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Photo of daffodil by Sandra Grünewald on Unsplash
From the President
Oh What A Year!
…and other conversations
As we entered a new decade at the start of 2020, I don’t expect any of us would have considered how much our worlds would have changed six months later. The seismic shock and jolt from COVID-19 has impacted on almost all parts of our lives.
For many of us across our region we are emerging from a long period of lockdown, and life is returning to relative normality. However, the impact of COVID-19 will be felt by us all for quite some time yet, and especially in our working lives. Virtually every tertiary institution is under financial stress with many forecasting large financial losses for 2020 and even through to 2022. I know many institutions are looking at a full range of cost savings that will have an impact on each and every one of us. In times of financial stress, severe cuts usually mean a loss to support for professional development activities.
At AAIR, the Executive Committee has been looking at how we can best support our members, and to continue to provide affordable professional development opportunities. As a Committee, we are also exploring how we can continue to engage and network with our colleagues doing similar roles across our vast region in an effort for us all to stay informed and supported.
One way that AAIR is giving back to our members and supporting you through this time is through our Conversations During Series of free online webinars. Starting in early May, we initiated these Open-AAIR Discussions, and have been hosting webinars on a range of topics related to the broad field of institutional research. So far, the sessions on load planning, addressing QILT and surveys, as well as business intelligence during times of COVID, have been really well subscribed. The feedback I have had is that everyone attending the webinars valued the opportunity to not only learn and share practice, but also to connect with colleagues in similar roles. Our next webinar in the series is focusing on Australian Federal Government reporting requirements and will be held on 30 June 2020.
I know that for the rest of 2020 and into 2021 institutional research activities will accelerate, creating more demands on time and resources. Please remember to take time out and make use the learning and networking opportunities our webinars offer. Make use of the connection with your colleagues working across all institutions in our region. If you want to learn or share a practice with others tell us and we can make that happen.
We are here for you.
Stuart Terry
President, AAIR
