International Study Programs
REGISTRATIONS NOW OPEN
Study Tour to the UK: visiting Glasgow, Edinburgh, London, 15-23 September 2009.
For further information about the study tour and a registration form click here.
Designed for senior university executives/managers, this program aims to assist participants to:
- Gain a better understanding of the organization of UK higher education and current policy and management issues facing Scottish and English universities and colleges;
- Appreciate different organisational strategies employed in addressing key policy challenges;
- Review recent developments in university governance, leadership training and quality assurance;
- Explore how UK universities are tackling major financial and planning issues; and
- Assess the relevance of various UK policy initiatives and responses to Australian/local policy issues.
Contents
Overview of CHEMP Study Tours
As part of its commitment of service to the higher education sector and the professional development of higher education managers and policy analysts, the UNE Centre for Higher Education Management and Policy (CHEMP) runs regular international study programs to other countries.
The aim of these programs is to provide unique professional development opportunities through study and discussion of higher education management and policy in other countries of particular interest to the Australian higher education sector. Programs include lectures, seminars, provision of specially selected reading materials and institutional visits to universities and other higher education institutions, government agencies, research institutions and higher education associations.
Every effort is made to keep costs to a level to facilitate as wide participation as possible. For example, we select adequate ensuite hotels but not luxury accommodation while in other countries travel to institutions is generally by public transport.
Programs to date have been led by Emeritus Professor Grant Harman (Tel: +61 (0)2 6773 3217, email: gharman@une.edu.au) and Professor Kay Harman (Tel: +61 (0)2 6773 2089, email: kharman@une.edu.au).
Since 1999 the UNE Centre for Higher Education Management and Policy has been running regular international study programs to other countries. The aim of these programs is to provide professional development opportunities through interaction and discussion with senior academics and higher education managers as well as policy analysts and government officials in other countries whose higher education policies and practice are of particular interest to Australia.
Most Recent Program
US and Canada, visiting San Francisco Bay area, Seattle, Vancouver and Victoria, 6-15 August 2008
Designed for university executives/managers, governing body members, and university commercialisation company executives, this program will focus particularly on:
• Research commercialisation and industry partnerships
• Leadership, governance and strategic direction setting
• Funding issues and private higher education
• Graduate studies and research management
• Building new ‘on-campus’ integrated urban communities
Scheduled immediately before the International Meeting of University Administrators (IMUA) to be held in Vancouver from 17-21 August 2008.
For full details about this program please follow this link.
Completed Programs
To date ten programs have been successfully completed. These are as follows:
2008 - US and Canada, 6-15 August: Research commercialisation and industry partnerships; Leadership, governance and strategic direction setting; Funding issues and private higher education; Graduate studies and research management; Building new ‘on-campus’ integrated urban communities link particpant journal (1.3MB)
2007 - Californina, 25 February to 6 March: Reseach Commercialisation, Regional Engagement & Future University Directions link
2006 - UK, 21-29 June: Management Practices and Policy Debates in UK Higher Education.
2005 - California, 6-11 February: Research management; reseach commercialisation and technology licensing officers; technology and science parks.
2003 - Ireland, Scotland and England 28 August to 3 September.
2002 - England , 8-13 September: Technology transfer and research management; academic governance; financial management and planning.
2001 - England and Scotland, 26-31 August: Research and research training; faculty/student administration; financial management; and personnel management.
2001 - California, 26-30 March: University governance and governing bodies.
2000 - California, 21-28 March: Technology transfer and research commercialisation.
2000 - UK and the Netherlands, 28 March-14 April: Planning and funding; quality assurance; academic programs and cross-sectoral links; and management of graduate studies and research.
2000 - UK, 16-24 September: Research management; graduate studies and research training; and student recruitment and administration.
1999 - California, 14-27 March: Planning and funding issues; personnel management; student recruitment admissions; graduate studies and advanced level specialised research; and application of new information technologies to teaching and administrative processes.
Tips for Participants
Here are some practical hints for prospective participants. For those who have travelled overseas before, the list covers many things you already will know.
1. Health and travel insurance cover is strongly recommended as only University of New England personnel participating in the study tour are covered under the University's current travel insurance policy and even then they must have an A8 completed confirming that they are on official University business. However, if your trip has official support from your institution, you may be covered by your institution's insurance policy. We recommend that in such cases you check to ensure that you have appropriate health and travel insurance cover, since costs in some overseas countries in the case of illness or an accident can be very high.
2. Bring a supply of business cards as you will find that in many institutions you will want to leave your name and address.
3. For phone calls back to Australia, one of the cheapest methods is to use prepaid phone cards which can be purchased at many stores and hotels in the US and the UK. With these you can use the phone in your hotel room without charge or for the charge of a local call only. Other alternatives are to use a Telstra charge card or phone collect to Australia.
4. While travelling overseas, it is wise to take special efforts with security with cash, traveller's cheques, credit cards, and passports. Unfortunately, pick pocketing goes on at airports and in busy hotel lobbies. There are now a range of simple safety pouches or wallets available to hang around your neck or wear on a belt. It is a good idea to keep separately a photocopy of the key pages of your passport and the numbers of your credit cards.
5. For the visits to institutions, we suggest that you wear suitable walking shoes as there will be some walking around campuses and to catch public transport.
6. Having access to cash is always a problem when travelling overseas. Traveller's cheques are a good idea but today many experienced travellers take some Australian cash, change some cash in advance for taxis etc. and depend on withdrawals from ATMs. If you have not used an ATM abroad check with your bank that you will be able to do this.
7. Deciding on what clothes to take for the study tour part of the trip could be problem. At work, academics and administrators dress very similarly to people in our institutions.
8. Be careful with the amount of luggage you take. Heavy bags are a bother at airports and you will be collecting a considerable amount of documentation (although you may be able to mail some of this back home).
Participant Comments
After each program participants are asked to provide feedback to assist with the planning of future programs. The following is a selection of comments received from participants in each of the programs completed to date.
Council Member: I thought the study tour was fascinating. Stanford was a highlight and I particularly enjoyed Sheldon's guided tour of Berkeley. Catching public transport was an adventure and gave me the feeling I was really somewhere different! Thanks for your organisation and attention to detail. It was a very successful tour.
Chair, Academic Board: The study tour was excellent. A special thank-you to Kay and you for organising it. Most of the group members said that they found the study tour much more interesting than the AGB Conference. I certainly felt that to be the case.
Manager, Contracts and Grants: I found the tour to be extremely enlightening, and I will be trying my best to incorporate some of the best features I saw into the IP management and technology transfer processes at U of x.
Program Leader: I have asked that the tour be formally recognised as part of my PD. I have briefed my Director on the tour and been asked to share my perceptions with members of the Institute Executive and Management team. I believe that knowledge gained from the tour will enable me to take initiatives in implementing improved management practice in my department. The tour has developed my capacity as a manager and improved my ability to interact confidently with executive teams in a constructive manner.