Summary of ANU China Studies External Panel Recommendations

Transcription

1 Summary of ANU China Studies External Panel s Report Reference s and Key Points Recommended Response/s Finances Page 9 Point 1 3 rd Paragraph The Report recommends renegotiation of the funding agreement with the Commonwealth ed 1c 1a 1b The Report recommends that the University write off CIW s existing debt. The Report recommends the CIW remains within its income envelope. The ANU should endeavour to obtain further additional funds to support the research and teaching mission of the University with respect to China studies Structure and Governance CIW remain administratively within CAP 2a Page 7 Overview Page 7 Overview 2b CIW should retain its name and remain in its present building The Report recommends a reimagining of CIW as a hub for China scholarship across the University Leadership of CIW should be in the hands of a Director ed ed ed within the constraints of acceptable donors and donor conditions To be recommended to the new CIW Director with the expectation that the role CIW plays should not be restricted to CAP but be a cross campus role The selection and appointment be overseen by the Dean of the College of Asia and the Pacific The University will restart the search but broadening to 4 new hires as recommended; one of which will be appointed Director. 1

2 2c 2d 2e Staffing 3b 3a 3d (sort of) 3c Research Strategy 4b 4a Governance of the reimagined CIW will be placed in the hands of an Executive Committee, chaired by the Director Management of CIW should be assigned to a senior admin officer, reporting to Director & CAP Dean or designated representative Current Advisory Board be disbanded and new Advisory Board be reconstituted with fixed terms of membership and clearer mandate for philanthropy The of no permanent faculty raises questions around what happens to current members of staff Current staffing gaps should be filled as soon as possible to avoid further reputational damage to University Report makes several s re: language teaching: developing online capabilities, maintaining Classical and advanced Chinese instruction, more focused translation and interpretation offerings, and hiring full-time staff Current treatment of ECRs is in vital need of improvement Postdoctoral program should be brought back as part of reimagined CIW, in the past this had been the CIW s greatest source of prestige internationally A core set of competitive, fixed-term, research projects should serve to provide strategic direction at CIW. Executive Committee to include broad representation from CAP and other ANU Colleges. Government has an expectation of a governance role for the Board. Propose the establishment of a subcommittee of the Board be assigned to philanthropy. We will move to appoint senior academic staff in: Chinese Elite Politics Modern Chinese History Culture/Film/Media Studies Contemporary Chinese Society Agreed but kept within the funding envelope CIW should be able to set its own postdoc agenda as circumstances evolve The setting of a core set of projects will be at the discretion of the Director 2

3 4c Page 11 5 th paragraph CIW should in future provide seed funding to support research projects that could become ARC-worthy grant proposals Distribution of CIW financial resources for research support be conducted in highly transparent manner to avoid previous resentment This will be at the discretion of the Director Agreed Page 6 4 th paragraph 5c Education and Curriculum Undergraduate Page 11 The key area of current strength is in the teaching of Modern 1 st paragraph Standard Chinese. The modern language program is strong, and has dedicated teachers, but is threatened by overreliance upon parttime instructors Mitigate against pressure to turn the Chinese language program into vocational training by teaching large numbers of students who can speak modern Chinese, but cannot read or write much, and are unfamiliar with the classical language Language courses are not supported by rich array of studies course, this should be improved Coursework Postgraduate, Masters and Honours 5b programs) 5d 5d ANU should prioritise developing rich suite of targeted Chinese gradlevel courses that can be offered nationally (online, in short Serious thought should be given to specialised Bachelors and Masters degrees in Chinese Studies Serious thought should be given to summer programs in language and Chinese studies Teaching staff are determined within funding constraints While maintaining an ability to teach high-end language skills, the ANU program must also cater for more functional language needs CAP curriculum redesign is moving in this direction Agreed, including through better use of web-based resources 3

4 1 st paragraph ANU should consider leveraging its international reputation by offering new Masters-level courses, fulfilling national and international demand for interdisciplinary approach to China Studies, drawing upon expert from across the entire College General Education and Curriculum ANU must reduce barriers to student course choice by creating 1 st bullet point degree and major structures free from budget-unit protectionism CAP must revamp its China Studies to present a streamlined set of 3 rd bullet point courses to UG students integrating language and studies with 4 th bullet point 5a 7 th bullet point Page 6 8 th bullet point Outreach and Engagement 6a 2 nd paragraph Page 13 1 st paragraph 6b guaranteed suite of courses supported by a robust staffing policy CAP must continue to support the teaching and learning of Classical Chinese, despite small enrolments relative to the strong numbers in the Modern Chinese programs ANU s capacity to train scholars at the highest level must be maintained CAP should better integrate its research degree program students into ANU activities by using CIW building as the hub for mentoring and the construction of more robust support networks Audio-visual equipment at CIW building has ongoing issues impeding proper utilisation of classroom and conference space A reimagined CIW should seek to involve a wider range of scholars from around Australia ANU, through CIW, to develop national profile as centre of collaboration and discussion of Chinese language studies in Australia In future, CIW could help fund an annual Chinese language teaching in Australian universities workshop held at a different location each year. ANU should find ways to enhance its profile as a centre of national debate on China. This should be a priority within and beyond CAP To be considered by new CIW Director and Advisory Board 4

5 6b 6c China Story Yearbook, Made in China, and other outreach publications and online for a have brought considerable value but may need some re-evaluation CIW should seek to develop stronger ties to the national government. Agreed 5