blog post last May. When confronted with these allegations, Rathjen lied about them several times, as Lander reports.
The report also confirms one of the most serious allegations against Rathjen, that he sexually assaulted a student while science dean at the University of Melbourne. I had originally withheld the name of the university involved at the request of a colleague of the victim of that attack, but since it is now public--and widely reported in the Australian media--there is no longer any point in doing so. This also raises serious questions about whether multiple institutions in Australia "passed the harasser" despite their knowledge of Rathjen's misconduct, thus allowing him to undeservedly climb to the summits of academia.
Indeed, there are already signs of damage control across Australian universities. Here, for example, is a message sent by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Tasmania on the heels of the ICAC report. Note that Vice-Chancellor Rufus Black states that an investigation at UTAS found no evidence that Rathjen had committed sexual harassment or sexual assault while there. He didn't need to, however. As I reported, while Vice-Chancellor at UTAS, Rathjen protected a convicted pedophile from being kicked off campus even after he had re-offended, and despite a campaign led by #MeToo activist Nina Funnell and others to get the university to do the right thing.
From:
Professor Rufus Black <listserv@UTAS.EDU.AU>
Subject:
Peter Rathjen ICAC report released | We stand ready to support our community
Date:
26 August 2020 at 9:33:56 am GMT+2
Reply-To:
<vice.chancellor@UTAS.EDU.AU>
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Black's letter is typical, and will be typical going forward, of attempts by university administrators to jump clear of the Rathjen scandal and claim that they either did nor know or took action as soon as they did know. And they will point to the fact that Rathjen (and thus perhaps his victims) finally got justice as proof that the system works. Actually, it does not work very often, as the failure of the University of Melbourne to alert the academic community about Rathjen's crimes indicates.
At the University of Adelaide, for example, officials continue to look the other way despite clear abuses in the School of Education and the dental school, situations on which I have also reported (see the long, long list of comments on this blog post for details about the dental school and allegations of bullying, mismanagement, and abuse.)
I'd like to end on a personal note, one which I find amusing, as serious as it is. As readers of this blog know, I have been sued for defamation by University of California, Santa Barbara archaeologist Danielle Kurin, whose misconduct I have reported on extensively. As part of the "evidence" that I falsely accuse academics of being sexual predators and the like, Kurin includes a number of examples. One of them, mentioned in section 44 of her Amended Complaint, is none other than that of Peter Rathjen.
Update August 27: Elise Worthington and Conor Duffy of Australia's ABC have more today on the University of Melbourne investigation, which Rathjen lied about when asked, according to the ICAC statement. Serious sexual misconduct is a euphemism here for sexual assault.
Update August 28: Adelaide bully and enabler express their concerns about the ICAC report and Rathjen.
As usually happens when an institution suddenly faces a public scandal, its leaders have issued statements to the rank and file expressing their concerns and assuring everyone that they are there to listen. The first of these comes from Faye McCallum, head of the School of Education, whose own history of bullying I reported on earlier; the second from Mike Brooks, who has been appointed interim Vice-Chancellor and President to replace Rathjen, and who earlier (as Deputy VC for Research) was a key enabler of Alan Cooper, ancient DNA director at Adelaide fired for bullying students and postdocs.
Note that McCallum says everything is going to calm down and advises staff not to talk to the media. Only when staff started talking to the media did anything start to change.
Dear Colleagues
Earlier this week the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC) issued a public statement and findings following his inquiry into allegations of improper conduct by the University’s former Vice-Chancellor, Peter Rathjen. Professor Rathjen was found guilty of serious misconduct under the ICAC Act.
ICAC made no findings of maladministration or misconduct about any person other than the former Vice-Chancellor.
Findings about the former Vice-Chancellor are deeply shocking. I acknowledge the distress caused to the victims impacted by the behaviour of the former Vice-Chancellor.
This news will have been profoundly disturbing to staff and students as well as members of our wider community.
As our Chancellor, Ms Catherine Branson AC QC, has repeatedly stated, the former Vice-Chancellor’s conduct is unacceptable. It is grossly at odds with the values, conduct and behaviour expected of any staff member. The University is fortunate to have had the benefit of the Chancellor’s exemplary leadership over the period of the ICAC inquiry.
All of the recommendations made by ICAC to improve or clarify our policies and procedures have been accepted in full.
I strongly encourage any staff or students who have experienced sexual assault or sexual harassment to come forward and report it tocomplaints@adelaide.edu.
Along with the senior leadership, I am personally committed to fostering a culture and environment in which staff and students can thrive and feel safe, valued and welcome. All members of our community deserve to be treated with the utmost respect and collegiality.
Kind regards
Mike
Professor Mike Brooks FTSE FACS
Interim Vice-Chancellor and President
The University of Adelaide | Adelaide SA 5005
Update August 30: There has been a huge amount of media coverage in Australia about Rathjen's final downfall, which I have not been posting here because I assume that readers in Australia at least are seeing much of it (and a frustrating amount of it is behind firewalls, meaning I can't read a lot of it myself.) But I did want to link to this very good piece in The Guardian by Tory Shepherd. Tory was one of the first journalists to begin reporting on the rot inside the University of Adelaide (aside from me, of course) back when I was reporting on the many abuses of former ancient DNA director Alan Cooper. She also was very good about crediting the work of the reporter who broke the Cooper story, something that both Science and Nature refused to do in their own coverage of the firing of one of ancient DNA's leading pioneers.
As I have said many times, the most important reason to credit the previous work of other journalists is not professional courtesy--although journalistic ethics actually requires it--but to put readers in the picture about how particular stories came about. In the Cooper case, for example, it was important for readers to know that former members of his lab had approached a reporter and told their stories, and that only then had the university begun its own investigation. By not mentioning this, Science, Nature, and any other publication that failed to cite the previous reporting gave readers the false impression that the University of Adelaide had simply begun the investigation because it was concerned about protecting its staff--rather than the truth, which is that Adelaide was concerned about protecting its reputation.
In the case of Peter Rathjen, fortunately, the ICAC statement specifically referred to my previous reporting (pp. 5-6) and the role it played in the investigation, which makes it (more) difficult for media accounts to ignore it.
In Tory Shepherd's case, as I say above, she was always good about not only professional courtesy but also providing that essential context for readers. In her Guardian piece, Tory points out that Rathjen's reputation for sleaziness was long known:
"But to many in South Australia’s academic world, the finding was hardly surprising.
