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
Australian Research Council NCGP Consultation
This week DASSH members provided feedback on policy review of the Australian Research Council Non-Competitive Grants Program. The ARC is seeking input on its proposal for a new approach to grants.
Members are welcome to send written feedback by 17 March. Email us.
Read the discussion paper
Assessment Integrity in the Age of AI presentation now available
The presentation recording, key insights and resources from the first webinar in our Essential Insights series are now available on our website. Hear directly from Professor Jason Lodge of University of Queensland on the ‘crisis’ of AI and academic integrity and three pragmatic approaches to ensure quality education.
Aotearoa member gathering
Thursday 27 March
10am-4pm (NZT)
Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University
Pukeahu Campus, Wellington
All members welcome
There is still opportunity to register for the Aotearoa member gathering taking place in the last week of March in Wellington.
Join President Heather Zwicker, Vice President Cynthia White and Executive Director Jane Ryan for a full day event where members from every institution will have the chance to meet and discuss their priorities and challenges.
We look forward to welcoming you all in two weeks!
Essential Insights: Psychosocial Safety and Wellbeing
Wednesday 16 April
12pm – 1pm (AEST)
Online
This session will focus on what we as leaders might consider as we go about the work of co-creating enabling workplaces. Informed by the evidence base developed by our cohort of 2024 conference presenters, the session aims to canvas practical strategies on creating a psychosocially safe environment. You will also be invited into conversation – so please come along and participate.
Australian Research Council College of Experts 2026
The Australian Research Council (ARC) has opened nominations for the ARC College of Experts for 2026. Playing a crucial role in identifying research excellence, nominations are open to qualified and experienced individuals, including senior academics and end-users across the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors, with peer review and research leadership experience. Nominations are especially welcome from women and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Nominations close on 17 April 2025. Find out more
Around the traps
Opportunity and productivity: towards a tertiary harmonisation roadmap
A Jobs and Skills Australia report articulates 19 recommendations for the strategic alignment of Higher Education and Vocational Education and Training sectors. It suggests the benefits of harmonisation across the tertiary sector.
Read the report
International affairs impacting Australian researchers
Julie Hare from Australian Financial Review has reported that Australian researchers who conduct joint research with partners in the United States have been asked to complete surveys asking about affiliations and social issues.
See more (paywall)
Rethinking the pressure to produce job-ready graduates
An opinion article by Portuguese academics Fátima Suleman, Pedro Videira and Pedro Teixeira in International Higher Education speaks to global challenges of graduates transitioning to labour markets. They say increasing government focus on universities to produce job-ready graduates is a key pressure point.
Read now
Coalition outlines priorities in major address
Senator the Hon Sarah Henderson outlined several policies and priorities for higher education in her recent address to the 2025 Universities Australia Solutions Summit.
See transcript
Interim head of ATEC named
Professor Mary O’Kane, AC has been appointed as Commissioner of Australian Tertiary Education Commission. Professor Kane led the Australian Universities Accord Advisory Panel.
Learn more
Keeping politics out of research funding in Aotearoa
Academics from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington have collectively spoken on how the recent government restrictions in research funding are undermining the critical role of Indigenous knowledge, Social Sciences, Humanities and Natural Sciences in addressing complex challenges.
See more
National regulatory agency calls for more authority
In its submission to the Quality of Governance at Australian Higher Education Providers Inquiry, the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Authority (TEQSA) has requested increased authority to pursue direct enforcement measures.
See TEQSA and other inquiry submissions
Council of Deans and Directors of Creative Arts respond to Creative Australia decision
Australia’s peak body for tertiary creative arts education and research has urged Creative Australia to reconsider its decision to remove Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino’s work from the 2026 Venice Biennale Australian pavilion.
Read the response here
Māori art celebrated in landmark book
The release of Toi Te Mana: An Indigenous history of Māori art is the most comprehensive account of Māori art history written entirely by Māori scholars. At the heart of its approach is the enduring significance and celebration of Māori art across a diverse range of mediums.
Find out more
Opportunities
International Fellowship Applications now open
The International Fellowships scheme, run jointly by the British Academy and the Royal Society, offers opportunities to international early-career researchers to pursue high-quality research in the United Kingdom for two years.
Submission deadline is 18 March 2025.
Eureka Prize for Excellence in Research Software
The Australian Research Data Commons Eureka Prize of $10,000 is awarded for the development, maintenance or extension of software that has enabled significant new scientific research. Eligible software activity includes applications, tools, utilities, frameworks or libraries designed to be broadly used for research purposes.
Entry deadline is 14 April 2025.
dassh Events
Aotearoa member gathering
Thursday 27 March
10am-4pm (NZT)
Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University
Pukeahu Campus, Wellington
All members welcome
Essential Insights Series
Psychosocial Safety and Wellbeing
Wednesday 16 April
12pm-1pm (AEST)
Online
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
Meet and Greet the Research Data Alliance
Monday 17 March
2.30pm – 4pm (ACDT)
University of Adelaide
Discover a unique global community in research data and infrastructure with the Research Data Alliance (RDA). It is an opportunity to learn about how the RDA is facilitating sharing, collaboration and standards across borders and disciplines.
Find out more
Australian Research Council College of Experts webinar
Wednesday 19 March
1pm – 2pm (AEDT)
Online
This webinar by the Australian Research Council (ARC) provides information about the nomination requirements and expectations for the College of Experts 2026. Current College members will talk about their experiences providing valuable insight into the benefits of being part of the College.
Financial challenges of students studying in Australia and Aotearoa webinar
Thursday 20 March
12pm – 1pm (AEDT)
Online
Hosted by the Australian Centre for Student Equity and Access, join Small Research Grant recipients discuss findings from a research project investigating the economic vulnerability of Australian and New Zealand university students, through an audit of national and institutional financial supports available, as well as an exploration of the perspectives and experiences of university staff and students.
Register now
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.
If you are interested in participating please get in contact with us.
Australia
Role of the Associate Dean (Research)
Wednesday 9 April
12pm-1pm (AEST)
Online
Approaches to Interdisciplinary Research
Wednesday 11 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
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.