UNIVERSITY REFORM

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25085, 17 January 1947, Page 3

UNIVERSITY REFORM

DISCUSSIONS LAST YEAR REVIEW OF PROGRESS “Discussions on university reform have occupied so large a place in university affairs during the last year that I think this annual address may be appropriately concerned with a short statement of the progress which has been made and with one problem which I consider to be of the greatest importance. That problem is the problem of making satisfactory provision for the finance of a university which is dependent upon the State for the means by which it may live,” said Mr Justice Smith. Chancellor of the University of New Zealand, at the opening session of the Senate in Christchurch yesterday. Last year the chancellor suggested a five-year plan of reform. “The year’s discussions have revealed some aims which have commanded general assent; others which have met with a mixed reception,’’ he continued. “The university teachers, as represented by the Academic Board, have desired: (1) greater freedom in prescriptions in subjects for the course of study; (2) the operation in general of the internal-external examination where internal examination is not adopted; (3) the abolition of the present plan for senior scholarships awarded by the university and the substitution of senior scholarships and research scholarships awarded by each college; (4) the appointment of a special research committee to control the Government grant to the Senate of £lO.OOO for research purposes; (5) the creation of conditions which will encourage greater freedom of movement between the staffs of our university and the staffs of universities overseas, particularly reciprocity in superannuation; and (6) the encouragement of sources of finance for the university independent of the Government ana, in particular, no reduction of the regular Government grant because of gifts or bequests; the reinstatement of the pound-for-pound subsidy on gifts and bequests .and the exemption of gifts and bequests for endowment purposes from gift duty and death duty. “All these matters were approved by the Senate at the special meeting in November, though the number and amount of the senior scholarships and research fellowships are under investigation. Their establishment will also require the assent of the colleges. Freeing of Prescriptions “The freeing of the prescriptions in the subjects for the courses of study, the operation, in general, of the in-ternal-external examination, where the internal examination is not adopted, and the establishment of the new scholarships and research fellowships, should, in due course, abaterially help the University teachers to achieve their aim of raising the quality of university teaching and of extending the scope for research in the university. After all, these two things, teaching and research, of recognised standard, are. the main instruments of university education which must never be overlooked amidst all the crinkum-cran-kum of university machinery. “The differences of view, which still exist within the university as to policy relate partly to the academic side and partly to the administrative side, though both are. of course, interdependent. On the academic side, the university teacher wants still greater freedom to alter prescriptions. Autonomous Universities “The question of autonomous universities is under review by a committee and I do pot intend to make any controversial remarks. The university teachers may take heart, however, even if autonomous universities with limited charters are not forthwith established. If the prescriptions for the courses of study are freed, after not more than two more years of creaking and cranking, there should be less need for the rumblings of the machine in that field in the future. The value of this remedy, partial though it may be in the view of the Academic Board, will be aided by the skill and the goodwill of the university Wachers. “Other matters on the academic side on which there is as yet no expressed agreement include (1) the entrance examination (Canterbury College recommends a continuous review of the results of the accrediting system. Otago University makes specific proposals for raising the entrance standard); (2) external and part-time students (Otago University suggests that the University of New Zealand should face up to this question and recommends that at least one year’s fulltime attendance at college should be required for a degree and that a scheme of bursaries should be instituted for the purpose. Otago University also recommends that the proposal to start classes in non-university centres to prepare students, who are earning their living, for the degree examinations, should be condemned as reactionary). “On the administrative side, the university teachers-have recommended separate universities on four principal grounds: (1) the urgent need to replace the present federal administrative mechanism by simpler and more flexible machinery; (2) the need for greater freedom in teaching; (3) the need for adapting the examination to teaching; (4) the need to link university aims and ideals more closely than hitherto with the life of the community it is to serve. “The first three grounds have already been partly met by the Senate’s approval of the proposals of the Academic Board concerning the freeing of the prescriptions, the use, in general, of the internal-external examination where internal examination does not operate, and the . provision .nf the scholarships and the research fellowships at the colleges. This easing of control, this ampler scope for the individual effort of the university teacher and his research students, should produce beneficial results. “The last point mentioned—the need to link the university more closely with the life of the community—may be partially met by the appointment of a separate academic head for each college. This officer, whether he be called vice-chancellor, principal, or rector, should not onlv be the principal administrative officer of the college, but its principal public relations officer as well"