| Monash home | About Monash | Faculties | Campuses | Contact Monash |
| Staff directory | A-Z index | Site map |
| Monash home | About Monash | Faculties | Campuses | Contact Monash |
| Staff directory | A-Z index | Site map |
|
|
Academic Board Minutes 6-2008MINUTESMeeting No 6/2008 of the Academic Board was held on Wednesday 8 October 2008 from 3:30pm-5:30pm, in the Council Chambers, First floor, Building 3A, Clayton campus. Rhonda Hinds There were present: Apologies were received from: Special Leave: Observers: Overseas Observers: In attendance: AGENDAA PRELIMINARY AND FORMAL BUSINESS 1 WELCOME Professor Jayne Godfrey welcomed members and observers to the meeting, including those attending the meeting by teleconference from the offshore and Gippsland campuses. 2 ARRANGEMENT OF AGENDA 2.1 Alterations to the Agenda and Starring of Items Professor Godfrey informed members of the following alterations:
2.2 Approval of Non-Starred Items No items were starred. Item 5.1 – The Vice-Chancellor’s Report – was unstarred. The recommendations of the Steering Committee were adopted without discussion for all items other than those starred. 2.3 Confidential Item There were no confidential items presented to this meeting. 3 MINUTES 3.1 Minutes of Academic Board Meeting 5/2008 The Minutes of Meeting 5/2008, held on Wednesday, 3 September 2008, were confirmed subject to the following amendments: In item 5.1, last bullet point – delete “including ... CEO” and insert the deleted text immediately after “Academy” in the bullet point above. Inclusion of members whose attendance was not recorded previously. 3.2 Business arising from the Minutes 3.2.1 Schedule of Action Items Noting the continuous updating process represented by the Schedule, Academic Board received and noted the updated Schedule of Action Items. 4 PRESIDENT’S BUSINESS 4.1 President’s Report Professor Godfrey addressed the Board on a range of issues, including:
Academic Board received and noted the report of the President. For information: Professor J Godfrey 4.2 Review of the Composition of Academic Board Professor Godfrey reported on the latest developments in the process of reviewing the Board’s composition. The following matters were highlighted:
Members proceeded to discuss issues surrounding the “Head of Academic Unit”, and were advised that:
Academic Board received and noted the report of progress in the review of the composition of Academic Board. For information: Professor J Godfrey, Ms R Hinds 5 VICE-CHANCELLOR’S BUSINESS 5.1 Vice-Chancellor’s Report Academic Board received and noted the Vice-Chancellor’s report. For information: Professor R Larkins 6 QUESTIONS ON NOTICE There were no questions on notice. B DIRECTION OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS 7 INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS 7.1 IITB - Monash Research Academy Members had before them a report on progress towards establishment of the IITB - Monash Research Academy, which included details of the joint venture arrangement. Professor Sridhar introduced this item by informing members that:
During discussion, members commented that this initiative was critical to the future success of research at Monash, given the strategic importance of the region, access to a large pool of talented students, increasing research and development activities in the region and the potential of eResearch to transform graduate programs. Members were strongly encouraged to support the joint venture and to explore opportunities for cross-disciplinary supervision. Academic Board received and noted the update on establishment of the IITB - Monash Research Academy. For information: Professors T Sridhar, M King, Ms L Miller 7.2 The Bologna Process Professor Evans presented an overview of the Bologna process and European Higher Education Area (EHEA), indicating that it was important to continue to monitor developments in the European sector. Referring to the Lisbon Convention, she noted that unlike the Bologna declaration, the Convention was legally binding on signatories, of which Australia was one. The Convention committed signatories to, inter alia, quality and transparency of qualifications and required production of some form of Diploma Supplement. Professor Evans advised members that as a response to this requirement, all Australian universities would move to introduce a Higher Education Graduation Statement. Responding to a member question regarding application of the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) to the Monash system of credit allocation, Professor Evans undertook to clarify the manner in which it applied. Academic Board received and noted the overview of the Bologna Process. For information: Professor M Evans 8 NATIONAL ISSUES 8.1 AUQA Audit 2008-2012 Professor Evans introduced the report on timelines for the AUQA Audit 2008-2012 and key extracts from the AUQA Audit Manual, emphasising that, although Monash would not be audited until 2012, it was important to commence preparations at an early stage. She outlined the different approach to the second round audits, noting that internationalisation would be a theme for the Monash audit. Relevant material e.g. briefing papers would be brought to the Board at appropriate stages to inform preparations for the audit. Academic Board received and noted the report on the AUQA Audit 2008-2012. For information: Professor M Evans 8.2 Freedom of