Meeting 2/2000 of the Deans Discussion Group was held between 4.00 pm and 8.55 pm on Thursday, 9^th March 2000 in the Monash City Office, Level 11, 30 Collins Street, Melbourne.

Professor D A Robinson, Vice-Chancellor and President

Professor P LeP Darvall, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Research and Development)

Ms A Crook, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Resources)

Professor J Anderson, Campus Director, Berwick/Gippsland

Professor M L Brisk, Dean, Faculty of Engineering

Professor M Evans, Director, Academic and Planning

Professor H Le Grand, Dean, Faculty of Arts and Acting Dean, Faculty of Science

Professor D Gunstone, Acting Dean, Faculty of Education

Professor S Parker, Dean, Faculty of Law

Professor J Redmond, Dean, Faculty of Art and Design

Professor A Russell, Acting Dean, Faculty of Business and Economics

Mr P Siggins, Manager, University Secretariat

In opening the meeting the Vice-Chancellor welcomed Ms Alison Crook AO, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Resources) and Professor Allen Russell, Acting Dean, Faculty of Business and Economics to their first meeting of the Deans Discussion Group. The Vice-Chancellor also welcomed Professor John Anderson and Professor Merran Evans to the meeting.

Apologies were received from Professor Alan Lindsay, Professor John Rosenberg, Professor Nick Saunders and Professor Colin Chapman.

The meeting received the notes of meeting 1/2000 of the Deans Discussion Group held 1^st February 2000. The Vice-Chancellor updated members on matters arising from the notes of the last meeting. Members noted, inter alia, that:

The Vice-Chancellor advised that the agenda item would be dealt with in the following order.

• Updates on London and Prato from Professors Stephen Parker and Homer LeGrand,

• Update on South Africa by Professor John Anderson, Pro Vice-Chancellor, South Africa,

• Update on Monash Mt Eliza Graduate School of Business and Government Limited (MME),

• Introducing Ms Alison Crook AO, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Resources),

• Dinner Discussion: Deans Topics

Professor Parker reported that the Steering Committee had now been established and it’s terms of reference and working relationship with the Pro Vice-Chancellor London successfully implemented.

Attention was being given to activities including study tours and joint programs. The Vice-Chancellor advised that a benefactor had made generous provision for support to activities that would further the global development of Monash with specific reference to London and Prato. The appointment of an Executive Officer to service these ventures was proceeding. Accommodation issues and possible double degree programs were also discussed.

Professor Le Grand reported that the Steering Committee was now established with a similar composition to the London Steering Committee. There were useful exchanges between the London and Prato Steering Committees and their meetings were being held ‘back to back’. Plans were in place for two international conferences later in the year. An early draft of a business plan for the Prato operation had been produced. Mr John Trembath was working actively on matters such as leasing, refurbishment and service provision.

Professor Anderson advised that he would be phasing out his Gippsland responsibilities over the next 8 weeks. His current focus on South Africa involved looking closely at budget, marketing and logistical issues for the campus. Professor Anderson indicated that he would be discussing with Deans the marketing aspect of the operation over the next few days. He would also be working closely with Professor Lindsay to ensure that decisions taken now did not preclude full development in the future of teaching and learning arrangements. In discussion it was noted that there was a need for firm direction regarding the marketing aspect of the operation.

Professor Le Grand noted that intellectual property issues had arisen in relation to shaping curricula for South Africa. Staff had raised the question of export of prime Monash courses, the protection of their identity and the matter of compensation for time and effort spent in adapting the material. In response the Vice-Chancellor noted that Intellectual Property issues were arising in a number of contexts and that the next meeting of Resources and Finance Committee would consider Intellectual Property matters. Professor Darvall raised the broad issue of governance and authority noting that the intellectual property statute of the University was set up under the Victorian Monash University Act 1958 and may or may not cover Monash operations in South Africa. Ms Crook observed that adequate protection of intellectual property was central to attracting quality staff. It was necessary to have a policy in place that protected Monash and its reputation and also benefited staff.