Rumours about Peter Rathjen’s conduct have been swirling for years. After his appointment in 2018, he became a well-known mover and shaker in Adelaide, a deal-maker. He was media savvy, often described as charming. In private, he was often described to Guardian Australia as sleazy."
and:
"The incident has prompted obvious disgust at Rathjen’s behaviour but also questions about the university’s handling of the complaints, about its culture and about its payout to Rathjen.
“The number of people expressing a total lack of surprise at this finding is absolutely damning,” prominent University of New South Wales academic Darren Saunders tweeted.
“The number of people in power who ignored the ‘rumours’, particularly those who were still in Adelaide when he returned … or those he knew in other places and didn’t say or do anything … if people who have the power and authority to make change don’t, who will?” former University of Adelaide postdoctoral fellow Hannah Brown replied."
The fall of Rathjen is a promising sign that a combination of action by fed up colleagues on the inside of the corrupt system, monitored and reported by journalists, can begin to lead to changes. There are a LOT of other well known sexual predators and bullies out there still, and I would to think that their days are numbered--along with those of the hierarchical, inhumane system that put them there and still allows them to thrive.
Update August 31, 2020: Protests at University of Adelaide.
From The Advertiser:
Update August 31, 2020: Protests at University of Adelaide.
From The Advertiser:
TERTIARY
Adelaide Uni students protest, demand review
into Peter Rathjen’s time at Adelaide Uni after
ICAC finding
Chris Russell, The Advertiser
August 31, 2020 5:10pm
Subscriber only
The culture at Adelaide University that allowed former vice-chancellor Peter Rathjen to run the institution – even while under investigation for misconduct – must change, student leaders said on Monday.
Calling for a review into Prof Rathjen’s tenure, about 100 students and staff attended a protest on the university campus on Monday.
“We need to make sure decisions have not been influenced by the vice-chancellor’s inability to understand sexual consent,” student union board member Arabella Wauchope said.
The protest was called following the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption Bruce Lander finding Prof Rathjen committed “serious misconduct” by groping two women staff members during a work trip to Sydney in April 2019.
Prof Rathjen also lied about his behaviour.
Stella Salvemini, president of the Women’s Collective, which organised
the protest, said students were upset they were kept in the dark about the investigation for so long.
“We hope the new Chancellor, Catherine Branson, will involve student
representatives in what the university does going forward,” she said.
“We have faith in her because of her background as a former head of the Australian Human Rights Commission. “We expect her to do a good job in cleaning up the culture.”
SRC women’s officer Rebecca Etienne said students had been angry and distressed by the ICAC report.
Ms Branson has pledged to adopt all recommendations made by Mr Lander to improve governance and policies aimed at eliminating sexual harassment but has not demanded Prof Rathjen repay his settlement payout.
However, Sharna Bremner, from a group called End Rape On Campus, said the university had previously promised to follow a very similar set of recommendations made in 2017 by the Human Rights Commission.
The university had self-reported it met those earlier pledges.
The Women’s Collective will present a petition to the university administration.
Pictured (image not available): University of Adelaide Women's Collective
president Stella Salvemini with fellow student leaders
Rebecca Etienne and Arabella Wauchope.
And from the Adelaide Women's Collective (with apologies for the poor quality image:)
And from the Adelaide Women's Collective (with apologies for the poor quality image:)
Update September 3, 2010: A letter from the University of Melbourne Vice-Chancellor
It took some time, but the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Melbourne, Duncan Maskell, finally got around to making a statement about the Peter Rathjen affair--although with extreme delicacy. Peter Rathjen is a "former senior leader from this University," and what was clearly referred to as serious sexual misconduct in the Lander statement is now "an incident that occurred." Here is the statement, comment afterwards:
A statement far more to the point was made earlier by the president of the University of Melbourne Student Union and others:
Statement on sexual harassment conducted by Professor Peter Rathjen — 28 August 2020
Hannah Buchan, UMSU President
Aria Sunga and Naomi Smith, Officer Bearers UMSU Women’s Department
CW: Sexual Assault and Harassment
.
The UMSU Womenʻs Department is disgusted to hear of the sexual harassment committed by Peter Rathjen, the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Adelaide. We condemn the University of Melbourne’s complicity in allowing a perpetrator of sexual harm to continue work in the University sector.
Yesterday, the South Australian Independent Commision Against Corruption (ICAC) announced that it found that Professor Peter Rathjen, the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Adelaide, had committed serious misconduct by sexually harassing two colleagues in 2019. An ABC investigation has found that a former employer of the Rahtjen, the University of Melbourne, was aware of previous cases where Rathjen had harassed people and yet they failed to inform the University of Adelaide.
Professor Rathjen was employed at the University of Melbourne from 2006 to 2011. And it was during this time that a former student alleged he committed serious sexual misconduct while he was the Dean of Science between 2006 to 2008.
The student reported this case to the University of Melbourne in May of 2018 and the University upheld the misconduct complaint. Despite upholding the misconduct complaint the University failed to refer the new findings to the University of Adelaide – where Professor Rathjen was Vice-Chancellor. Their failure to refer to these findings enabled Rathjen to continue to offend at another University campus.
This is not the first case that has been in the media this year where the University reveals its negligence and complicitness in its responses to cases of sexual assault and harassment. It is time the University or Melbourne owned up and took responsibility for sexual assault and a harassment that occurs within the University community. The University again is showing its true colours where it upholds perpetrators in power rather than survivors. We are deeply concerned with the clearly consistent amateur approach that the University takes with responding to sexual assault and harassment. The University must do better.
UMSU also unequivocally stands with survivors – we hear you, we believe you, and we support you.
We call on the University to:
- To adequately respond to the allegations that they failed to inform the University of Adelaide of the misconduct findings against Rathjen.
- To release appropriately anonymised data on the outcomes of their sexual harassment misconduct cases.
- To appoint external investigators, with appropriate sexual assault and harassment sensitivity training, for all sexual assault and harassment misconduct cases.
- To increase funding and resources to the Safer Community program and ensure all itʻs processes are independent from the University.
In the coming days we will be penning an open letter to the Vice-Chancellor Duncan Maksell, asking him to respond to our demands, and also creating a petition to collect student signatures in support of this letter. We will not rest until the University takes responsibility for their complicity and makes substantial institutional changes.