Information Mr Renn Wortley, University Special Counsel, briefed members on the recent Supreme Court decision in University of Melbourne v. McKean, commencing his presentation by outlining the requirements of Freedom of Information (FoI) legislation (including an applicant’s rights and agency’s obligations) before explaining the salient features of the McKean case and its implications for Victorian universities. Mr Wortley noted that the focus of the appeal had been whether the use of certain examination papers and similar documents had not been completed, thus rendering the documents exempt from release under FoI legislation. He explained that the Court had ruled the papers in question, taken as a whole, stood as documents on their own and the particular use for which the documents had been prepared was completed – therefore, the exemption did not apply. Commenting on the immediate implications for Monash, Mr Wortley suggested that where examination papers and guides were subject to regular and significant change, the decision seemed unlikely to have adverse impact. However, it was also suggested that one of the Board’s principal standing committees could usefully conduct a cross-institutional survey of courses whose examinations and assessments used a question bank or database of a similar type as that applicable in McKean. In the longer term, universities could consider lobbying for introduction of amendments to FoI legislation. In discussion, members commented that:
Academic Board:
For information: Mr R Wortley, Professor A Shoemaker, Ms F Hunt, Mr M Fenaughty 9 REPORTS FROM THE DEPUTY VICE-CHANCELLORS 9.1 Education Professor Adam Shoemaker reported on the Monash Passport. He reminded members that it directly addressed the University Priorities 2009-2013, no.1 - Develop and badge an innovative approach to learning and teaching at Monash – before moving on to explain the background to the Passport, including the Coursework Review outcomes. Measures of Monash success in Education were also highlighted. Emphasising that the Passport represented a distinctive, student-centred blueprint for education, Professor Shoemaker outlined the salient features of the program including the global experience, breadth, depth, richness and (where appropriate) acceleration. Professor Shoemaker explained key aspects of and recent developments in the program components including undergraduate research, Honours and secondary student enhancement, volunteering and internships and international mobility. During discussion, members considered a range of issues, including:
9.2 Research Professor Edwina Cornish, reported on significant developments in the Research Portfolio. She contextualised her comments within the straitened circumstances that applied across the sector, but posited improvement in the event that the Bradley Review recommendations were implemented. She advised members that in a recent meeting, Senator Kim Carr’s adviser indicated that the Minister viewed Monash very positively, offering the opportunity to consider how Labor’s hub and spokes model might be implemented. Monash had undertaken to provide practical examples of the model‘s application and to this end, Professor Cornish would be seeking input. She also noted that whilst Research Month was successful as a public profiling exercise, it had attracted limited internal engagement. Members were therefore urged to support Educate 08. 9.3 International Professor Stephanie Fahey reported on significant developments in the International Portfolio. Noting that a key priority of the Portfolio was to develop links with international institutions, business and industry, thereby increasing international HDRs and research funding, she reported on recent visits to Vietnam and the United States. Members were advised that the Vietnamese Government was committing substantial funding to the education sector over the next 12 years, with a range of emerging opportunities for Monash including engagement by MUELC in development of curriculum for bridging programs and provision of input into teaching; promotion of HDR students to Monash Sunway and Australia; opportunities for curriculum licensing and joint research training; great interest being shown in the GCHE. To maximise opportunities, the Office of the DVC (I) was therefore developing an Action Plan for Vietnam. A number of visits to key figures in the University of California (UC) network, Arizona State University and the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine, had been made during the trip to the U.S. Outcomes from the round of meetings included potential opportunities around UC Berkley, especially in the area of climate change; interest in participation in Prato programs; extension of invitations to significant figures to visit Monash. There was also likely to be opportunity to learn from the huge improvement by Arizona State University in the Shanghai Jiao Tong rankings. Academic Board received and noted the reports from the Deputy Vice-Chancellors. For information: Professors A Shoemaker, E Cornish, S Fahey 10 FACULTY PRESENTATION – MEDICINE, NURSING AND HEALTH SCIENCES Professor Steve Wesselingh presented two of the Faculty’s 10 strategic priorities: MBio (Bioscience) The aim was to develop Clayton as the no.1 bioscience campus in Australia – Professor Wesselingh also advised members that by mid-2009, it would be the largest biomedical