Welcome to the Noticeboard
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 DASSH.
News from dassh
New Bachelor of Arts working group
We are seeking member interest in a new DASSH Bachelor of Arts Working Group. This group will meet across the year, providing a space for members to discuss how institutions are adapting the BA in response to changing policy settings, student demand and institutional priorities. The group will also consider how the degree can be strengthened, as we share approaches, challenges and ideas, and learn from one another.
If you are interested in being part of this group, please contact us at office@dassh.edu.au
Mentoring Program now underway
The 2026 DASSH Mentoring Program recently launched. Mentees have been matched with fifteen senior leaders from universities across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. We are delighted to have such an impressive and dedicated group of Mentors this year. Thank you to both our Mentors and Mentees for contributing to this community-based initiative.
Find out more
Successful first 2026 Essential Insights session
Over 120 attendees came along to our first Essential Insights webinar for 2026, on the topic of restructuring the essay in a time of AI. Many thanks to Dr Thomas Corbin, as well as our Teaching and Learning Network conveners, for facilitating this popular session. You can find the key highlights and takeaways from the presentation, including resources on AI and assessment, on our website.
Catch me up
Impact & Outcomes Aotearoa report
Our 2026 Impact & Outcomes Aotearoa report provides the latest data and insights on how the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities are equipping individuals and organisations to thrive. The Arts and Creative sector contributed 4% of Aotearoa’s total GDP and employed around 118,000 people. The sector accounted for one-quarter of all Professionals in Aoteaora. Analytical thinking, creative thinking and curiosity are all employers’ Top 10s.
Read the report
New Job-Ready Graduates Bill announced
Submissions are open until 10 April on the Higher Education Support Amendment (Reverse Job-Ready Graduates Fee Hikes and End 50k Arts Degrees) Bill 2025.
Faster degrees and stronger TAFE to university pathways
The Federal Government has announced plans to reduce the length and cost of university degrees for students with relevant TAFE qualifications. Under a credit recognition framework is finalised, ATEC will be able to allocate more future student places to universities for these students.
Read press release
Reducing the high price tag on humanities courses
In an opinion piece for Future Campus, Stephen Matchett writes about options universities have to reduce the prices of humanities courses.
Read more
How revitalising the humanites could help us reimagine psychology
In an article for Psychology Today, Drs Matthew Clemente and David Goodman discuss the discipline of psychological humanities and the opportunities it presents.
Read the article
The case for ATEC builds
In an article for Future Campus, Stephen Matchett reports on the behind the scenes case for ATEC, including what support is needed for the legislation to pass.
Read the article
Preparing National Research Ecosystems for AI
The International Science Council has released the third edition of the Working Paper Preparing national research ecosystems for AI: strategies and progress. The authors make an urgent call for continued collaboration between countries introducing AI in their research priorities.
Download the Working Paper
Why a rocky start wouldn’t mean ATEC isn’t worthwhile
In an opinion piece for Future Campus, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Newcastle, Professor Alex Zelinsky, argues that most lasting policy reforms experience difficult beginnings.
Read the article
New history column featured in The Guardian
A new monthly column in The Guardian Australia features articles from members of the Australian Historical Association. The column, titled Past/Present, aims to provide an historical perspective on recent events and showcase the important work of historians in Australia.
Australian universities graded on protest response
In The Guardian Australia, Caitlin Cassidy writes that a new antisemitism report card system will grade Australian universities on how well they “deal with” protests, encampments and the display of flags
Australians spending more on music
A new Briefing Paper from The Australia Institute, Hottest or not? Government support for Australian music, says that Australia’s arts funding is amongst the lowest in the developed world.
Is it history for historians?
In a segment the Nine to Noon program at Radio NZ discusses cuts across the country to historian roles, funding losses from the Marsden Fund and budget cuts, asking: “Are historians becoming history?”
University Governance – a definition of terms
From Sean Brawley in Future Campus, the first in a series of articles about Australian university governance kicks off with an article looking at what university governance actually means.
Read more
Librarians work essential, expendable
In an opinion piece for New Zealand’s The Spinoff, Marilyn Waring points out that university librarians are undervalued experts whose work should not be deemed expendable.