Find the ABC article here: https://amp.abc.net.au/article/12601766?__twitter_impression=true
If this has brought up any issues or concerns for you, we encourage you to contact the following services:
Centre Against Sexual Assault House http://www.casahouse.com.au/
Phone 24 Hour hotline: 03 9635 3610
1800 Respect:
https://www.1800respect.org.au/
Phone: 1800 737 732, Interpreter: 13 14 50
UMSU Sexual Harm and Response Coordinator; Dr. Patrick Tidmarsh: patrick.tidmarsh@union.unimelb.edu.au
Unimelb Safer Communities: https://safercommunity.unimelb.edu.au/
Phone: 9035 8675
I will let a current professor from the University of Melbourne, who asked not to be identified, comment on the Maskell letter:
"These are fine sentiments. However, those who protected Rathjen in the interests of protecting their institutional reputations are now scrambling to dissociate themselves from him. You can read here that Duncan Maskell joined the university in January 2019. He quotes himself from that time, where he states that he has zero tolerance for sexual harassment. That was well before Rathjen was found 'guilty' of sexual assault. Despite Maskell’s strong words, no public announcement was made, and the universities of Adelaide and Tasmania were not informed. Maskell himself 'passed the harasser'. This on the pretext of protecting the victim. Of course, there was no necessity to name the victim or even the details of the sexual assault. Conveniently, this meant there were no consequences for Rathjen, as he was a former employee and not subject to sanction, and no reputational damage to the University of Melbourne from it becoming known that senior academics there sexually assault postgraduate students."
![](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://michael-balter.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-truth-at-last-or-at-least-some-of.html&media=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTTYlLfJJPciFfe5iknlB2hbK8jYC5SDgoJTGaFKZBvgKVDAjUHzXjHFifYPzrixQgmQPW0Udsk6Y3OMLjmJd4rCxY352IA9Nwt2DlSscScArhuGqGpsiLozqx1A2xzK2I0_u_HOjwQlfn/s320/Rathjen.jpg&description=The truth at last, or at least some of it, about Peter Rathjen, the U of Adelaide, the U of Melbourne, the U of Tasmania, etc. [Updated Sept 3, 2020: University of Melbourne "leader" finally speaks]){kind=link}
808 Comments
University will have to appear somewhere at the top.
Besides, a look at the WGEA (Workplace Gender Equity Agency) reports over the last 6 years shed a lot of light into some rather interesting practices followed by the university during that time and provide some possible alternative reason as to why the proposed changes may have come to life.
As the reports suggest, middle management has ballooned by about 30% over the last 5 years, with most of the increase happening in 2018. The reports seem to suggest that the increase emanates mainly from external hires. A back of the envelope calculation suggests that this can only be supported through an increase in costs by about $15m to $20m per year. Interestingly, the proposed changes target savings of similar magnitude, yet those affected by the proposed changes are not necessarily the ones hired during that time. In fact, most affected staff are generally on a lower pay scale, which means that in order to achieve the targeted savings, more of them must be let go.
In a case of “blink and you’ll miss it”, a very thorough article about the University of Adelaide finances and accounting practices, was published in Campus Morning Mail a couple of weeks ago, by distinguished Professor James Guthrie AM, a colleague from the Business School at Macquarie University: https://campusmorningmail.com.au/news/university-of-adelaides-finances-and-financial-position-in-2020-were-strong/
As the title suggests, it is an analysis of the University annual report(s) noting its strong performance during 2020 and reading through it raises serious questions regarding some accounting practices that could, inadvertently we are sure, create a crisis that simply may not exist.
In particular, the article notes that the net operating result in 2020 “has been produced from a total cash flow from continuing operations of nearly $1bn”, which is pretty good for a COVID year.
It also pointedly notes that “The university stated that it recorded a relatively steady financial performance for 2020 compared with 2019 due to strategies including staff purchased leave, voluntary separation of 157 staff, and a pause on infrastructure projects, staff hiring and other expenditure (total savings: $90m). The university spent $23m on redundancies ($7m 2019); therefore, 2020 has a better result than 2019.” Interesting, isn’t it?
And to top it all: “It also benefited from better-than-expected enrolments (total international student revenue: $254 million in 2020, the same as 2019). “
So why do we need to let go of about 100 professional staff with more academics to follow you ask? Well, we wonder the exact same thing.
Looking at the wonderful analysis from Professor James Guthrie, one possible explanation may be the preference of management for setting money aside over keeping jobs:
“For Uni Adelaide, at the end of 2020 there was $438m (2019 $438m) other financial assets. At the beginning of 2010 the figure was $148m. Much of this is in investments in equity shares, and a review of this growth would indicate most was not from external donations and bequests but from internally generated funds, which the senior executive has ring-fenced from operating activities.”
History will remember everyone involved in self-governance, cover ups and gaslighting and there is no shortage of that in Pathjen system, from chancellor all the way down to some deans. Selfish pricks.
The administration is only trying to tick the box to "show" that they carried out proper process.
The VC's organizational sustainability consultation closes this Friday. Why bother calling it a consultation when none of the feedback will change their decision. Giving feedback might just put you on the hit list.
The university will be sustainable if the senior management goes. Elephant in the room .......
No Adelaide University Cuts
19 October at 14:39 ·
Today Høj and uni management held a sham staff consultation at The Braggs about his new proposal to sack at least 100 staff through faculty mergers and course cuts. Many workers were furious about the cuts and had plenty of angry questions ready. Unsurprisingly, management were evasive and condescending in their responses.
When asked about cuts to student services like the Maths Learning Centre, Writing Centre and Counselling services, management repeated the bare-faced lie that there would be no overall loss of staffing. This is completely false. Job cuts will result in the replacement of sacked staff by casuals with fewer hours and resources to tackle the same or higher workloads. This will entrench an already broken system of month-long waiting times and diminished service coverage.
When asked about rampant wage theft of casuals, management deflected and dismissed these concerns. The standard marking rate at UofA is a scandalous 5000 words per hour. This is even higher than the marking rates at Melbourne Uni (4000 hours) and Sydney Uni (4500 hours), both of which the Fair Work Commission ruled to be blatant wage theft.
Perhaps most galling was when Høj announced a previously secret, jaw-dropping $194 million-dollar operating surplus – only to claim that it would ‘be irresponsible’ to use these funds to save jobs and quality of education!
It was also implied that academic staff will be cut through merging schools and cutting courses next year.
It’s clear that this is only the first phase of a bigger offensive. Management wants to see how they can get away with now and test the level of outrage against their agenda. This makes it more urgent the need to fightback to make management less confident in pulling off their attacks.
From today’s meeting, it’s clear that staff are more aware of the bigger picture that the figures use to justify the cuts are bullshit and that no one is safe from the impact. Attendees at the meeting were rowdy, incredulous at management’s Orwellian double speak and shouting questions from their seats. Hopefully, it’s becoming clearer to all that there is an alternative to management’s slashing of education. Instead, senior executives should be made to dig deep into their own pockets and mobilise the massive $194 million of stashed funds to pay for this so-called crisis.