precinct on one site in Victoria. Members were advised that the aim was achievable for a range of reasons, including the profile and record of the School of Biomedical Sciences, proximity to CSIRO and the Synchrotron, collaboration with the Faculties of Engineering and Science and location of the Regenerative Medicine Institute. Professor Wesselingh outlined MBio’s student and staff profile, growth in research income ($62.3 million in 2007), THES ranking (22nd in the world for Life Sciences and Biomedicine) and wide range of core facilities. It was noted that MBio generated research funding and papers comparable to outcomes from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute. MBio, together with the Monash Health Research Precinct and the Alfred Medical Research and Education Precinct, constituted the Monash Health Sciences Cluster. Public and Global Health The third of the strategic priorities was to expand public and global health research within the Faculty, including establishment of a School of Public Health and to create a research network between the domestic and offshore campuses. Members were advised of the establishment of the Finkel Chair of Global Health, pursuant to an endowment from the Chancellor and his wife. Academic Board received and noted Professor Wesselingh’s presentation. For information: Professor S Wesselingh C SUPERVISION OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS 11 KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS Members had before them the draft University Key Performance Indicators and Internal Performance Indicators. Discussion on these items was deferred to meeting 7/2008. (Secretarial note: Council is due to consider the reports at its meetings scheduled for 27 October.) Professor Evans undertook to provide a summary of the THES rankings for distribution to members. For information: Professor M Evans 12 MONASH UNIVERSITY GRADUATE ATTRIBUTES The revised Monash University Graduate Attributes were endorsed by Education Committee Meeting 5-2008 for transmission to Academic Board. Professor Adam Shoemaker introduced the Graduate Attributes by observing that they had been recast in a simpler and more practical form. Academic Board approved the revised Monash University Graduate Attributes. For information: Professor A Shoemaker 13 ACADEMIC PROMOTIONS PROCEDURES 2009 Professor Shoemaker introduced the draft Academic Promotions Procedures by advising members that they had been revised following a range of comments made at the Board’s first meeting of 2008. Academic Board approved the Academic Promotion Procedures for 2009. For information: Professor A Shoemaker, Ms K Haywood D GOVERNANCE 14 POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND REVIEW 14.1 English Language Requirements Policy Academic Board approved the English Language Requirements Policy. For information: Ms N Mitchell, Mr M Fenaughty, Mr K Williamson 14.2 Recognition of Excellence Policy and Procedures Academic Board approved the Recognition of Excellence Policy and noted the accompanying Procedures. For information: Ms N Mitchell, Mr M Fenaughty, Mr K Williamson 15 ACADEMIC BOARD MEMBERSHIP No items were presented to this meeting. 16 FACULTY BOARDS AND STANDING COMMITTEES 16.1 Transnational Quality Assurance and Improvement Committee Academic Board disestablished the Transnational Quality Assurance and Improvement Committee. For information: Mr M Fenaughty, Ms K Roth 17 REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES 17.1 Education Committee Meeting 5/2008 Academic Board received and noted the Report of Meeting 5/2008 of the Education Committee. For information: Mr M Fenaughty 17.2 Monash University Research Committee Meeting 5/2008 Academic Board received and noted the Report of Meeting 5/2008 of the Monash University Research Committee. For information: Mr K Williamson 17.3 Research Graduate School Committee Meetings 6 - 7/2008 Academic Board received and noted the Report of Meetings 6 and 7/2008 of the Research Graduate School Committee. For information: Ms A Hussar 17.4 General Library Committee Meeting 3/2008 Academic Board received and noted the Report of Meeting 3/2008 of the General Library Committee. For information: Ms M Miller 18 FACULTY BOARD REPORTS 18.1 Faculty of Information Technology Meeting 4/2008 Academic Board received and noted the Report of Meeting 4/2008 of the Board of the Faculty of Information Technology. For information: Ms P Graham 18.2 Faculty of Engineering Meeting 4/2008 Academic Board received and noted the Report of Meeting 4/2008 of the Board of the Faculty of Engineering. For information: Mr R Smiley 18.3 Faculty of Business and Economics Meeting 4/2008 Academic Board received and noted the Report of Meeting 4/2008 of the Board of the Faculty of Business and Economics. For information: Ms J Perdriau 18.4 Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences Meeting 4/2008 Academic Board received and noted the Report of Meeting 4/2008 of the Board of the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences . For information: Ms J Tong E ITEMS OF OTHER BUSINESS 19 OTHER BUSINESS 20 NEXT MEETING The next meeting of the Academic Board will be held on Wednesday 19 November 2008 in the Council Chambers, 1st floor, Building 3a, Clayton Campus commencing at 3.30pm. Refreshments will be served after the November meeting to celebrate the end of the Board’s meeting year.
|