Comments on: The University of Melbourne gags VCA staff http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/08/07/the-university-of-melbourne-gags-vca-staff/ now with extra source Sun, 12 Feb 2012 02:48:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Gavin Moodie http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/08/07/the-university-of-melbourne-gags-vca-staff/#comment-33752 Gavin Moodie Sat, 08 Aug 2009 03:59:27 +0000 http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/08/07/the-university-of-melbourne-gags-vca-staff/#comment-33752 This article conflates the Victorian College of Arts' inability to operate within its revenue which led to its full merger - takeover, really - by the University of Melbourne and the curriculum changes introduced by the 'Melbourne model'. The University of Melbourne's earlier merger with (again, takeover of) the former Melbourne College of Advanced Education was reasonably successful, as was the University of Wollongong's takeover of the Wollongong Institute of Education, James Cook University's takeover of the Townsville College of Advanced Education, the University of Tasmania's takeover of the Tasmanian State Institute of Technology, the University of Queensland's takeover of the Queensland Agricultural College . . . . This article conflates the Victorian College of Arts’ inability to operate within its revenue which led to its full merger - takeover, really - by the University of Melbourne and the curriculum changes introduced by the ‘Melbourne model’.

The University of Melbourne’s earlier merger with (again, takeover of) the former Melbourne College of Advanced Education was reasonably successful, as was the University of Wollongong’s takeover of the Wollongong Institute of Education, James Cook University’s takeover of the Townsville College of Advanced Education, the University of Tasmania’s takeover of the Tasmanian State Institute of Technology, the University of Queensland’s takeover of the Queensland Agricultural College … .

]]> By: Rena Zurawel http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/08/07/the-university-of-melbourne-gags-vca-staff/#comment-33730 Rena Zurawel Fri, 07 Aug 2009 08:56:40 +0000 http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/08/07/the-university-of-melbourne-gags-vca-staff/#comment-33730 I have never heard about a 'successful merger' in Australia, as yet. . Anyway, it does not really matter since the Australian universities, albeit very expensive, are not world famous for their performance. They also lack the tradition and a traditional concept of the 'universitas'. (common and fee-free). Thus, it does affect the contents of the curriculum and traditionally 'independent' status of a university. And, as long as our tertiary education existence is dependent upon money from i.e. overseas students - as far as I am concerned- our university education is mainly a commercial establishment, never mind the academic contents and discipline. Or: Lucri bonus est odor ex re qualibet ? (Juvenal xiv.204) - the smell of the money is good whenever it comes from. Is it the smell of the money we are talking about discussing academic standards and freedom of our universities? I have never heard about a ‘successful merger’ in Australia, as yet. . Anyway, it does not really matter since the Australian universities, albeit very expensive, are not world famous for their performance.
They also lack the tradition and a traditional concept of the ‘universitas’. (common and fee-free).
Thus, it does affect the contents of the curriculum and traditionally ‘independent’ status of a university. And, as long as our tertiary education existence is dependent upon money from i.e. overseas students - as far as I am concerned- our university education is mainly a commercial establishment, never mind the academic contents and discipline.
Or: Lucri bonus est odor ex re qualibet ? (Juvenal xiv.204) - the smell of the money is good whenever it comes from.

Is it the smell of the money we are talking about discussing academic standards and freedom of our universities?

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