Advocate Online

On the Road
with Valerie Wilk

In December 2005, I traveled to Melbourne, Australia, as part of the NEA delegation to Education International’s Fifth Higher Education and Research Conference. We were part of the 90 delegates from 46 organizations in 33 countries who convened for this event, which was conducted in English, Spanish, and French.

One of the things that struck all of us, I think, was the similarity of challenges facing higher education employees around the world, including threats to academic freedom, effects of globalization, increasing corporatization, attacks on unions, the erosion of tenure, and the increased reliance on contingent workers.

Although the majority of the conference focused on faculty issues, there were student presenters and those who focused on Education Support Professionals and research staff.

A striking difference from U.S. conferences was the way in which all the Australian and New Zealand presenters first respectfully acknowledged and thanked the indigenous peoples for the care of the land and their heritage before getting down to conference business.

The NEA delegation reflected the diversity of our membership, and our members of color were active and vigorous participants in the conference.

NEA delegates included NEA board member Theresa Montaño, NCHE President Kathy Sproles, NCHE Vice President Jim Rice, Terry Jones (California Faculty Association/CTA), Stan West (Vice President, Columbia College Part Time Faculty Association/IEA), Michael Hall (ISEA board member) and staff member Jill Christianson (NEA International Relations). NEA board member Ann Shadwick (CFA/CTA) joined the group as an observer.

— Mark Smith and Valerie Wilk
Cooordinators NEA higher ed activities.