A government review into the model used to fund research at New Zealand universities will look into allegations institutions have been "gaming" the system and that it has led to unrealistic workloads for academic staff.
The model used to rank research quality at New Zealand universities has caused a large number of redundancies at the University of Otago and put academics off studying local issues, a union representative at the university says.
The approval of a $3 million refurbishment to turn the former art gallery at Logan Park into a sports hub is a "great coup" for the city, a spokesman for Otago Polytechnic, which will become the biggest tenant of the facility, says.
Chief Coroner Judge Neil MacLean has welcomed a University of Otago study which will look into whether coroners' recommendations are being ignored or are acted on and helping to save lives.
Otago University Students' Association (OUSA) president Logan Edgar has called on the Government to keep student representation on university councils.
A decline of almost 20% in the number of people getting work through Student Job Search (SJS) in Otago has been caused by a drop in the number of one-off jobs advertised through the service.
The University of Otago says there will be a difference between how much it costs to rebuild its earthquake-damaged Christchurch campus and what it can recover from insurance.
Restricting the student allowance to four years of study punishes medical students and postgraduates and will push them overseas, critics of the change say.
A drinking game played by students in Dunedin called "possum" -- where participants get drunk up trees -- has made headlines across the world after a story was published in the Otago Daily Times on Wednesday.
Staff at the Dunedin Botanic Garden are concerned about the growing popularity of a drinking game called "possum", in which participants sit in trees and drink large amounts of alcohol.
The University of Otago has spent $5.5 million on land next to Christchurch Hospital as it seeks to "consolidate" its operations in the city.
The University of Otago's financial position has been described as "sound" despite lower-than-budgeted student numbers.
Otago Polytechnic chief executive Phil Ker envisages a future in which people who study at his institution can design their own degrees to suit.
Otago Polytechnic has approved plans to move the Otago Institute of Sport and Adventure to the former art gallery building at Logan Park once a $3 million refurbishment plan has been endorsed by the Dunedin City Council.
The New Zealand Union of Students' Associations (NZUSA) has come out in support of the Green Party's suggestion that student loans should be paid back at different rates according to income.
Toughening up alcohol policies has resulted in a change in drinking culture at Dunedin's student halls, University of Otago accommodation services director James Lindsay says.
The Otago University Students' Association is calling for businesses and the public to advertise jobs with Student Job Search (SJS) after a drop in the number of jobs available through the service.
Otago Polytechnic has contributed almost $1 billion to the New Zealand economy and a "staggering" $535 million to the Otago region over the past five years, an economic impact report shows.
Changes to student loan repayment rates and allowances have been slammed by student associations, who say they will put people off study and punish those already struggling.
The Otago University Students' Association (OUSA) has revealed plans to spend about $500,000 upgrading its clubs and societies centre in Albany St.