Annual Conference 2015 1-3 July CQU Bundaberg
Draft Program as at 31 Mar 15
Wednesday 1 July
08:30-08:50 / Registration08.50-09:00 / Welcome and housekeeping
09.10-10:00 / Professor Scott Bowman: Vice Chancellor Central Queensland University
‘Keynote Address’
10.00-10:30 / Morning Tea
10.30-11:20 / Dr Caroline Perkins: Executive Director Regional Universities Network
‘The Regional Universities Network perspective of the higher education reforms and their impact upon regional universities and their satellite campuses’
11:30-12:20 / Jonathan Chew: ACIL Allen Consulting
‘Quantifying the role of regional campuses in a competitive and deregulated market’
12:30-13:30 / Lunch
13:30-14:20 / Associate Professor Robbie Collins: Head of Campus, Shoalhaven Campus, University of Wollongong
‘Community engagement, the regional development process, and the Head of Campus Dilemma’
14:30-15:20 / Dr Doug Fraser: University Project Manager Moreton Bay Regional Council
‘The head of campus dilemma – balancing the expectations of the university, community and profession’
15:20-15:40 / Afternoon Tea
15:40-16:10 / Assoc Prof Philip Hider: Head of the Virtual Campus
Charles Sturt University
‘Moving toward a Virtual Campus’
16:10-16:30 / Open Forum on ‘The issues of accommodating and supporting distance students at satellite campuses’
17:00 / Sunset networking drinks and canapés on the beach
Thursday 2rd July
09:10-10:00 / Trent Pohlmann: Head of Campus - SydneyS P Jain School of Global Management|
‘The Head of Campus role in a private higher education provider – less students but more hats to wear’
10:00-10:30 / Morning Tea
10:30-11:20 / Dr Wayne Graham: Lecturer Faculty of Business University of the Sunshine Coast
‘Enabling the embracement of new university campuses in communities: A regional Australia case study’
11:30-12:20 / Dr Harry Ballis: Head of Campus Federation University Gippsland Campus
‘The challenges and successes of transferring a regional campus from one University to another’
12:30-13:30 / Lunch
13:30-14:20 / Ms Lisa Wirihana: Lecturer – School of Nursing QUT Caboolture Campus
‘The lived experience of satellite campus nurse academics: a phenomenological study.’
14:30-15:20 / Jodie Duignan: Associate Vice Chancellor, CQU Cairns
Round table discussion: ‘The operation of CBD campuses and hubs.’
15:20-15:40 / Afternoon Tea
15:40-16:40 / Conference discussion:
· Report on the US National Association of Branch Campus Administrators annual conference
16:40-17:00 / Election of 2014/15 Steering Committee
19:00-22:00 / Conference Dinner – Catalonia Mediterranean Restaurant 58 Miller Street, Bargara
Friday 3 July
9:00 – 11:00 / Professor Andrew Bridges: Associate Vice Chancellor (Wide Bay & Burnett) CQU -Dean of Human, Health & Social SciencesVisit to Primary Industries Research Station. – (transport provided)
The Bundaberg region is the highest value vegetable growing region in Australia. It produces over 90% of Australia’s sweet potatoes and is home to the country’s largest chilli farm. The region is also one of the biggest producers of a number of other crops including macadamia nuts, tomatoes and capsicum. The Bundaberg campus of CQU supports this industry through a strong research group which includes innovative collaborations between horticulture and other disciplines such as Psychology. The group have been successful in securing Category 1 grant income to fund their research and is headed up by Professor Phil Brown. Phil’s appointment is jointly funded by the University and the Queensland Department Of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and he therefore splits his time between the University campus and the Primary Industries Research Station in East Bundaberg. On Friday morning we will visit the research station and some local producers to gain an insight into this industry and the precision research which is now so important to its viability and sustainability.
An industry of historical importance to the region is aviation. Pioneer aviator Bert Hinkler grew up in Bundaberg and tested gliders on the beach at Mon Repos. We will finish the morning tour at Bundaberg Botanical Gardens which houses the Hinkler Hall of Aviation. Delegates can purchase a late morning tea / early lunch from café 1928 and will have the opportunity to visit the Hall of Aviation which includes Hinkler’s house that he lived in when based in the UK. It was transported brick by brick and re-assembled in Bundaberg when it was threatened with demolition.