Read more
Action required to secure universities’ future
Universities Australia has claimed that media reporting “a rosy picture” of the university sector’s financial health masks the deep and ongoing structural pressures impacting the county’s higher education providers.
Read the press release
Download the Universities Australia paper
Grant to secure Australia-China dialogue
On its website, the Australian Academy of the Humanities shares it has been awarded $128,500 to support new work enabling dialogue between Australian and Chinese scholars and strengthening Australia’s China knowledge capability across the education ecosystem.
Read the press release
Higher education needs clarity, not control, in the age of AI
In an opinion piece for Future Campus, Vahid Chittleborough argues that the AI age makes it essential to reclaim higher education’s purpose.
Read the article
Building an AI-ready public workforce
Skill gaps are holding back many public sector bodies considering adopting AI to improve efficiency or service quality. A new Policy Brief from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) explores how government institutions can build their internal capability for AI.
Download the Policy Brief at Australian Policy Online
Australia at risk of becoming ‘artless’
In The Guardian Australia, Caitlin Cassidy reports on the long-term decline in enrolments in creative courses, noting that more than 40 courses and degrees have been axed in less than a decade.
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Read the article
Founder of Anthropic says human skills vital in AI age
In a news segment for the US outlet ABC News, shared in Fortune, cofounder of Anthropic, Daniela Amodei, said human qualities will actually be more critical in the age of AI, not less.
Watch the video
Universities taking action on national skills shortage
In a special report for the Australian Financial Review, Melinda Ham writes that Australian universities are taking a range of actions to step up their response to the national skills shortage.
Read the article (paywall)
A new picture on psychosocial safety in Australian Universities
A press release from Adelaide University shares a new report providing the most comprehensive picture to date of psychosocial safety across Australia’s higher education sector.
Read the release
Literacy journal Meanjin resurrected
Angela Glinderman in The Conversation. writes that the literacy journal Meanjin has been revived by Queensland University of Technology, where it will complement the university’s creative writing program. The move comes after the 85-year-old journal was closed late last year.
Read the story
Ireland to provide basic income for artists
In The Guardian, Rory Carroll reports that the Republic of Ireland is bringing in a scheme giving artists a weekly income of €325 a week to reduce their need for alternative work. The Basic Income for the Arts initiative will be offered to 2000 artists across the country.
Read the story
The politics of ATEC passing the Senate
In Future Campus, Stephen Matchett reports on the numbers the Government will need to pass ATEC in the Senate and what the Greens might want in exchange for their support.
Read the story
University application numbers on the rise
For Region News, Chris Johnson, discusses data from Tertiary Admissions Centres across the country showing increases in university applications for commencing undergraduate students, increased offers, and the impact of the Job Ready Graduate scheme.
Read the article
Online learning changes university life
On the ABC, Scout Wallen and Ebony ten Broeke explore how the university experience has changed in the post-pandemic era.
Read the article
Working conditions and productivity intertwined
On the NAVA website, Penelope Benton says that funding cuts, reduced education pathways, heightened risk aversion and AI threats to intellectual property are changing working conditions across across the visual arts, craft and design sector,
Read the article
Examination of racism in Australian universities
A new report from the Australian Human Rights Commission, Respect at Uni: study into antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism and the experience of First Nations people, has found that racism is deeply embedded across Australian universities and has profound impacts on students and staff.
Download the report via Australian Policy Online
Opportunities
Australian Academy of Humanities Grants
The Academy of Humanities awards and grants program is now open, with a number of opportunities spanning international engagement, emerging fields of humanities and support for early and mid-career researchers.
Applications close Sunday 29 March.
National Library of Australia Fellowships
Open to researchers in various fields and disciplines, these fellowships offer financial and research support for deep and sustained research using the NLA’s collections.
Applications close on Tuesday 7 April.
2026 Falling Walls Lab Aotearoa New Zealand
Students and professionals from Aotearoa and Pacific Island Forum Nations are invited to apply for this interdisciplinary pitch competition. Winners will qualify to pitch at the finals in Berlin as part of the Falling Walls Science Summit.
