Frontiers Insight

In March 2009,  on recommendation of The Higher Education Review, the Australian Government heralded a new, empowered regulatory authority. The panel had remarked that Australia’s quality assurance system is ‘not sufficiently rigorous’ for the demanding, globally competitive future. After a series of closed-room interactions during 2010, legilsation has been released with 3 weeks allowed for public comment.

• In forming Australia’s new Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency the Government’s emphasis is on bringing (pulling) together tertiary education sectors that are separated by the traditions of educators more than needs and intentions of individuals and industries, is a strategic and productivity breakthrough for Australians, and a gauntlet for educators. see Provocation! work complexity

• There has been plenty of debate about the new regulatory Agency ‘with teeth’ and this will continue. A Welsman discussion paper on topic: Re-spect, Peer Review, and then there is Audit! (Provocation.1.) was developed during 2009 and has been updated in 2010 and 2011. 70 copies have been downloaded so far from SSRN New York. This paper  is admittedly rather more a comment on policy, regulation and performance than process. | >>

2011.3. Land-Art-Farm – Anatomy of a Tourism No-Go Decision (Provocation.5)

Frontiers Insight has been working on Tourism as Creative Business. As a substantial regional income-earning industry, tourism offers potential. During 2008 we learnt a deal at the LGA NSW Tourism Conference in Lismore, and the Australian Regional Tourism Network (ARTN) convention in the Barossa Valley. >>

Tourism economics, strategy and planning is a developing Frontiers Insight line of business and study of the tourist experience was an associated purpose of Sandra Welsman’s travel to Singapore, KL, London, Scotland and New York in June 2009. See World Tourist Experience photo essay and commentary analysis on Facebook.

With development of a significant, unique tourism venture in mind and conscious of issues with skills and education in tourism sectors, over 2008-09 Sandra Welsman progressed and gained a full TAA40104 Cert IV — the key theme was development of  Nature’s Spot as a simulated but very realistic workplace, with the teams and joys and troubles of an eco-tourism attraction. A great way to understand and think innovatively about nuances and issues of training (and training packages) for service delivery in this highly people dependent industry.

In April 2009, the Australain Government announced a new form of tourism support program, the TQUAL Grants, aiming to “stimulate sustainable growth in the Australian tourism industry” by supporting initiatives that would: • develop innovative product, services or systems within the tourism industry, • contribute directly to long-term economic development in the host region, and • develop or support high quality visitor services and experiences.

Frontiers Insight developed a Project Initiation proposal in 2009 for development stage work on Land-Art-Farm – to move from concept, to positioning, to feasibility analysis, and business plan. During development of the Land-Art-Farm TQUAL proposal, dynamics and realities around the economics of private sector tourism attractions became rather clearer.

As a Destination attraction, multiplier returns from Land-Art-Farm to regional and local economies could be $5.7m a year. Yet, Land-Art-Farm itself would likely struggle to cover costs. Like much in tourism, this would need to be a joint effort. So, Government and community willingness to support the regional potential through a small TQUAL grant was the first market test for Land-Art, and it did not pass.

This paper Land-Art-Farm – Anatomy of a Tourism No-Go Decision (Provocation.5) gives insights into a ‘no-go’ decision for a destination attraction investment. Regional tourism appears to depend on government, and/or on attracting those with money, passion and some willingness to lose their funds (Part D, Writing on the Wall).  See SSRN: >>

2009.6  Sandra Welsman presented to the 7th Triple Helix International Conference on University, Industry, Government Linkages, in Glasgow.

The paper,  Regional to Global Enterprise – A Collaboration to Extend Academic Work: Helix Potential, Systemic Problems, is posted on the Social Sciences Research network, New York. >>

The Regional to Global Enterprise vision of harnessing talents across a regional university and partners is outlined. This paper also discusses traditional university ways as pressures intensifies to be part mainstream productivity and wealth generating effort. For proactive institutions and extrovert academics this can present real opportunities. >>

Various workplace and education projects are being progressed in stages, such as unique Associate Degree development, interdisciplinary barriers within universities, and work-integrated learning conferences and exercises. >>

• On Work ... Who decides if You can have a high-paying career? comment on The Land Peppercorn observations on educating future workers 19.3.09. I can hardly believe he wrote that! … strikes me

• On Work – The complexity of modern workplaces is a great issue of our times. ‘Business wants graduates who can cope!’, employers want workers to integrate and multi -task. Individuals as students and workers want all this. Do educators? … strikes me

FI is working to contribute on multiple fronts to regulation reviews and strategies in line with COAG promises on regulation and red tape control.  An open web-letter on Australian deregulation policy and issues with rules. >>

• Talk ‘regulation’ in 2009, and most think financial markets and agencies ‘not doing enough’. But productivity is a real issue in Australia. For decades ahead we’ll want more useful output from a shrinking workforce. Mountains of regulation affecting all aspects of business operations still need critical review. For a start, many thousands of clever people are tied up just ‘dealing with rules’. >> | >>