3,886,755 research outputs found
Innovate and prosper: ensuring Australia's future competitiveness through university-industry collaboration
Full text linkExecutive summary
The continuation of Australia’s economic growth is under threat. In order to sustain the levels of prosperity we have previously experienced, we have to build on our competitive edge in key industries to remain globally competitive. Alongside these developments, Australia’s higher education system is under increased pressure to become more productive and develop courses that address employability. Innovation represents the most reliable and sustainable solution to transition into a high value, high wage economy. Yet Australia ranks 29th out of 30 in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in terms of the proportion of large businesses and small to medium enterprises (SMEs) collaborating with higher education and public research institutions on innovation.
This report acts as the next level of detail to publications such as the Department of Industry’s Boosting the Commercial Returns from Research report and the Business Council of Australia’s Building Australia’s Comparative Advantages, which have highlighted Australia’s poor performance in collaborative innovation.
We present five recommendations that are a call to action to universities, industry and Government to take the necessary steps to build an innovation economy. They are not a call for additional funding from Government, rather a more effective way of using our existing resources. PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) have engaged with leading figures from industry, including the Australian Industry Group (Ai Group), and partnered with the ATN to develop this five point action plan for Government, the university sector and industry 5 that will provide incentives and impetus for collaboration.
Our recommendations include:
Rebalance the national research agenda to underpin Australia\u27s economy and future prosperity
Create incentives for university-industry collaboration
Train researchers for diverse careers
Enhance career mobility between industry, academia and government
Provide incentives for co-investment in research infrastructure between universities, industry and state and federal government
Each recommendation contains a number of practical strategies for consideration by Government, universities and industry. The hope is that the report will encourage dialogue between the three groups and prompt bold policy changes in the coming 12 months and beyond.
 
Open access survey June 2014
Full text linkIn the first few months of 2014 Taylor & Francis carried out a worldwide survey, with the aim of exploring journal authors’ views on open access.
Having previously conducted a survey on open access in 2013, we have been able to see how authors’ opinions have developed, and whether the discussion and debate on open access has helped to inform and shape views.
With responses to both the 2013 and 2014 survey given side-by-side, you can easily see how attitudes have changed. Alongside this, the 2014 survey explores many new areas and gives a fascinating insight into authors’ current perceptions of open access.
The survey asked authors a series of questions on their perceptions of open access; their attitudes, values and understanding of it; and what they believe the future of research to be. The report offers some intriguing shifts in opinions, with responses from the 2014 survey placed next to those from 2013 to show how views have changed, and to what degree.
Positivity towards open access continues to grow, with significant increases in the proportions strongly agreeing that open access offered a wider circulation than publication in a subscription journal (from 38% to 49%), and that it offered higher visibility (27% to 35%). 70% of respondents also disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement ‘There are no fundamental benefits to open access publication’, an increase of 10% year-on-year and a strong indicator that open access continues to be viewed as a force for good. Authors also gave their views on the value of types of peer review when publishing open access, on repositories, their future intention on open access publishing, and on licensing.  
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Managing open access (OA) workflows at the University of St Andrews: challenges and Pathfinder solutions
Full text link© 2014. Janet Aucock. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution Licence, which permits unrestricted use and distribution provided the original author and source are credited.This article arose out of a presentation given to the UKSG seminar on ‘Managing Open Access: pain points and workflows’. It presents a case study on the workflows in place at the University of St Andrews and how these are developing to meet funder compliance policies and the challenge of the new HEFCE Research Excellence Framework (REF) open access (OA) policy. The case study describes the research environment at St Andrews and in particular the challenges faced and how these may be answered. Since the seminar in May 2014, the Open Access Research Publications Support Team has engaged in a ‘Lean’ exercise to evaluate and streamline workflows within the institution. St Andrews is also now a partner in the LOCH project, one of the Jisc Pathfinder projects. The paper gives an update on recent activities and looks at strategies and practical ideas for improving workflows and removing pain points.Publisher PD
Universities: 2014 audit snapshot
Full text linkThis report sets out the key outcomes from financial audits of the eight universities and their 51 controlled entities for the year ending 31 December 2014.
