Hello friends and colleagues,

I have started 2024 with anticipation and excitement. I love years with even numbers. I was born in a year with an even number so maybe that’s why? Every two years I feel reenergised and excited in my working and personal life. This year started immediately on 3 January with projects that required attention during the break and through January. This was unusual but set up some momentum and thus our first quarter has been remarkably busy. Generally, the mood across the sector is optimistic with many universities and providers embarking on or continuing with projects, particularly focused on improving the student experience.

DVE has quite a few exciting initiatives in progress. We are working with our technology partners implementing life and work changing systems across Australia and New Zealand in curriculum management and timetabling. We also have our own new product Placements Plus ready to launch in 2024. Our Governance and Compliance business line continues to grow and create impactful change to many organisations in preparation of their registrations or registrations.

Holiday

My reward for working in January was to have one week off in February where I travelled to Melbourne and then Paynesville, Victoria to attend the Paynesville Classic Boat Rally. I went with a friend, who was born and raised in Paynesville. We had a thoroughly enjoyable time whilst looking at lots of beautifully crafted wooden and classic boats. The highlight of our trip was a 90 min sailing trip including dinner on a historic wooden ketch, the Coral Trekker. Luckily we didn’t have to handle any of the sails, but the experience of sailing on the waters around Paynesville was exhilarating. If you get a chance to be a passenger on a sailing boat, I thoroughly recommend it.

Universities Australia Conference

I attended the Universities Australia Solutions Summit 2024 last month on the heels of the release of the Universities Accord Panel Final Report (led by Professor Mary O’Kane AC). Whilst we continue to digest the full Report and wait to see how the government responds, the conference was an outstanding opportunity to unpack the Accord’s 47 recommendations that will help shape the future of Higher Education in Australia for decades. Listening to Prof O’Kane, it reminded me of the time I worked for Prof Denise Bradley (AC) and learnt about her innovative strategies for transforming the sector, which became the basis for the Bradley Review in 2008, resulting in the demand driven system.

The release of the Accord Report just before the Universities Australia Conference this year helped to create a focus for many conversations before, during and after the conference. Once again, I caught up with many friends and colleagues to hear about the work they are doing to improve the student experience.

They Keynote Address was presented by The Right Hon Baroness Valerie Amos CH PC Master of College, Oxford University. Baroness Amos discussed the challenges for students everywhere if they come from disadvantaged backgrounds. Her address was based on her experiences during her fascinating career pathway.

Twenty TAFE Centres of Excellence are being established, with six centres to be set up quite quickly. If you have questions as to how your organisation can be prepared across operations, compliance or systems as a result of the Accord reforms, contact DVE at info@dvesolutions.com.au.

DVE Webinars

We are planning our first DVE webinars for 2024. A follow up to our Work Integrated Learning webinar which we presented last year will be held in early May. This webinar will focus on the findings of the Accord, with specific discussion about paid placements and the implications to students and institutions should the government accept this recommendation.

Our first Governance and Compliance webinar will take place on 12 April 2024 entitled “GenAI: Navigating TEQSA Compliance Requirements”. All those interested can register here.

Please check our Events and Webinars page for further updates.

Conferences

ATEM has announced the Admissions, Credit and Scholarships Symposium to be held in Brisbane on 23 and 24 May 2024. I will be attending and hope to present at one of the sessions or facilitate a workshop. More details soon.

The Heads of Student Admin (HOSA) conference will be held in Melbourne in August.

The ATEM conference will also be held in Brisbane this year with the main theme of ‘Purpose’ to ‘Discover. Connect. Inspire’. This conference will be held from 22 – 25 September.

That’s the news for now. As usual, a closing picture of Tommy as he passes the 18- month mark. He continues to grow and develop into a lovely, little boy. My heart melts when I’m with him.