Do not have to look far - who was in the hiring committee for the Peter? The chancellor could not find a better candidate.
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On Overheard at Adelaide Uni
Akshay Mistry asked a question .
10 hrs ·
Why did the uni stop printing course notes?? I just spent 90 to print and bind course notes for 2 classes ��
66
Orla Breege Spurr
The only thing I would say is that many courses schedule their tests throughout semester in the lecture slot, so just double check - usually this is put in the timetable/course components as 'Paper'. Generally tutors won't mark you down for missing occasionally for a test, but some classes have lots of tests
Share · 10 h-----
Thank goodness some courses still have some academic standing and credibility . But it is amazing that the Deans of teaching and Learning like Westphalen and the Enhancers and Engagers like England and the ipadders like Barberi have allowed this to go. After all their only claim to fame apart from taking home a salary is to forever engage in turning Adelaide Uni into an academic backwater if not a complete joke.
One wonders what pedagogical revolutions they have planned for 2022!!!!
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On Overheard at Adelaide Uni.
From Elvis to YouTube II? are the three hour 'workshops' just lectures?
Alexandra Rose
yup
Daniel Baker
Yeah pretty much, they should be recorded and uploaded but from my experience it was nothing short of an utter shitshow
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Dear postgraduate co-ordinators,
One new policy, agreed by REDC in 2021 but coming into force in 2022, relates to eligibility for scholarships. I know there are some of our current cohort who will be affected by this, but unfortunately there is nothing we can do, beyond trying to source other income for them (difficult to impossible, I know). I have included part of Carolin Plewa’s announcement about it below. Please can you make supervisors in your areas and your students aware of the change:
‘I am writing to advise of a change to student eligibility for scholarships that is taking effect this year. A decision was made last year to increase strategic offerings, which has led to a reduced number of merit-based scholarships allocated in the competitive rounds and a need to focus these rounds on new students to the University. Students currently enrolled at the University are thus no longer eligible for scholarship consideration.
This change in eligibility criteria is with immediate effect and the Conditions of Award have been updated. Unfortunately, this means that currently enrolled candidates will not be able to apply for scholarships in the 2022 Mid-Year Round.
Counsel students as appropriate and continue to direct students to the University’s searchable database for other funding opportunities; https://www.adelaide.edu.au/graduatecentre/scholarships.’
Obviously if a student needs a scholarship to do their Higher Degree, it is better for them not to accept the offer of admission and try again for a scholarship in the next round. If they do this, we will need to ensure that they are more competitive the next time. I will put this on the first HDRC agenda for 2022.
Happy New Year! And stay safe!
Best wishes,
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The second HOS role is Education. As you know Prof. McCallum steps down from the role in March and Assoc. Prof. Matthew White has agreed to act as interim until a new Head is appointed. The search process for this position also began last year, but it has taken a little longer to get the paperwork sorted and approved. This has delayed the add going out, but I expect that will happen within the next week or so. The last of the paperwork has left the Faculty this week and is on its way to the VC for approval. Faye has really put her heart and soul into the School of Education and done a wonderful job in ensuring that the School is well-positioned for its next Head to take over. Mathew has been filling in for Faye while she was on SSP and it is great to see that he has agreed to continue. Let me thank both Faye and Mathew for their leadership within the School of Education.
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One day the engagers and enhancers and Deans of Teaching and Learning will be seen as the purveyors of the rubbish that it really is.
On Overheard
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Hi guys,
Anyone who’s done an interview for the Learning Enhancement Officer position could you please give me some advice as in what to prepare? Thank you so much 🥺
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Bring in students looking for a job and 'train' them to tell academics how do do their job. Was going to say hope this does hot happen in medicine but then realised the curse of Problem Based Learning pioneered by Magil and swept along by selected folks in Australia has already meant this sort of nonsense has a foot hold there.
Union calls for backpay and apology after University of Melbourne faculties cut PhD rates for casuals
Conor Duffy exposed wage theft in some big universities.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-21/union-calls-for-action-on-university-of-melbourne-phd-pay/100921064?utm_medium=social&utm_content=sf254713670&utm_campaign=fb_abc_news&utm_source=m.facebook.com&sf254713670=1&fbclid=IwAR1W07h1JGhr9Eo4vSEv1C7GkTpGuGw0hqXlUgRwSuGj4s23jS99HkwvrUs
Extra scrutiny from state government
Last week, the Victorian Government wrote to the state's Vice Chancellors asking for evidence the sector is cleaning up its act.
"We've seen some media reports about underpayment at universities. It's across Australia. But it's also concerning that there are some Victorian universities that seem to be underpaying their staff," Higher Education Minister Gayle Tierney said.
The Minister wants to see audits and evidence things are changing in the responses from the Vice Chancellors.
"Our universities are really important to all of us for a whole range of reasons. For our economy, our culture, our international trade and expertise and our research capabilities," she said.
"We don't want any reputational damage. So it's important we ensure our universities are paying the right rate."
Will the new government care?
Or will they let the council's monopoly continue?
The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) says staff have been calling for action on PhD rates for a year, saying three faculties have stopped paying casual workers with doctoral qualifications the higher rate for all of their work.
An open letter signed by more than 1,000 staff was presented at last week's University Council meeting with an appeal for action.
The NTEU said the lack of action means it will now take the dispute to the Fair Work Commission.
University says union needs to provide detail on 'grievance'
The university accused the NTEU of holding back its evidence about individual complaints.
As a result, it said it was still working to investigate and confirm them.
"We have asked the NTEU on a number of occasions to provide further details to better inform this grievance, but to date we have not been provided with any further information," the spokesperson said.
"Accordingly, we are currently working with our academic divisions to assess whether this has indeed occurred. It is important that we have consistent standards and qualification requirements for casual sessional teaching across all of our faculties."
Because there is no evidence that the problems have occurred.
ARE STAFF GOING MAD? MAKING THINGS UP?
Arrogance at the top level. We are the privileged group and we ain't gonna listen to you. Get out.
That is how they waste money hiring consultants to work for them.
If the current council were put through election by staff, it would be annihilated. The staff representative in the council has no teeth. The council works like a self-governed corporate.
Scandals in federal and state governments - nothing is gonna happen about university maladministration because it ain't occurring. Victorians are lucky - their government cares.
Both sides of the South Australian parliament took ICAC's teeth out. It made no difference to the victims. Better that way than putting them through another round of gaslighting.