Summary
Parliament, and the citizens of Victoria, can have confidence in the 2014 financial reports of the universities and their controlled entities, except for the following audit qualifications. Three entities, including the University of Melbourne and Deakin University, were qualified because of their incorrect recognition of Commonwealth Government grants. The qualifications on the universities have been in place for a number of years and are long standing issues that remain unresolved.
Including an adjustment for these qualifications, the universities produced a net surplus of 446.5 million for 2013). This large net surplus, when combined with their strong liquidity position, means most universities are considered to be low financial sustainability risks. However, there are some emerging longer-term sustainability risks that need to be monitored relating to the replacement or renewal of their assets.
Universities will need to respond promptly to any changes by the Commonwealth government to the funding model, so that they remain financially sustainable—as 2.6 billion in 2013), excluding capital grants.
As public bodies, universities are accountable for all public money spent and therefore must have the required documentation and support to demonstrate value for money was achieved. This was not the case when we looked at travel and accommodation spending by universities, which totalled $137 million in 2014. While there are frameworks in place to control this expenditure, these frameworks were not comprehensive, and our testing showed the policies and procedures were not routinely adhered to
Technology roadmap: solar photovoltaic energy - 2014 edition
Full text linkSolar power enhances energy diversity and hedges against price volatility of fossil fuels, thus stabilising costs of electricity generation in the long term, argues this report.
Overview
Solar energy is widely available throughout the world and can contribute to reduced dependence on energy imports. As it entails no fuel price risk or constraints, it also improves security of supply. Solar power enhances energy diversity and hedges against price volatility of fossil fuels, thus stabilising costs of electricity generation in the long term.
Solar PV entails no greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during operation and does not emit other pollutants (such as oxides of sulphur and nitrogen); additionally, it consumes no or little water. As local air pollution and extensive use of fresh water for cooling of thermal power plants are becoming serious concerns in hot or dry regions, these benefits of solar PV become increasingly important.
Key findings:
Since 2010, the world has added more solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity than in the previous four decades. Total global capacity overtook 150 gigawatts (GW) in early 2014
The geographical pattern of deployment is rapidly changing. While a few European countries, led by Germany and Italy, initiated large-scale PV development, since 2013, the People’s Republic of China has led the global PV market, followed by Japan and the United States
PV system prices have been divided by three in six years in most markets, while module prices have been divided by five
This roadmap envisions PV’s share of global electricity reaching 16% by 2050, a significant increase from the 11% goal in the 2010 roadmap
Achieving this roadmap’s vision of 4 600 GW of installed PV capacity by 2050 would avoid the emission of up to 4 gigatonnes (Gt) of carbon dioxide (CO2) annually
This roadmap assumes that the costs of electricity from PV in different parts of the world will converge as markets develop, with an average cost reduction of 25% by 2020, 45% by 2030, and 65% by 2050, leading to a range of USD 40 to 160/MWh, assuming a cost of capital of 8%
To achieve the vision in this roadmap, the total PV capacity installed each year needs to rise from 36 GW in 2013 to 124 GW per year on average, with a peak of 200 GW per year between 2025 and 2040
The variability of the solar resource is a challenge. All flexibility options – including interconnections, demand-side response, flexible generation, and storage –need to be developed to meet this challenge
Appropriate regulatory frameworks – and well-designed electricity markets, in particular – will be critical to achieve the vision in this roadmap
Levelised cost of electricity from new-built PV systems and generation by sector
National social housing survey: detailed results 2014
Full text linkSummary
The 2014 National Social Housing Survey (NSHS) is the most recent in a series of surveys of social housing tenants and their experiences. The 2014 NSHS sampled tenants in public housing (PH), in state owned and managed Indigenous housing (SOMIH), and in community housing (CH) between May and August 2014.
How satisfied are tenants?
The majority of NSHS respondents (73%) indicated that overall they were satisfied with the services provided by their housing organisation and, for both public housing and community housing tenants, this has increased since 2012.
Tenant satisfaction with the services provided by their housing organisation was lower amongst tenants who had a disability or who lived in dwellings with structural problems or in dwellings that were overcrowded.
Consistent with previous surveys, community housing tenants were more satisfied than public housing or SOMIH tenants with the services offered by their housing providers.
