Call for Papers - 2012

National University Finance and Procurement Conference

Information about the Conference

The annual National University Finance & Procurement Conference provides a proactive forum for university financial and procurement management professionals to meet and discuss current issues impacting the sector. The event is of interest to university staff involved in finance, accounting, finance systems, procurement, strategic planning, sustainability issues and travel management.

The Conference is a unique opportunity for the business sector to join with university delegates in an exploration of changing trends in business management and services. It provides the opportunity for business partners to present with their university clients through case studies and exhibiting.

The Conference provides highly specialised sessions in topical interest areas through presentations, workshops and interactive seminars. The events programme, aims to foster discussion and debate on issues affecting universities and present best practice through case studies in university management.

The Conference is strongly supported by universities and is in its twelth year. The Conference Planning Committee comprises representatives from universities in the Higher Ed Services Finance Group with additional support and advice from the Australian Universities Procurement Network.

Higher Ed Services is owned by Universities Australia and provides management for the event for the benefit of the sector.

For the 2012 event, the Planning Group has endorsed a call for papers to supplement individual invitations to presenters. Papers should be relevant to the themes of the conference in 2012. We wish to attract papers which raise issues for debate in a series of interactive sessions with delegates. Conference presentations can be specific to university management practices or address general strategic and policy issues relevant to the business challenges faced.

Information for Interested Presenters

The Committee is seeking input from YOU, as university and business professionals in the areas of finance, strategic procurement, purchasing, systems and sustainability, to develop a program which meets your needs and interest areas, and that of your higher education colleagues.

If you have been working on a risk management strategy, a financial or procurement management problem, developing innovative solutions, or implementing new policies and management systems we would be very keen to hear from you. Your case study presentation could provide the inspiration, information or assistance someone else in the sector is waiting for.

Questions to ask yourself:

• What do you, or your institution, do differently to others? What challenges have you faced lately? How have you addressed these challenges?
• What external changes have you not ed that are impacting and will continue to impact on your institution.
• Tell us about your experiences, the implementation of business intelligence systems and applications.
• What are your business goals and how have these have been met through proactive approaches.
• What are the future challenges universities will all have to face in financial planning and procurement ? How are you and your institution planning ahead for these new challenges?

Applications must be received by 15th March 2012. The Conference Planning Committee will make final decisions on the acceptance of all applications received by the end of March.

If you are considering submitting a presentation proposal, you should note the criteria below and also the listing of possible stream areas for the 2012 conference, alternative topics will also be considered.  Note also, that NO sales pitch is allowed in any presentation provided.

Financial Management & Strategic Procurement in Higher Education

Proposed Sub-themes and/or topics include: 

• Strategic Approaches to University Management
  • Enterprise Resource Management
  • Audit 
  • Innovative Business Practices

• Government Policy Impacts:
  • Impact of the Carbon Tax on Higher Education – particularly Financial impact
  • Impact  of the Student Services Amenities Fee
  • Not for Profit Company Tax

• Financial Management:
  
  • Management Accounting
  • Financial Accounting
  • Triple Bottomline Accounting
  • Activity Based Costing - What has this shown, Has it lived up to expectations, Where is it heading?
  • Excellence in Practices & Process
• Strategic Procurement
  • iProcurement
  • Travel Management
  • Systems
  • Excellence in Practices & Process

• Sustainability

• Compliance & Quality Assurance

• Commercialisation
• Excellence in Practices & Process
  
  
• Systems in Use –  Finance / Procurement / Travel  - Is it meeting expectations? What are the pitfalls?
  
  
• Collaboration:
  
  • For Cost Reduction
  • Outsourcing and shared services
  • Change Management Practices

The Conference is a non-profit event and its success relies entirely upon the support of the higher education and business sectors. If you wish to attend conference sessions other than your own, you will be required to register for the conference and to pay the appropriate delegate registration costs. If you wish to attend the annual conference dinner, tickets will also be available. All costs and registration forms will be made available on this Conference website.

Presentations are usually 30/45 minutes duration. Longer interactive sessions and workshops may be accommodated as determined by the Planning Committee. If you are planning to offer an extended session, this should be indicated in your submission.

Speakers will be required to provide the following information and should note the deadlines below:

Material required for website (By March 2012):

• A short biography of yourself (no more than 150 words)
• A précis of your presentation (no more than 200 words)- provided as abstract in submission
• Final confirmation of the title of your presentation

Material required for Conference (2 weeks prior to event, mid July 2012).

• An electronic copy of your Power-point presentation (if using)
• Please advise whether you will require access to the Internet during your presentation
• Optional opportunity to provide presentation notes or supplementary material which will be distributed to delegates before your presentation at the venue.

HES will load all presentations on the conference venue network, so no additional equipment is required from speakers. If your presentation requires you to use a personal laptop for technical reasons, please advise in conjunction with your proposal. 

Material required Post-Conference:

• Your presentation and any additional documentation supplied will be published on the HES Conference website unless previously advised.

A determination by the Planning Group will be made following the close of submissions and you will be notified within four weeks of the outcome.


Please Note that this call for papers is Now Open. 

To apply please complete the "Submission to Present" pdf  found in the resources section on the right of this page.  If using windows platform you will be able to submit the form via email using the submit button on the form.  For other operating systems (e.g. Mac) please print and complete the form and email a copy or fax to Leanne Vaughan (details below)


Leanne Vaughan
Phone: (02) 9286 0710
Fax: (02) 9286 0790
Email: leanne@hes.edu.au