"National Student Safety Survey results"
The information shared by students will help us to take further action, recognise where existing measures need improvement, and identify areas where there are meaningful signs of progress and change.
To members of our University community who have experienced sexual harassment, sexual assault or other inappropriate behaviours, and to any who have not felt supported or heard by the University, I am deeply sorry.
These behaviours have no place at our University, or in society. The only acceptable number of sexual assault or sexual harassment cases is zero.
The University, as I am personally, is committed to building a culture of respect, where everyone is safe and supported in their study and work. Following the 2016 survey, we committed to implementing all nine of the recommendations from the Australian Human Rights Commission’s Change the Course report.
The lip service could have been trusted if the management did not employ an external consultant (lawyer) to find out about sexual harassment and abuse experience to make the student feel like it was their fault.
Some say the consultant finds out about the university's liability and help to fix the matter. How many have been compensated for their suffering?
Lip service.
White takes over HOD of School of Education on April 1- April Fools Day.
Seems while you can't fool all the people all the time you can fool most of the decision makers at Adelaide Uni most of the time.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-19/maths-professor-joshua-ross-accused-of-sexual-harassment/101000664
The case is with the SA Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Ross' staff is "seeking $580,000 in compensation for breaches to the Equal Opportunity Act".
According to her complaint, the lecturer claims the university did not investigate her complaint, did not support her and did not take a statement from the professor.
She also claims the university "did not have in force at the relevant time, appropriate policies for the prevention of sexual harassment and sexual assault".
The university claims it interviewed both parties and concluded there was "insufficient basis on which to make a positive finding that the alleged assault occurred".
The university said that it did support its employee after the complaint was disclosed to senior staff and it appointed an independent investigator to conduct an initial assessment.
Is the same independent investigator covering up all the bulling and harassment claims for the university?
... the university said it was satisfied he had engaged in 'no serious misconduct'.
According to Dr Nguyen, the alleged assault by Professor Ross resulted in 'offence, humiliation and intimidation' due to her extreme intoxication and because she was his subordinate.
Dr Nguyen says she suffers post-traumatic stress and is unable to return to employment, and accuses the university of not providing a safe workplace.
'The university has harboured a system, culture or practice of not investigating complaints of sexual harassment with requisite seriousness,' she alleges.
.............
The university stands by its findings that there was insufficient evidence to conclude a sexual assault had occurred and says it would not be responsible if it did.
It further denies Professor Ross is Dr Nguyen's supervisor and says it can ensure the two academics are never rostered on at the same time on the campus.
One correction: Nature did not investigate Alan Cooper.
That was done by me, as a reporter. Then the U of Adelaide did an investigation which confirmed most or all of what I had found. Then Nature did a story and made an editorial decision not to credit my original reporting.
It's important for people to know how these events come about, and what the actual process was.
https://indaily.com.au/news/2022/04/11/private-investigators-start-probing-public-sector/
https://michael-balter.blogspot.com/2019/07/from-oxford-to-adelaide-ancient-dna.html
The SAE Consulting legal appears in google search. How many times has the university used this consulting and other independent investigators? How independent are they?
The 1 million dollar law suit implicates the private independent investigator of not finding any wrong doing by the university. The same conclusion that the private independent investigators have been finding anyway?
How can one be confident that private investigators are ethical enough and do not produce the results that the university wants? There is no conflict of interest? $$$$ $$$$ $$$$ $$$$
Even ICAC told - be cautious - the investigator is not a public servant.
The tribunal might shed light into this. Or may be not.
Michaelbalter.substack.com
Only court cases can bring out the truth, at least some of it.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/byo-laptops-led-to-gaming-porn-gambling-in-class-shore-school-says-20220426-p5ag9j.html
Vice Chancellor Peter wrote today, "... the Professional Stream was now well progressed" ... but "Work on the Academic Stream has not progressed to the same state of maturity, as we wanted to know more about the complex nature of academic work at our institution, including how our various courses and programs contribute to workload and revenue generation."
"The recent Adelaide Academic Census was an important part of the information gathering ... While the complex set of data relating to academic activity profiles is still being analysed, the University has substantially progressed an in-depth analysis of our courses, which currently number in excess of 2,500."
"Whilst one can argue with the strength and weaknesses of our approach, it would be fair to say that, at face value, a very large number of courses would seem to be loss-making and that their continuation in aggregate are putting too great a burden on our staff and our finances."
"...is carefully examining our entire portfolio of courses and in an orderly fashion discontinuing those that clearly are unviable, bar a fraction which are deemed to be of strategic importance (e.g. for accreditation purposes), have ‘iconic’ status or are critical to a substantial part of the community we serve. Our lens is currently aimed at courses and not specific fields, disciplines or schools."
"I am looking forward to working with all of you on this challenging but necessary next phase of our journey..."
"Never mind, teachers who treat students poorly, teach badly, and create a lot of problems for other staff get promotion. SELTS does not really matter. What matters is how well you know the executive dean."
This is a great summary of the situation here in the school of dentistry. Great staff are leaving, have left or are being forced out in droves. While poor quality teaching and bad behaviour is continually rewarded.
SELT results are completely ignored by management or blamed back on students. There is zero accountability for poorly performing staff.
This is the world class dental school, riding on the past glory. Who really has world class reputation? Many are working aimlessly, just plugging the holes. Adelaide has become a laughing stock for other Australian dental schools, and the news about bullying and sexual harassment is yet to reach them.
Looking at the proceedings of the tribunal, the independent investigator's job was to conclude that there was no evidence of any wrongdoing by the university and its employees. This is the same conclusion that they have been making when investigating bullying and sexual harassment complaints.
Looks like some independent investigators have got blood on their hand and mouth.
All the clinical programs in Adelaide are fully accredited. Note that the Doctor of Clinical Dentistry in Paediatric Dentistry does not feature on that website. This is a summary of the last accreditation dated 22 March 2021, and the university decided to dump it instead of addressing the ADC's concerns.
The University of Adelaide’s submission for all five Doctor of Clinical Dentistry specialisations lacked sufficient detail and supporting evidence, making it difficult for the SET to validate claims made within the submission documentation. This is an issue across the five specialisations reviewed but was particularly acute for the Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Paediatric Dentistry programs. The SET attempted to clarify and seek additional information during interviews with representatives from these two specialisations. The site visit provided appropriate clarification for the Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology specialisation. However, for the DClinDent in Paediatric Dentistry program the SET remains concerned that insufficient evidence has been provided to demonstrate that the program meets the Accreditation Standards.
...
