Welcome to the March edition of the Noticeboard, a monthly update with news and opportunities from around the sector. If you have anything you’d like to share with members please contact our Research and Engagement Officer Ellen Kirkpatrick.

News from dassh

Pathway to Success interview series

Have you ever wondered where an arts degree can take you? Or how an arts degree equips students with skills throughout their careers? In 2025, DASSH spoke to high-profile graduates of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities who are working across different industries in Australia. From big business, baking companies to designing the places we live in and enjoy, these graduates highlight how their education has helped get them to where they are today.

You can now read interviews with:

• Brian Maher, Group CEO Aussie Broadband
• Jane Caro, Walkley winning columnist and author
• Kelly Robson, Senior Arts and Culture Strategist, Western Sydney International Airport
• Carolyn Creswell, Founder, Carman’s Kitchen

We look forward to bringing an Aotearoa edition of these interviews later in the year. 

National Competitive Grants Program Submission

In March, members welcomed the vision for bold and innovative research and the adoption of several recommendations from the initial consultation phase of the Australian Research Council’s (ARC) Policy Review of the National Competitive Grants Program.

We made also made a number of recommendations:

• Addressing the precarity of support for early-career researchers
• Reassessing the ratio of specific grant programs to expand access to collaborative projects and address short-term funding implications for ECRs
• Addressing the potential unintended consequences of aligning research funding with priorities of government and the National Science and Research Priorities and maintaining a clear focus on fundamental research.

Aotearoa member gathering

We were thrilled to be welcomed in Aotearoa recently to meet with members from all over the country. DASSH Vice President Cynthia White and her colleagues hosted around 20 members at Massey University.

It was great to have members attend from University of Waikato, University of Otago, University of Auckland and Victoria University of Wellington and meet each other for the first time. DASSH President Heather Zwicker and Executive Director Jane Ryan also travelled from Australia to attend.

Members had the opportunity to share their insights and strategies during a difficult time for Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences in Aotearoa.

Jane Ryan also travelled to Christchurch, Auckland and Wellington to meet with members and representatives from Lincoln University, University of Auckland, Auckland University of Technology, Victoria University of Wellington and Massey University.  

We would like to thank our Aotearoa members for their warm and generous hospitality and look forward to the next gathering.

See photos from the gathering

Essential Insights presentation available

You can now watch the presentation and read key highlights from the second webinar in our Essential Insights series. This session on Psychosocial Safety and Wellbeing was led by DASSH Board member Professor Paula Geldens and Dr Rachael Potter from Justice and Society, University of South Australia.

The session highlighted the significance of in shifting conversation away from individual mental health onto the work environment and the way work is designed. The presentation is a great resource for leaders within higher education.

Watch the presentation

Around the traps

Aotearoa Budget 2025

The budget will be handed down on 22 May 2025 and members will be watching closely to find out about funding decisions for higher education in Aotearoa New Zealand. These may reflect the University Advisory Group final report due to be released imminently. DASSH will bring you news of the budget and report when they are handed down.
 

International affairs impact research funding

Julie Hare from Australian Financial Review reported that at least seven Australian universities have been affected by research funding cuts. This comes after a questionnaire was circulated to Australian researchers with US funding.

Read more (paywall)

Horizon Europe funding

Universities Australia has stated it will be asking both major political parties to review Australia’s decision to join Horizon Europe, the European Union’s flagship research programme.

Read more

SHAPE of research impact

The British Royal Academy and Academy of Social Sciences published a new report that highlights the impact of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities research on wellbeing, culture and economy in the United Kingdom.

Read more
 

2025-2026 Federal Budget and higher education

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has stated in the Federal Budget the government will provide an additional $2.5 billion over 11 years for investments in a new higher education funding system.

Read more about higher education in the Budget 

See Universities Australia response
 

Coalition’s plan to reduce international students

In a joint media release, the Coalition has announced it will act immediately if elected to reduce the number of international students in higher education and VET sectors. This will result in a reduction of 80,000 annual new overseas student commencements compared with 2023 levels.

Read more

Universities in the grips of election battle

An article in The Australian canvasses the similarities and differences between Labor and the Coalition’s election policies for universities. It flags issues including international students, research, academic independence, fee structures and antisemitism.

Read more (paywall)
 

Te Reo Māori enters the Ivy League

Yale University is offering a course in te reo Māori. A first for any Ivy League university. Emma Andrews writes in RNZ that this is a win for Indigenous languages. It is a step forward for language and cultural revitalisation.