‘Keynote address’
Biography for Professor Scott Bowman
Professor Bowman began his professional life as a radiographer, undertaking radiography training at the Northampton School of Radiography in the UK. He worked as a senior radiographer in a number of hospitals in London before becoming a student teacher at Guys Hospital Radiography Education Centre. He became a principal lecturer at South Bank University when the centre at Guys amalgamated with that university. Professor Bowman then became the Head of the Department of Radiography and Imaging Sciences at the University College of St Martin. He was also appointed the foundation Dean of the Faculty of Health Science and Community at St Martins before moving to Australia to take up the position of Head of the School of Medical Radiations at Charles Sturt University. At Charles Sturt University he later became the foundation Head of the School of Clinical Sciences. Professor Bowman then moved to the University of South Australia where he was appointed Dean of the Whyalla Campus and the foundation Director of Regional Engagement. He then moved on to James Cook University to become Pro Vice Chancellor (Cairns and Academic Planning & Development) with further appointments as Pro Vice Chancellor Corporate and Commercial and Deputy Vice Chancellor University Services and Registrar. In August 2009 he was appointed the Vice Chancellor and President of CQUniversity Australia.
‘The Regional Universities Network perspective of the higher education reforms and their impact upon regional universities and their satellite campuses’
The Regional Universities Network (RUN) supports the Government’s higher education reforms as the sector is under financial pressure. The participation of regional Australians in higher education must continue to grow for regional development and the good of the nation. Sustainable funding is required to retain and grow the demand driven student system, including to sub-bachelor degrees to provide more pathways for less well-prepared students. Government cannot be relied upon to provide increased funding per student place into the future. Satellite campuses may be under more pressure in an environment where sustainable funding of the sector is not assured. RUN supports reforms based on the principles of access, participation and fairness; efficiency and effectiveness of operations, that respects the autonomy of institutions and the need for accountability and value for money of the public investment in higher education; and a powerful and innovative culture across each university’s research, teaching and community engagement activities. Continuing funding uncertainty will be detrimental for the sector and students.
Biography for Dr Caroline Perkins
Caroline is a geologist by training and has a B.Sc. (Hons) from the University of Melbourne and a Ph.D in geology from the University of New England. She has worked as an exploration geologist in Australia and Fiji, and undertook post-doctoral research at the Australian National University determining the age of gold, silver and copper, lead, zinc deposits in eastern and northern Australia.
She has 15 years’ experience as a senior public servant working for the Commonwealth in higher education, research, science and radioactive waste management policy and programs. In February 2012 she was appointed as the inaugural Executive Director of the Regional Universities Network, a group of universities with their headquarters outside capital cities.
‘The head of campus dilemma – balancing the expectations of the university, community and profession’
There are many explicit and implicit expectations placed upon a satellite campus. These can be grouped under those stemming from the university, the community, and the profession. Explicitly the university will require brand consistency, revenue generation, and a contribution to corporate objectives. Implicitly though, it may require deference to existing power structures, restrained initiative and limited decision making authority to remind the campus who is ‘boss’. The expectations from the community are more pronounced with local comprehensive campuses and relate to quality teaching for their students, employment outcomes, contributions to the social and economic wellbeing of the region, and genuine localised community engagement. In the case of specialist campuses, they will usually focus on their responsibilities to the profession and accreditation requirements. It is the role of the head of campus to balance and manage these expectations, but their ability to achieve this is a function of their authority as determined by the campus management model under which they operate. The head of campus dilemma relates to where these expectations are misaligned, or where a sudden change upsets the established balance, leaving the head of campus exposed, and in some cases, in an irreconcilable situation.
‘Quantifying the role of regional campuses in a competitive and deregulated market’
The role of regional university campuses are an accepted truism in the Australian tertiary education landscape. Regional university campuses both stimulate aspiration and create opportunities, and in doing so make a direct contribution in terms of regional participation rates, educational attainment, and the knowledge and skills based of the region as a whole.
