Education is really the crux of uni after all. This is why your ECOMS education representatives work so tirelessly - to make sure you get the most out of your time here.
The ECOMS President, Vice-President (Education) and Education officers sit as representatives on the Business School’s Faculty Board, the Business School Teaching and Learning Committee and the UWA Guild Education Council. These channels give ECOMS a great opportunity to address issues that really matter to our 3,000 constituents. ECOMS represents student concerns to lecturers, the faculty and the guild and can represent your personal concerns anonymously if you feel disadvantaged by bringing concerns to your lecturer directly. If you have any educational questions or concerns email Naomi Elford at
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Other education groups on campus include the Guild Education Council and the Education Action Network, both of which ECOMS is a member. These groups represent students to the university external groups, as well as increasing awareness of students’ concerns in the community. If you would like to find more information, email
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Below are a number of issues that ECOMS is constantly monitoring and investigating:
Alternative Faculty Handbook The ECOMS Alternative Faculty Handbook is a review of units conducted by ECOMS. Separate to the SPOT and SERF surveys conducted by the faculty, ECOMS's review will be available to students and and issues pertaining to education and units will be raised with the faculty. For more information, go to our AFH page, or click the following link to complete the online survey.
The University is currently conducting a thorough and wide ranging review of the current courses offered at the university. The latest stage of the review was the release of the “Issues and Options” paper, and a call for submissions in response. You can find ECOMS’ submission below along with some other helpful links.
ECOMS continues to the issue of illegal fees, encountering several instances in Semester 1. Students pay for their degree through HECS, so should not have to pay other fees for course materials in order to complete units. Essential course materials should be available in some format free of charge, and essential textbooks should be readily available through the library (at approx 1 copy per 10 students).
In May ECOMS hosted a teaching and learning forum in the new social sciences building. Copies of the presentations made by the ECOMS Education Vice-President (Naomi Elford), the ECOMS Education Officer (Rhys Kidd) and Eileen Thompson from the Centre for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning at the Business School can be found below.
In early 2008 the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations called for submissions on the impact of VSU on provision of services in Tertiary institutions. You can find ECOMS’ submission, and other links, below.
In March 2008, the Government initiated a Review of Higher Education to examine the future direction of the higher education sector, its fitness for purpose in meeting the needs of the Australian community and economy, and the options for ongoing reform. The Review was conducted by an independent expert panel, led by Emeritus Professor Denise Bradley AC. A copy of the Review of Australian Higher Education Final Report is now available (http://www.deewr.gov.au/HigherEducation/Review/Pages/ReviewofAustralianHigherEducationReport.aspx).
On 17 December 2008, the Deputy Prime Minister received the final report of the Review. The Government has considered the recommendations and findings of the Review and has provided an initial response (http://www.deewr.gov.au/Ministers/Gillard/Media/Speeches/Pages/Article_090304_155721.aspx). A detailed response to the Review will be announced at the time of the budget in May 2009.
ECOMS is collecting letters in support of the National Union of Students Less Talk More Action Campaign for fair income support. If you would like to be involved, please contact Naomi.