Find out more
 

Australia’s creative future at risk 

The National Advocates for Arts Education (NAAE) has called for a bipartisan national inquiry into arts education and training ahead of the 2025 federal election. Representing around 10,000 educators, NAAE says the sector is in crisis after years of cuts to arts education pathways and growing barriers to access.

Read more
 

Policy opportunities for social cohesion through arts and culture 

New analysis from A New Approach (ANA) identifies gaps in current policies and outlines steps that governments should take so that cultural and creative engagement can play its part in rebuilding social cohesion.

See the paper

AI and assessment strategies

Andrew Kelly has written in Future Campus that The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) has suggested a shift towards programmatic approaches to assessment. This reflects discussions from DASSH’s recent webinar on AI and assessment.

Watch the DASSH webinar recording 

Read more about TEQSA

TEQSA seeking feedback on interim regulatory guidance 

The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Authority’s (TEQSA) has released a report taking a new approach to address systemic risks to compliance. It details expectations for universities to publish de-identified complaints data publicly, make student complaints processes clearer and analyse data twice a year.

See more
 

Government delays Senate inquiry into universities 

Natasha Bita of The Australian writes the Labor government has postponed the reporting data for the Senate inquiry investigating university governance and wage theft. The article states the post-election reporting date places the inquiry in doubt as university leaders may never be called to give evidence.

Read more (paywall)

NSW higher education strategy 2025-2029

The Department of Education in collaboration with NSW public universities developed a strategy to enable stronger collaboration between government and universities. Key focus areas include targeting workforce needs, student pathways, equity and effective public policy.

Find out more

Keeping the humanities out of science may be bad for science

Jeffrey Herlihy-Mera writes in University World News that integrating humanities expertise can enhance scientific advances and application. Integrating story-telling and cultural insight can bring more awareness to ethical consequences, societal impact and make complex scientific concepts more accessible to the public.

Read more

Restructuring Australian Research Council grants 

John Ross from Times Higher Education has reported that the President of Science and Technology Australia has suggested Australian Research Council fellowships should only be used to ‘buy out’s teaching time rather than cover full wages’.

See more
 

 Creative thinking underpins productivity 

A New Approach have provided new evidence in a pitch to the Productivity Commission highlighting how arts and cultural activities drive productivity. The pitch argues that Australia should leverage creative and cultural engagement’s capacity to positively influence the determinants of productivity.

See the pitch

Creative Matters: diversity and inclusion in higher education 

The March edition of Creative Matters from the Australian Council of Deans and Directors of Creative Arts edition shares examples of what diversity and inclusion can look like including cross-cultural collaborations, thematic concerns and curriculum design.

Read more

Opportunities

Proposed Australian Cultural Policy Research Assocation

Colleagues from various Australian universities are proposing a national association for research in the field of cultural policy. This is in response to a strong need to bring together researchers from disciplines of media and cultural studies, arts management, cultural and creative industries, digital humanities, AI and journalism amongst others.

If you are interested, please sign up to the mailing list for updates about the proposed association, events and related opportunities.

Sign up now

Visiting Professorship in Australian Studies, Seoul National University

 Applications for the 2026 Visiting Professor of Australian Studies position at Seoul National University are now open. The position is a funded 11-month visiting academic position commencing in early 2026 which aims to support innovative research collaborations and promote mutual understanding of Australia and Korea’s history, cultural heritage, and modern outlook.

The closing date is 27 April 2025.

Find out more

Call for Ngā Takahoa a Te Apārangi Companion nominations

The Royal Society Te Apārangi is calling for nominations for new Companions, Ngā Takahoa a Te Apārangi for 2025. Companionship recognises outstand leadership or eminent contributions to promoting and advancing science, technology or the humanities in Aotearoa.

The closing date for nominations is 30 April 2025.

See criteria

National Library of Australia Fellowships

National Library of Australia Fellowships are open to experienced researchers needing to undertake sustained work with the library’s collections to advance their research towards publication or other public outcomes. Research may be in any field that can be supported by the National Library’s collections with specific Fellowships also available for those working in the areas of Asian studies, Australian literature, and Australian rural, regional or environmental history.

Applications close Monday 5 May 2025.

