Melbourne’s VC to chair Group of Eight
[ UniNews Vol. 14, No. 10
13 - 27 June 2005 ]
Professor Glyn Davis, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Melbourne, will be the next Chair of the Group of Eight universities.
He will succeed Professor Ian Chubb, the Vice-Chancellor of the Australian National University, at the next meeting of the Group of Eight board of directors in September 2005.
Professor Davis became Vice-Chancellor of the University of Melbourne in January this year, having previously served as Vice-Chancellor of Griffith University in Queensland and as Queensland’s most senior public servant.
He is Chair of the Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG), headquartered at the University of Melbourne, and a Director of Australia 21, the Melbourne Theatre Company and the Sesquicentenary Committee for Queensland. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia.
Professor Davis is looking forward to this new role, but acknowledges the challenges. “It is not an exaggeration to say that higher education in Australia is facing tough times.
“Given the Government’s recent decision not to provide indexation for salaries, universities must fund staff increases amid a leveling-off from international fee income and the significant cost impositions of an end to the amenities and services fee that funds a range of services at most Australian universities.
“The challenge for the Group of Eight universities will be how to maintain, in these circumstances, the high-quality teaching and research environment expected of world-class universities.”
Outgoing Chair of the Group of Eight, Professor Ian Chubb, welcomed Professor Davis’ appointment, noting his contribution to the development of higher education policy debate.
“Professor Davis will continue to drive the agenda of the Group of Eight to ensure Australian higher education remains globally competitive and delivers national value.”
Professor Chubb will conclude his two year term as Chair on 9 September.
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