The SET has grave concerns about the ability of the DClinDent in Paediatric Dentistry program to meet the Accreditation Standards to such an extent that these matters must be addressed immediately and before students continue in the program. The issues identified are of such a nature that the deficiencies raise serious concerns as to the provider’s oversight of the program and for students to achieve the required learning outcomes to operate as safe specialists in the discipline upon graduation.
The SET expresses serious concern for the Paediatric Dentistry program over the supervision of students in clinical settings and the clarity of roles and responsibilities of supervisors in external settings including the AWCH and during rotations to SADS clinics. The staffing profile for the program does not appear sustainable for longer term delivery of the program. There is also a lack of evidence of structure and diversity in the didactic component of the program, with the SET unable to confirm whether students are provided with the opportunities necessary to develop the level of knowledge required to underpin clinical decision making expected of a specialist paediatric dentist. Questions were also raised as to whether the range of experiences are appropriate to enable students to develop the competencies expected of a specialist in paediatric dentistry. Students see a high volume of patients, but the complexity of cases required to develop surgical skills needed for the discipline, including in undertaking complex interdisciplinary case management, appears insufficient. The SET heard evidence that no direction has been given to those supervising students in relation to assessment and the mechanisms in place for moderation of assessment. The SET requested evidence of marking rubrics or other instruction provided to clinical supervisors, however this was not provided and based on interview evidence does not appear to be in place. The SET was unable to determine the mechanisms by which feedback is provided to students in the paediatric dentistry program to enable progression through the program. Given the lack of formalised formative assessment, the SET was unable to establish how students are assessed as having achieved a level of clinical proficiency expected of a specialist paediatric dentist, which raises serious concern. Students appear to be isolated from the Adelaide Dental School and are lacking in support and opportunities for inter-disciplinary dental interaction.
The ADC has determined The University of Adelaide’s Doctor of Clinical Dentistry in Paediatric Dentistry program is refused accreditation.
We feel for both the dentists wishing for specialist training and the families in South Australia that require both training and future qualified personnel. Shame on you Uni Adelaide. If this was in the faculty of Medicine there would be a public outcry.
Another public accountability body may have issues with identifying conflicts of interest (actual or perceived) among South Australian elites. At least the government cares enough to get legal advice about it. What is going on in SA?
Do not assume complaints to independent investigators will be handled independently.
One wonders about the political inclination of the independent investigators. Why would they not have conflict of interest if they receive a large sum of money over the years to do the dirty job?
The government has to watch out for the opposition. They can lose election.
The university is self-governed and is only answerable to themselves. There are powerful people in the council, so watch out what you say. If you make yourself a target, they can easily get rid of you.
FICD [http://www.icd.org] - The website states: A nominated dentist must pass a rigorous, peer-review process leading to the recognition of the individual’s “outstanding professional achievement, meritorious service, and dedication to the continued progress of dentistry for the benefit of humankind.” ... All members of the College regardless of their native language or country of residence, adhere to one universal motto, Recognizing Service and the Opportunity to Serve.
FPFA [https://www.fauchard.org/home] - The website states: Our mission as Fellows in the Pierre Fauchard Academy is to recognize and develop outstanding leadership in our profession, internationally. We accomplish this by consistently focusing on professionalism, integrity, and ethics worldwide, by our own conduct as worthy role models, by the advancement of dentistry to the highest level, by supporting and honoring colleagues for their distinguished work, research, contributions, and public service, and by providing excellence in programs, education, and leadership in oral health care.
Gue is internationally recognized for high standards of professionalism, ethics, conduct, public service, ..... education, support to colleagues, ... and is a worthy role model.
Passed through rigorous peer review process - the independent tests.
He is also credibly accused of an egregious pattern of sexual harassment and bullying. I have received numerous detailed accounts of this conduct from colleagues who worked with him directly. These include:
--Calling colleagues lazy and stupid, including publicly in front of others.
--Deliberately increasing the workload of colleagues as a form of harassment.
--Encouraging more senior colleagues to bully and harass juniors.
--Intrusive personal questions of colleagues with no tangible purpose.
--Inappropriate phone calls late at night.
--Numerous forms of sexual harassment including calling women "honey" "darling" "baby" etc.
--Inappropriate touching of women on the buttocks and other parts of their bodies.
--Suggesting sexual relationships that were not invited or wanted.
--Corruptly putting in for hours at the hospital when he was really seeing his private patients.
--Biased interviews and recruitment of new employees into the service.
Gue is very lucky he has gotten off so lightly for his misconduct and downright terrible behavior. Perhaps he and his allies should think twice before defending him.
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James Wood shared a post.
1 hr ·
No surprises at all here but a damning new report has found that management's excuse for the staff cuts, that the university is running out of money is total rubbish. Despite just a tiny 0.1% reduction in revenue, management slashed a whopping 8% of staff. Am quite sure that if Hoj and top management slashed their own salaries and perks then they could easily make up the difference. Instead though they have used COVID as an excuse to make cuts they have wanted for years now. It is clearer than ever that management's real agenda here has been to pull together more savings to line their own pockets. There is simply no excuse for their next move to cut courses and academic staff!
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No Adelaide University Cuts
1 hr ·
A damning new report released on Monday by the Melbourne Centre for the Study of Higher Education exposes the real motives behind university management’s staff cuts. The report’s author, Frank Larkins, writes that cuts made were “not primarily directly driven” by financial necessity. Instead, uni bosses used the “uncertain and unpredictable environment” around the pandemic to wield the axe by implementing massive staff cuts and restructures. At Adelaide Uni and elsewhere, many of these cost cuts have been planned for many years. Larkins’ findings vindicate what the No Cuts campaign have been saying for months: COVID has just been a cover for management to sack staff. But hey, never let a crisis go to waste!
The most scathing finding of Larkins’ report is that some of the biggest staff cuts were at universities where the financial impact of the pandemic was relatively small. At Adelaide Uni, total staff numbers were reduced by a whopping 7.9% – one of the largest cuts in Australia, despite just a miniscule 0.1% reduction in its overall financial position. Such a pathetically small loss of money could have been easily covered if Peter Høj and his mates took a cut to their own bloated salaries and perks. To add insult to injury, at many campuses, including Flinders University, major staff cuts were made despite INCREASED revenue. Larkins’ findings build on information recently released in Campus Morning Mail revealing that, contrary to management’s alarmism, both domestic and international enrolments are up at Adelaide University.
The recent faculty mergers which saw 96 professional staff sacked were completely unnecessary. Management has no justification whatsoever for their latest round of course cuts that will involve sacking academic staff and likely axing entire schools and departments. These cuts are all about saving money and moving dwindling staff resources to study areas that churn out bigger profits. No Adelaide University Cuts will continue to call out the rubbish coming from management and maintain the fight to save our courses, tutors and lecturers.
