A leading researcher has been appointed as the next Dean of the University of Otago's School of Pharmacy. Professor Stephen Duffull will take up his new role at the end of May, when Professor Ian Tucker completes his term as Dean.

The University of Otago Council has approved plans for the first of its buildings adjacent to the Forsyth Barr Stadium at University Plaza.

Leading international scholar in medical law and ethics Associate Professor Colin Gavaghan will be the first New Zealand Law Foundation-sponsored Director in Emerging Technologies at the University of Otago Faculty of Law.

The next Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Sciences, at the University of Otago will be Professor Keith Hunter.

Industrial action including strikes continues today at some of the six polytechnics covered by the ITP MECA. Union members resumed industrial action earlier this week after mediation between them and their employers failed to resolve the long-running dispute.

Universities strongly back findings in a report on the economic benefits of publicly-funded research produced by the Government's Chief Science Advisor Professor Sir Peter Gluckman.

Hey Bill English - where's my recovery? That's the question I'm asking right now given that we're officially in the midst of an economic recovery.

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The release of the draft Tertiary Education Strategy (TES) for the period 2010-2015 for consultation reveals limited alignment with the nine-point plan contained in the university briefing document to the current Government.

The broad scope of research projects funded through this year's investment from the Mardsen Fund demonstrates the value to society from university research, according to the New Zealand Vice-Chancellors' Committee.

Acclaimed New Zealand fiction writer Barbara Anderson will receive the honorary degree of Doctor of Literature from the University of Otago this weekend.

Barbara Anderson graduated from the University of Otago with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1947.