Despite the recent stalling of mooted higher education reforms in Australia, the debate around necessary policy and regulatory changes to improve sustainability, accessibility and the prospects for growth and innovation will persist. This presentation will look at the role regional university campuses and how this could change under various reform scenarios. For Australia’s regions, there are three key areas of reform to consider: deregulated prices and the impact this could have on not only the institutions but individual campuses; the impact of non-university higher education providers receiving public subsidies and implications for regional competition; and the likely benefits of the extension of demand-driven funding to sub-bachelor courses.
Biography for Jonathon Chew
Jon is a Principal at ACIL Allen Consulting’s Brisbane office. He undertakes public policy development, modelling, analysis, and program reviews with a focus on the VET and higher education sectors. In recent years, Jon has undertaken a number of projects analysing participation in tertiary education at a regional and sub-regional level in North Queensland, the Sunshine Coast, the Moreton Bay region, and eight regions in Western Australia. These projects collate, analyse and benchmark regional performance for a range of education and labour market indicators, drawing on a wide variety of national, state, and institutional data sources.
In 2007-08, and again in 2010-11, Jon worked with Professor Ross Garnaut on the Garnaut Climate Change Review. Jon is on the board of Conservation Volunteers Australia, one of the largest environmental organisations in Australia, which works to attract and manage volunteers to participate in projects that protect or enhance the environment.
Biography for Dr Doug Fraser
Doug Fraser is currently the Manager of the Moreton Bay Regional Council University Precinct Project. Prior to this he was the Director of the USQ Springfield Campus from December 2005 to December 2013. Before this he was employed as the USQ Springfield Project Manager, responsible for all aspects of establishing the Campus. Included within this role was the development and implementation of the high autonomy business unit model for the campus. Doug extended this work through the completion of a Doctorate examining management models for satellite university campuses throughout Australia.
‘Moving toward a Virtual Campus’
About two thirds of CSU’s students study outside of a physical campus. Philip’s talk will highlight some of the issues of particular importance to online students at CSU, and some of the major challenges in building a virtual campus that aims to be more than the sum of its parts.
Biography for Assoc Prof Philip Hider
Philip is a full-time head of school as well as a part-time head of campus. Whereas he’s been the latter for less than a year, he’s been the former for over six years, and is an Associate Professor of Library and Information Management. He’s been at CSU since 2003 and is based partly on its campus at Wagga Wagga, NSW, and partly in Melbourne, where he resides.
Round table discussion: ‘The operation of CBD campuses and hubs.’
University Campuses can range from large regional self-contained communities with sprawling grounds, purpose built buildings, and recreation facilities; through to inner city office block operations with little to no recreation related facilities. Over the years some Universities have trialled operating both styles – in effect providing two distinct campus operation sites (regional and CBD) in one geographical location.
This will be an interactive session that aims to draw upon the experience of participants with regard to the challenges and opportunities associated with the different campus models in a rapidly changing social, economic and political landscape.
‘The Head of Campus role in a private higher education provider – less students but more hats to wear’
The S P Jain School of Global Management commenced operations as an Australian-registered higher education provider in December 2012. It operates offshore campuses in Dubai, Mumbai and Sydney. Interestingly, the institution was founded more than ten years ago with its first campus in Dubai opening in 2004. It subsequently expanded to other regions. Trent’s presentation will cover the journey of the School from its inauguration in 2004 to becoming Australian-registered in 2012, along with the strategies behind S P Jain’s choice of campus locations. In discussing the global structure and profile of S P Jain, Trent will highlight the responsibilities of the Head of Campus role in this smaller and specialised - yet widely dispersed - private business school.
Biography for Trent Pohlmann
Trent joined the S P Jain School of Global Management in July 2013 following four years at the University of New England (UNE) as a Head of College. Prior to joining UNE, Trent was at Central Queensland University (CQU) where he completed his first degree. During his time at CQU he worked in senior roles responsible for student welfare and operations. He also held part-time teaching and research responsibilities and served a twelve-month tenure on the Council of CQU. As Head of Campus at S P Jain, Trent’s role encompasses overall management of the School’s Australian operations and ex-officio membership on the Academic Board. Trent holds a first class honours degree in science from CQU and a Master of Business Administration with distinctions from Curtin University.