Guest article from Prof. Jack Heinemann University of Canterbury branch president: In his weekly article in the Christchurch Press (14 May), Chris Trotter makes the important point that persistent underfunding of fundamental New Zealand assets – its universities and polytechnics – diminishes the country, threatens its reputation, and leaves a legacy liability of future underperformance. But [...]

The Labour Party’s new tertiary education spokesperson Dr Megan Woods has challenged the government in parliament last week over its policy to  abolish student allowances for post-graduate study, asking if there is a link between  this and the fall in post-graduate numbers at the universities of Otago and Canterbury. In parliament the deputy prime minister [...]

The University of Canterbury will run out of money next year, according to the Press, forcing it to borrow cash to fund its day-to-day operations. The university has already asked for government help, but vice-chancellor Rod Carr insists it is not facing an “imminent crisis”. The Press reports that student numbers have fallen again, delivering [...]

University of Canterbury cleaners are among the lowest paid members of TEU and accordingly the branch there was concerned when it started receiving complaints from some cleaners that the impact of a new parking policy was going to affect them disproportionately. The university’s new policy would cost them up to $300 a year for parking [...]

Open publication – Free publishing – More teu Volume 5, Number 1, April 2013 “The Union is deeply committed to the challenges brought by earthquakes and unrelenting financial crises. In addition to serving as a conscience for those making decisions that affect our employment, the Union also is a network from which creative solutions to [...]

In the video below Chris Trotter addresses TEU members the University of Canterbury at their Annual General Meeting, talking about the history of unions during the 1980s and 1990s.

The University of Canterbury’s outgoing pro-vice-chancellor (arts), Ed Adelson, has emailed all Arts staff at the university warning that the College of Arts is being pressured by the vice-chancellor to make approximately $1 million in staff reductions in 2013, “as a result of the continued negative cash situation facing the university.” Ed Adelson warns that [...]

Radio NZ reports that Australian share-market listed company Navitas has confirmed its commitment to a joint venture with the University of Canterbury this month to recruit and teach international students. Navitas, which is a global company holding contracts with universities around the world,  will establish a new department at the university offering a number of [...]

TEU University of Canterbury branch newsletter Dec 2012

The government has agreed in principle to provide capital support to Canterbury’s three Tertiary Education Institutions (TEIs) for their earthquake-rebuilding programme. “The University of Canterbury, Lincoln University and CPIT have all recently completed initial business cases for capital investment from the Crown as part of their earthquake rebuilding programme,” tertiary education, skills and employment minister [...]