Find out more

Creative Arts Fellowships

The Creative Arts Fellowship for Australian Writing is open to creative writers, working in any literary genre, to develop creative works inspired by the National Library of Australia’s collections.  This may include writing for performance, poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, personal essays or graphic novels.

Applications close Monday 5 May 2025.

See more

Higher Degree by Research Stipends Scheme

Master and Doctor of Philosophy students interested in student equity are invited to apply for the Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success Higher Degree by Research Stipend Scheme. Students from all disciplines are invited to apply, but research projects must be on a topic relating to equity in Australian higher education practice and policy.

Applications close on Wednesday 7 May 2025.

Find out more 

Evidence and Implementation Summit call for abstracts

 The Evidence and Implementation Summit review panel is currently receiving abstracts for oral presentations, panels, debates, and lightning talks. Themed ‘Fairer, faster, better – Realising the promise of evidence and implementation to improve lives’ encompasses six sub-themes encompassing topics of Equity, Fit, Scale, Policy, Methods and Learning.

Abstract submissions close Sunday 18 May 2025.

See more

dassh Events

2025 DASSH Conference

Wednesday 24 September – Friday 26 September
Sydney

Make sure you have the dates marked in your calendar for the DASSH 2025 conference. Global Contexts: Leading education in an age of global disruption brings together leaders in the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences to explore the challenges and opportunities of teaching and research in an era of rapid global change.

Details on program and registration coming soon.

Essential Insights Series

Communication and Media Strategy
Wednesday 18 June
12pm-1pm (AEST)
Online

Social Cohesion
Wednesday 20 August
12pm – 1pm (AEST)
Online

2025 Policy Wrap-Up
Wednesday 19 November
12pm-1pm (AEDT)
Online

Australian events

South Australian universities Trials for Equity workshop

Thursday 15 May 2025
1pm – 5pm (ACST)
University of South Australia

The Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success (ACSES) is delivering a Trials for Equity workshop in Adelaide on Thursday 15 May. The workshop facilitates discussion about equity practices underway across South Australian universities.

Get tickets

THETA 2025 Conference

Sunday 25 May – Wednesday 28 May 2025
Perth 

Themed ‘Winds of Change’, this conference is a must-attend event for anyone passionate about the future of Information Technology, Library innovation and the research and learning environments in Higher Education and Research.

Register now

ATEM 2025

Sunday 7 September – Wednesday 10 September 2025
Australian National University, Canberra

The ATEM2025 conference brings together a diverse range of disciplines from across tertiary education. Delegates from public and private providers, academic and professional specialisations explore emerging best practices across tertiary education management.

Get tickets

International Data Week

Monday 13 – Thursday 16 October 2025
Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre

The 2025 International Data Week themed ‘Data for Positive Change’ highlights the role of data in instituting change by empowering communities and advancing research.  A leading international conference hosted for the first time in Australia by the Australian Research Data Commons, the program features keynotes talks, workshops and interactive sessions. 

Find out more

eResearch Australasia

Monday 20 to Friday 24 October
Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre

eResearch Australasia is a co-located event of International Data Week focusing on the intersection of technology and research to address complex challenges in diverse fields. Hosted by Australasian eResearch Organisations, the conference features presentations, workshops, and networking opportunities aimed at fostering collaboration and driving transformative outcomes in eResearch.

See more

dassh Networks

Associate Deans (Research) Communities of Practice 

The Community of Practice is comprised of Associate Deans (Research) across member institutions. The group meets regularly to discuss spotlighted topics, share resources and guidance for addressing common challenges.

Members are invited to attend sessions for both Australia and Aotearoa. 

If you are interested in participating please get in contact so we can send you a calendar invitation.

Australia 

 
Interdisciplinary Research and Research Culture
Thursday 12 June
12pm-1pm (AEST)
Online

Recognising Non-Traditional Research
Wednesday 13 August
12pm-1pm (AEST)
Online

Implications of De-Casualisation
Tuesday 11 November
12pm-1pm (AEDT)
Online

Aotearoa

Staff Fatigue and Morale Issues
Tuesday 6 May
12pm-1pm (NZT)
Online

Restructures and Unstable Leadership
Tuesday 1 July
12pm-1pm (NZT)
Online

Cross-disciplinary and Inter-University Collaborations
Tuesday 9 September
12pm-1pm (NZT)
Online

Balancing Research Expectations
Tuesday 4 November
12pm-1pm (NZT)
Online