Link to the report:
https://melbourne-cshe.unimelb.edu.au/.../australian...
And guess a mate of who?
Seems the local Adelaide HOD got off lightly?
And the Union in WA showed more gumption than what passes for one at Adelaide?
Did the WA guy also stack the School with his private school mates?
They wonder why primary and high schools are full of bullies- it seems they have good role models in their training?
Establishment of Federal ICAC might trickle down to university management. No one predicted Rathjen's fate but the harasser is gone. Will this be the fate of others in university management? What about the bulldozers - senior management, Human Resources and independent investigators who swept everything under the carpet?
If you have seen the toothless state ICAC referring the matters back to big university bosses, pray that you can some day refer them to Federal ICAC.
Some quotes from Grace Tame are relevant to Adelaide (about last Prime Minister Scott Morrison).
'He's quite intelligent,' she admitted in the latest podcast from the team at the cult parody website, the Betoota Advocate. 'I'll give him that.
'The problem is Scott Morrison - his entitlement. "I'm the Prime Minister, and she should smile at me because I'm the Prime Minister."
'I was standing next to Scott Morrison, and I'm friends with Brittany [Higgins, who has accused the government of covering up her alleged rape in Parliament].
'And I'm like, I can't smile at you. Like, this is a crock of s***.
'All these play-nice institutions that just harbour abusers and cover it up - for the sake of what?'
'For all our sakes, it's not a case of choosing between remotely similar options when it comes to this guy (Albanese) and Scott,' she posted under a picture of the opposition leader.
'He (Albanese) isn't perfect, he's a politician, but at least he has some semblance of a conscience; dignity, respect, integrity, authenticity, humility.
'And he's not a bloody smug, rorting, robodebt victim-blaming vandal.'
Ms Tame then told voters they were free to vote for independents, Greens or whoever they wanted 'but if you really want a self-serving, corrupt, sociopathic marketing man leading the country for another three years... so help the nation.'
Sounds like university senior management?
Lose all hope. The rotten leadership will not change.
"A grateful nation is crying with you (Albanese). And who said I didn't smile at the prime minister?
Here's to inclusion, integrity, diversity, truth, equity, respect, safety and change. A better future. For all of us. For the planet.
Congratulations to @albomp, and to the people of Australia—for a triumph over corruption and abuse. A triumph of hope. Today was a victory for us all."
For all except university....... a god forsaken place driven by self-management and self-monitoring. This is where bullies and harassers are rewarded by big bosses who have no accountability and transparency.
The poor innocent does not realise that all the concentration on ipaddery, seize the day moments and enhancing and engaging are far removed from the world of real teaching and learning. The Deans of Teaching and Learning are not actually concerned with real teaching and learning but thinking up mind fing ways to impede the same while avoiding any real teaching themselves. But they do have their eyes on the promotion prize. And look at some of those who got Elder Awards for teaching and learning. They managed to steer well clear of any meaningful teaching loads.
Go to Uni of Adelaide and be prepared to willingly suspend disbelief. Your mental well being will be better protected that way,
Check out this story I found: https://www.9news.com.au/world/google-software-engineer-claims-chatbot-program-lamda-is-sentient/8d4e96e2-bee4-48f2-b49a-c7dc9911b304
What were the selection panels on when they appointed these people.? These appointees are the same people who avoid any real teaching but are big at telling the people at the teaching face how to do their work.
Another triumph of form over substance. Well done Adelaide Uni.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10989625/Hawkesbury-race-club-CEO-Greg-Rudolph-bullied-marketing-manager-emails.html
"Read the desperate email a marketing manager sent her 'micromanaging, bullying' boss and his cold reply before she was awarded a $2.8million payout - as it's revealed he's been PROMOTED to a new role"
The emails that Logan from Adelaide Dental School wrote (published as earlier comments) were worse. He even yelled at staff during meetings. There are many other rude emails that were rude and pushed people over the limit. The infamous Sam Gue saga has left many victims scarred for life. Ben Kile, his bosses - all the way up to the Vice Chancellor and Chancellor see nothing wrong. The authority did nothing. The Chancellor - the human rights lawyer and judge - has let all the abuses happen under her authority.
The only difference between the racecourse bullying and the university bullying is that the bullied get no compensation from the university. Workplace laws are useless. Fairwork Australia finds nothing wrong with the way university does things so badly. They are entitled to do it that way.
This was the same supervisor who didnt want to conduct a PDR with me, but asked me to lie to uni to say we had. The same supervisor who indiscriminantly dumped commercial projects onto me, asking me to report directly to the stakeholders because he was abjectly uninterested in doing anything for the project, but then kept adding more concurrent projects, even though the contract specified a time allocation of 100% FTE for one of them. When i pointed out I can't deliver on 2 projects which total above 100% fte, i was told to "sleep less," and that not delivering 100% on one project "wasn't stealing," but that i can't tell them im not honoring the time commitment specified in the project.
Seriously: Quit uni. Post reviews on job websites like glassdoor. Compel uni to re-evaluate how it apppints proffessorship and how it ensures they don't just slap their name on other people's work.
If anyone is wondering where the problem lies, it is not just Logan. Kile has a bigger role.
If your child is a bully, what would you do? In Adelaide, you would prove their innocence and gaslight the victims.
The Adelaide Children's hospital also have big questions to answer as to why they ignored many complaints by breastfeeding mothers and staff about his behavior. Its not good enough just to summarily walk him out the building and then close the book on the many complaints over many years! Gue treated SADS patients in the Childrens Hospital and the Dental School.
What about Ahpra acting to protect private patients and his staff in his own practice !! The answer is nothing .
As AHPRA's federal member, did Logan have a role in giving Gue a generous sanction?
with misconduct/maladministration by AHPRA, Adelaide University Council ,SA Police etc.
Grace Tame stood up to her abuse and advanced the cause of justice .
Surely Gue's behaviour on many aspects should have drawn attention to the people who knew what he was like for many years and did nothing to support the staff, students and patients adversely affected by his actions.
Where were the leaders ?
Kile and Logan are good tag team members.
If anyone wants to complain about Logan, the retired judge and the vice chancellor, or even senior members of the VC's team, will come to the rescue.
If Logan did something wrong, Kile is equally to blame.
If people say AHPRA should investigate Logan, isn't he a federal member of the dental board in AHPRA?
Lose all hope. The VC's team is too content with Logan.
Caution ahead!
Thanks to the ABC investigation, the chancellor was exposed.
