As Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Parkin has responsibility for key areas of the University’s strategic plan Flinders University Strategic Plan 2012-2016 - Flinders Future Focus. His responsibilities include the broad areas of:
- course content and quality
- teaching quality and student learning
- student progression from recruitment through to graduation.
Professor Parkin’s portfolio includes current line management or supervisory responsibility for the University’s:
- Centre for University Teaching
- Yunggorendi First Nations Centre for Higher Education and Research
- Student Learning Centre.
In his role as a Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Parkin is involved with a number of external and internal committees including:
- chairing the Flinders University/Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology, Memorandum of Understanding Steering Committee
- chairing the Anglicare SA/Flinders University Steering Group
- chairing the Flinders University Educational Matters Advisory Group
- the Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC) Fellowships assessment panel.
Professor Parkin is a political scientist whose academic career at Flinders University has included terms as Associate Head (Research) of the former Faculty of Social Sciences, Head of the former School of Political and International Studies, and Director of the Flinders Institute of Public Policy and Management.
Professor Parkin's teaching and research expertise encompasses governmental and public policy processes, intergovernmental relations within the Australian federal system, urban and housing policy, aspects of criminal justice policy, immigration policy, Australian and South Australian politics, and liberal-democratic theory and practice. He has also been involved in a range of teaching programs and initiatives, especially in relation to the teaching of politics and public policy.
Among his academic publications are the nine editions of Government, Politics, Power and Policy in Australia, the leading Australian textbook of which he is co-editor, three books dealing with South Australian public life (The Dunstan Decade, The Bannon Decade, and South Australia, Federalism and Public Policy) and two books analysing the Australian Labor Party.
Professor Parkin's consulting work has included engagements with a number of South Australian public-sector agencies including the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, the Cabinet Office, the Housing Trust, the Office of Local Government and the Department for Families and Communities. He has served as Editor of the Australian Journal of Political Science, as President of the Australasian Political Studies Association and as a member of the Australian Research Council's College of Experts. Before assuming his DVC(A) role, he was a frequent media commentator on public affairs.
After majoring in Pure Mathematics, Mathematical Statistics and Politics in a University of Adelaide Arts degree, Professor Parkin proceeded to an Honours degree jointly in Mathematical Statistics and Politics and then to a Masters degree in Politics at the same University. He completed Masters and Doctoral degrees in Government at Harvard University before his appointment to the academic staff at Flinders University. Professor Parkin has held visiting appointments at the University of California at Berkeley, the College of William and Mary in Virginia and the University of Edinburgh.
Contact information
Executive Officer
Mr Anthony Hails
Tel (08) (+ 61 8) 8201 2913
Email anthony.hails@flinders.edu.au
Executive Assistant
Ms Kim Cassin
Tel (08) (+ 61 8) 8201 2992
Fax (08) (+ 61 8) 8201 3988