Applications by Wednesday 8 April.
Learn more
Australia-Korea Foundation Visiting Professor in Australian Studies at Seoul National University for 2027
This Visiting Professor position is a funded 11-month visiting academic position commencing in February 2027 at Seoul National University. The position aims to support innovative research collaborations and promote mutual understanding of Australia and Korea’s history, cultural heritage and modern outlook.Applications close Monday 13 April.
Discovery Projects 2027
Full applications for Discovery Projects (funding commencing 2027) are now open. You must have received an Australian Research Council shortlisted Expression of Interest to submit for this restricted competitive round.
Applications close Wednesday 22 April.
Call for nominations: Ngā Takohoa a Te Apārangi Companion
The Royal Society Te Apārangi is calling for nominations for Companion, Ngā Takahoa a Te Apārangi, for 2026. This is an honour conferred by the Council of the Society for outstanding leadership or eminent contributions to promoting and advancing science, technology or the humanities in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Applications close on Thursday 30 April.
Stein Rokkan Prize for Comparative Social Science Research
The International Science Council, European Consortium for Political Research, and University of Bergen are behind this prize of 5,000 EUR for comparative social science research. The prize is open to works in comparative studies from all social science disciplines.
Applications close Friday 1 May.
Learn about the nomination process
ACSES Awards for Innovation and Excellence in Impact on Higher Education Policy and Practice 2026
These awards recognise individuals or teams of up to five people who have made significant contributions to shaping policy and/or transforming practices in ways that drive positive outcomes in higher education student equity.Applications close Tuesday 30 June.
dassh Events
Conference and AGM
Wednesday 16 – Friday 18 September
Melbourne
Dates for our Conference and AGM have been announced, with more information on the program as well as registration details coming soon. For now, please hold these dates in your calendar.
Stay updated
Research Network
Building and Communicating HASS Research
Thursday 23 April
12pm (AEST)
Online
This member-led discussion will focus on different strategies for communicating the value of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (HASS) research both within institutions and externally. It will also include discussion on building partnerships for HASS internally and externally to institutions.
Supporting Indigenous-led Research
Wednesday 17 June
12pm-1pm (AEST)
Online
This session from our Research Community of Practice will focus on supporting and fostering Indigenous-led research and Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property Rights (ICIP).
Teaching & Learning Network
More details on gatherings to come soon. Please keep the below date as a placeholder.
Thursday 30 April
12pm-1pm (AEST)
Online
Events
ARDC National Skills Forum: Coaching Researchers Outside the Comfort Zone
Tuesday 17 March
12pm – 1pm (AEDT)
Online
When researchers step outside their comfort zone, coaching matters as much as instruction. How do trainers build this capability? Find out in a one-hour session from the Australian Research Data Commons.
Reserve a free spot
Australian Academy of Science 2026 Public Speaker Series
Tuesday 14 April
6pm (AEST)
Canberra & livestream
A discussion with Vanessa Hudson, Qantas Group CEO and Managing Director, and Professor Stephen Simpson from the Charles Perkins Centre at the University of Sydney about Project Sunrise, Qantas’ leap into the future of ultra-long-haul travel, backed by evidence-based research. All welcome.
Indigenous Data Governance Masterclass
Thursday 18 – Friday 19 June
6pm (ACST)
Adelaide/Tarndanya
Custodians of Indigenous data and researchers working with Indigenous data are invited to this two-day symposium. Tickets are free, with travel bursaries available. The event is hosted by the ARDC in partnership with the Indigenous Data Network at the University of Melbourne and the Language Data Commons of Australia at the University of Queensland.
Reserve a free spot
The DASSH Lounge
Join the DASSH Lounge, our exclusive LinkedIn group for DASSH Members where we share the latest news, jobs and opportunities from DASSH and around the sector.
The DASSH Lounge is reserved for members and is a great place to let people know you’re hiring, hosting an event or working on a collaborative project, so feel free to post any updates. You can also use it to simply engage with colleagues in conversation.
The Australasian Council of Deans of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities proudly acknowledges First Nations people as the First Peoples and Traditional Owners and custodians of the land and water on which we rely.