6 October 2009

The Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences has identified the following issues and policies as potential priorities for the sector in 2010. This list is to use in discussing the direction and management of the advocacy program for 2010 and is partly based on member responses to this year's survey on advocacy and knowledge transfer.

CHASS encourages you to contribute to this discussion. We are looking to member organisations and the wider CHASS network to play an active part in driving CHASS's work on advocacy, and to identify where it should support members' campaigns.

Subscribe to the discussion list: issues@lists.chass.org.au

Are these the issues that need attention in 2010? Is CHASS the right organisation to lead the communication of key messages and recommendations for dealing with the issue or should someone else take this role? Who are the natural allies and partners in HASS who should be working together on coming up with the options and explaining them to Government, industry and our own sector? At present the list is broad, and the Council, with members, will have to identify which issues it can provide adequate resources for.

We invite you to comment on the issues below and make further suggestions by joining the discussion list at issues [a] chass.org.au. The comments and contributions will be used in preparing the background document for the session on Looking to the Future: HASS Issues 2010 at the 2009 HASS on the Hill event.

You may find it useful to look at the CHASS Strategic Plan 2009-2012 and the goals for building recognition and resources for the sector.

Download discussion points     [PDF file size: 81 kB]

The Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences sector

1. HASS research resource base
CHASS could

• Encourage and support the sector to increase capacity for research by making more applications and more focused applications for research investment. It will seek more support for building of problem solving research teams across the discipline areas. (CRCs, CREs, Research infrastructure, fellowships, public policy etc)
• Reinforce case for a better evidence base about specific HASS issues and solutions for determining policy in research eg research workforce information base of HESDC, ERA compatibility with HERDC.
• Higher Degree Researchers and research workforce: encourage development of HASS case studies and research as evidence of the diverse pathways into research careers, depending on discipline area, and the need for multiple strategies to ensure strength in Australian research to 2020.

2. Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences
CHASS could seek support from governments and Industry for development of a national congress of humanities and social sciences where sector leaders can meet to discuss issues in their specific disciplines, and join umbrella events for major issues and trans-disciplinary projects. It would seek support for its establishment once a business model has been defined.

3. TAFE/VET pathways
Link training with higher education: Beginning with creative and performing arts, document and communicate where HASS study at VET level gives students a pathway into universities and professions.

Design

1. Research, design and development
Design groups and research support inclusion of design research knowledge in all industry innovation councils; support for research tackling policy priorities in sustainability, systems architecture and services design.

2. NESTA - linking STEM and HASS in innovation
CHASS could advocate for Development of a National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts which would bring private and public investment together for investment in problem solving across disciplines and institutions (using the Blair government's successful model).

Creative arts and cultural policy

1. Support for development of new arts funding models by the 2020 creative arts advisory group which will foster new work across Australia for both local and international use. (Including support for individual artists in developing career paths and new work.)

2. Expansion of learned academies, to recognise the research, new knowledge and intellectual achievement in university based creative arts.

3. Support member organisations seeking a better resourced funding formula for creative arts areas in universities through university organisations and with the Australian government.

Social Sciences

1. Advocate for the appointment of a Chief Social Researcher, in a position to give advice to the Australian government on knowledge and skills in the social sciences in a similar way to the Chief Scientist operates.

2. Encourage knowledge transfer from the broad range of social sciences (including for example demography, criminology, anthropology, social work, education, as well as traditional areas of focus in economics) to policy makers and industry. Encourage develops of knowledge transfer models in specific disciplines, through public policy centres (ANZSOG, ANU/Kennedy School proposal), and through research centres.

3. Work with science and technology areas in communications strategies to ensure Australia's leaders know where they can find expert advice and policy tracking and evaluation in social sciences as well as physical and natural sciences.

Humanities

1. Awareness of value of humanities in building civic participation and leadership
Bring researchers together with teachers and professional associations to discuss application of humanities knowledge in building management and leadership skills across Australia's public, private and non-profit sectors to make them more creative and reflective. Promote the inclusion of humanities in innovation agendas in both academic and industry discussions of creativity.

2. Languages and cultural awareness
Reinforce the need to invest in language and cultural awareness to build a productive, inclusive Australia. Support member organisations and network members in arguing for greater investment.

Helen O'Neil
6 October 2009

 

 

For more information, please contact:

Executive Director

Council of the Humanties, Arts and Social Sciences

Phone: +61 2 6201 2740

director [at] chass.org.au