The chancellor and her team made all sorts of promises to get rid of bad behaviour. Little did people know that it was just lip service.
Rules only apply to punish low level staff and students. Senior management are exempted. Looks like they are above the law.
Logan may be held accountable soon.
The Adelaide Dental School has experienced reputational damage for many years .
Gue's case is a symptom of the rot that has plagued the school .
The economic rational for keeping the Dental School open is slipping away slowly but surely.
And the doubly irony is that those behind the surveys note how important they are for status obsessed Chinese students. And when they come here on the basis of these they are treated appallingly and receive pretty bog standard teaching.
But VCs love them as they can crow about them in the Qantas Club while waiting to board their next first class flight somewhere and when they meet to tell their Chancellors how well they have met their KPIs.
In the long term reputational damage such as the Gue affair and the poor student governance will be telling .
Students were not protected from a predatory/abusive academic for many years .
Logan should hang his head in shame at the state of the Adelaide Dental School.
Covering up Gue's behavior is very serious for the long term credibility of the Adelaide University Medical and Dental Faculty.
Gue was way out of line for many years .
https://www.smh.com.au/technology/the-diy-porn-creators-making-70k-a-month-on-their-iphones-20221027-p5bth3.html
If there is such maximal excellence along North Terrace one has to wonder why people actually go to Oxbridge or the Ivy League.
What about Woke University- Adelaide.
or
University of the Last Chance
or
Everyone Win's a Prize University
The comments from Close who is pushing for this monster uni are all about woke sort of things and rankings.
No mention that many of the great unis of the world are not mega unis in terms of size and in terms of wokeness
The Private College- for all the iPad carrying ex private school types
The Non Private College- for all the non private school generic tablet carrying types.
The Overseas College- for all those, mainly from China, who will pay the huge fees to keep the place afloat and be treated with disdain.
Simples really.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jan/10/universities-to-return-to-pen-and-paper-exams-after-students-caught-using-ai-to-write-essays?CMP=share_btn_link
1. Bullying and harassment in two professional faculties in an Australian GO8- causes, effects and management responses to staff well being.
2. Teaching only staff in an Australian G08 - how to become teaching only, do little teaching and even less marking but get promoted to senior lecture and associate professor.
Now sent them out to appropriate journals. Well keep readers up dated as to the outcomes.
Why bother merging the unis. Just set up Adelaide ChatBot Uni and be done with it. Then we have the problem based learning wankers to thank for the scourge that is google medicine. If you want to degrade the academic dogma just ask a curriculum expert or someone who knows nothing but knows how to teach it.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jan/21/south-australian-universities-to-allow-use-of-artificial-intelligence-in-assignments-if-disclosed?CMP=share_btn_link
Easy to get a job in that school over much better qualified applicants and then quickly get promoted while at the same time doing SFA. Yes it sure pays to be St Peter's Private. Just part of the class war no doubt.
----------------------------
Overheard last week as I walked past a cluster of students outside Flentje...
Student 1: ... Saint Peters.
Student 2: Ooh. Saint Peeeeters. Faaaancy.
--------------------------------------
'Have you ever tried to turn a Volkswagen into a Rolls Royce'..
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/positive-education-is-driving-away-teachers-and-sending-students-backwards-20230331-p5cx4z.html
CAUTION- CONSTANTLY STOPPING AND REVERSING
Could be State Govts of various persuasions stances on the uni merger?
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David Butler
15 h ·
I just wanted to wish everyone doing exams this season all the best, especially those with exams tomorrow on the first Saturday.
I wish you all calm nerves, complete memory and clear thinking.
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All reactions:
64
It is the young who bear the brunt of all these great ideas thought up by the technocrats on mega salaries. And the bloody baby boomers moan about possibly having to pay for their aged care!!
And as InDaily notes they have carefully limited debated in all forums they control . In fact Chairman Hoyt has learnt much from his Chinese comrades by basically telling staff at a discussion session if they don't like it they can just leave. I guess in China or HK they could be charged and sent to the Gulag. Along with other dissidents.
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/feb/03/the-situation-has-become-appalling-fake-scientific-papers-push-research-credibility-to-crisis-point?CMP=share_btn_link
Why SA teachers like Annie are going bush
The Post by The Post
More than 150,000 students sue their universities over online teaching during the pandemic
The students want partial refunds of around £5,000 - the typical pre-pandemic difference between the £9,250 in-person degree fee and an online one. It could cost the sector up to £765million.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13115597/students-sue-universities-online-teaching-pandemic.html?ito=email_share_article-top
I am amazed that events of his dismissal from Adelaide University, South Australian Dental Service and the Womens and Childrens Hospital are clearly more serious than the people were led to believe.
Why as a consequence of his actions in these institutions has he been allowed to continue in private practice without public censure from AHPRA. Why!
Surely the general public may have been put at risk .
One would hope that outside accreditation and licensing boards would look VERY VERY closely as the staffing of courses when the same are put up for approval.
If they did they would see many many anomalies like the complete absence of any indigenous staff in some areas where up till a few years ago there were at least some.
But better to hire from the so called great and good overseas establishments to HOS- were looking at you Psych and Ed and then make sure to restrict further hiring to a small group of ex private schools and for heaven's sake no persons of colour nor indigenous .
And universities wonder why people are suspicious of what goes on in them or what does not go on in them.
Exclusive
Education
The teaching style that puts students ‘months ahead’
Maria Luu, Andy Do, Thomas Nguyen and Angela Nguyen from Canley Vale High School, which uses explicit instruction to drive improved results, and has excellent.
High school students who receive explicit instruction are months ahead in learning compared with peers, a major analysis has found.
I didn’t get the credit for my bestselling book: the secret life of the celebrity ghost writer
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/mar/12/liam-pieper-celebrity-ghost-writer-author-bestselling-book?CMP=share_btn_url
xclusive
Education
Grade inflation puts uni integrity at risk
An investigation by Sydney University found a 234 per cent increase in the number of high distinctions awarded over a decade.
Wage theft, pay soaring for consultants, bosses: Jason Clare puts unis on notice
A new taskforce to police how universities are run will be pitched as figures reveal the extent of corporatisation of councils
https://www.indaily.com.au/news/2024/05/30/game-of-thrones-culture-claim-in-sa-university-merger
----------
UK politics
Private schools are meant to help you get ahead. Not in Starmer’s cabinet
Only one member of Keir Starmer’s cabinet went to a fee-paying school.
Two-thirds of Rishi Sunak’s cabinet were privately educated, but only one MP in Labour’s new cabinet paid to go to school