What are dwelling conditions and use like?
The majority (82%) of tenants lived in a dwelling of an acceptable standard, with 4 or more working facilities and no more than 2 major structural problems.
As in 2012, a small proportion (5%) of social housing dwellings were overcrowded, but this was again considerably more common in SOMIH households (19%).
Underutilisation was more common than overcrowding in public housing and community housing dwellings. One in 5 public housing households were underutilised (with at least 1 surplus bedroom) as were 1 in 7 community housing households.
What is the labour force status of social housing tenants?
Between half and three-quarters of all social housing tenants aged 15-64 years were not in the labour force, despite a large proportion being of working age. Almost half of public and community housing tenants (49% PH and 47% CH), were \u27unable to work\u27, while almost two-thirds of SOMIH tenants were full-time parents or carers (62%).
Of those working part-time, unemployed or not in the labour force, the 3 strongest influences on employment status were the need for more training, education or work experience; the desire/need to stay home and look after children, and financial concerns.
How are tenants with disability faring?
Around one-third of households included at least 1 member who \u27always\u27 or \u27sometimes\u27 requires assistance with self-care, body-movement or communication activities.
Across all social housing programs, the majority of households with a person with disability indicated that \u27modifications for special needs\u27 were important to them and that this need had been met.
What are the benefits of living in social housing?
Social housing tenants reported many benefits of social housing, with the majority (more than 90%) feeling more settled and better able to manage rent or money.
The benefit least likely to be reported by tenants was feeling \u27more able to improve job situation\u27 (63% reported this benefit)
Cancer in Australia: in brief 2014
Full text linkPresents key points and trends from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s latest biennial report about cancer in Australia.
Introduction
Cancer is a major cause of illness in Australia and has a substantial social and economic impact on individuals, families and the community. In 2014, it is estimated that 123,920 people will be diagnosed with cancer and 45,780 people will die from cancer. Findings from recent global burden of disease studies show that cancer contributed between 16% and 19% of the total disease burden in Australia.
This booklet provides highlights from the full report Cancer in Australia: an overview 2014. The report is part of a series of national statistical reports on cancer produced by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare with support from state and territory members of the Australasian Association of Cancer Registries. As a short version, this booklet presents key findings from the main report. Refer to the full report for details about methods and technical information
Initial teacher education: data report 2014
Full text linkChair’s Foreword
I am pleased to introduce AITSL’s second Initial Teacher Education: Data Report. Since we released the first report in May 2013, the debate over the quality and direction of initial teacher education has intensified. The first data report has contributed to the quality of that debate.
The 2014 report builds on the collection of baseline data assembled for the initial report, bringing together nationally available data on initial teacher education in Australia. For the 2014 report, additional data has been collected including time series data as well as data on the first year retention rates in initial teacher education. The addition of time series, in particular, allows for greater identification of trends and comparative analysis. The 2014 report also incorporates the results from the 2013 Staff in Australia’s Schools Survey.
The data presented in this report highlight the scale and diversity of initial teacher education in Australia. Over 78,000 students were enrolled in initial teacher education in 2012, in over 400 courses at 48 providers. They study on campus and online, full-time and part-time, and at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. They enter initial teacher education through diverse pathways, and graduate into employment across the range of Australian schools. This report will make a significant contribution to informing the continuous improvement of initial teacher education in the country.
Professor John Hattie
Chair, AITSL Boar
Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014
Full text linkThis report establishes a data security regime for all information held by the Victorian public sector.
Authorised Version No. 001 - Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 - No. 60 of 2014
Authorised Version incorporating amendments as at 17 September 2014
The Parliament of Victoria enacts:
PART 1—PRELIMINARY
1 Purposes
The purposes of this Act are—
(a) to provide for responsible collection and handling of personal information in the Victorian public sector; and
(b) to provide remedies for interferences with the information privacy of an individual; and
(c) to establish a protective data security regime for the Victorian public sector; and
(d) to establish a regime for monitoring and assuring public sector data security; and
(e) to establish the Commissioner for Privacy and Data Protection; and
(f) to repeal the Information Privacy Act 2000 and the Commissioner for Law Enforcement Data Security Act 2005 and make consequential amendments to other Acts
- …