It was agreed that topics for the next Deans Discussion Group would include intellectual property as well as the University and Private Practice Policy.

In further discussion, the use of appropriate terminology to describe South African peoples was raised. There was also discussion of the perception that the Monash campus would only be serving the wealthy sections of South African society. It was affirmed that the campus would have a significantly large component of scholarship places targeted at disadvantaged groups and that there would be an appropriate racial mix on campus. Other discussion involved attracting appropriately qualified staff and the recruitment of an initial cohort of students.

The Vice-Chancellor reported that the matter would be resolved at the Annual General Meeting of the shareholder and guarantor members of MME on 31^st March 2000.

The board of MME had met on 29^th February and had agreed to the separation.

Ms Crook reported that since taking up her role she had given thought to implementation of the vision articulated in Leading the Way-Monash 2020. There was a need for planning that would further the provision of services in the University, that would take account of the diverse structure of the University and contain strategies for achieving real levels of excellence. A service support plan would be developed and she envisaged that a strategic planning session would be held in April involving senior faculty staff and staff of the divisions of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor’s and Vice-Presidents.

Concerning the Universities finances, a new approach was necessary. The University needed to clearly identify the costs associated with the delivery of services and to focus on strategies to reduce costs. Currently an allocation model predominated. However, it was important to understand how to grow the Universities resources and this could be achieved by adoption of a business-planning model. For the faculties this would involve them in a process of defining their future positioning, coming to grips with the strategies to achieve this and identifying the necessary revenue and the services to be purchased to achieve the optimum situation. She noted that Council had required the University to achieve a break-even budget in 2000 and her division would work toward meeting this requirement. The second half of the year would focus on planning and the new approach to the Universities financial situation.

Members supported the approach outlined by Ms Crook. Comments included support for the flexibility indicated by the approach and the way in which embraced the organization as a whole. It was noted that the approach allowed for the proper use of faculty reserves and provided for Deans to invest for the future.

The Vice-Chancellor invited each member to present a brief report on the significant issues currently facing each faculty.

Professor Russell reported on plans to offer the MBA in January 2001. This represented a major opportunity keenly anticipated within the faculty. A director of the program had been appointed and the MBA envisaged would be innovative and non-traditional. Professor Russell also reported on the concept of the Graduate School and the further development of faculty programs for Malaysia and South Africa.

Professor Redmond reported that significant issues facing the Faculty of Arts and Design included:

The Vice-Chancellor invited Professor Redmond to comment on the experience of the faculty as a specialized entity in relation to future prospects. Professor Redmond commented on the possibilities for increasing the range of combined degrees and working to attract consultancy work.

Professor Gunstone identified the following issues:

In the context of Professor Gunstones’ presentation there was discussion of the need for a University wide task force that would give attention to web sites to ensure sufficient consistency in presentation of the Monash image. In this discussion it was agreed that in further dialogue the words brand and branding would be eschewed.

Professor Le Grand identified the following issues:

International Recruitment.

Professor Parker identified the following issue for the faculty:

This issue was having a profound effect upon the operation of the faculty. There was now a much greater service orientation in the faculty. Retaining fee-paying students meant providing incentives for them and expanding services including early evening office opening.

Professor Brisk identified the following:

In improving the funding and income to the faculty an effort was being made to stimulate OPG activity with new courses where being introduced in the telecommunications and transport areas. The Distance Education program was being converted into flexible learning mode as far as possible. Professor Brisk indicated that there where concerns with the Gippsland operation and it’s impact on faculty resources.

Professor Brisk indicated that a new approach was being taken with a mentor scheme being introduced. This was having a positive impact on retention of students.

The Vice-Chancellor raised several matters requiring the attention of members:

A list of University wide activities/responsibilities held by Deans was circulated (Attached).

The Vice-Chancellor requested members to check the list and advise Ms Gael Hayes of any amendments or comments.

The Vice-Chancellor outlined the composition of the appointments committee for the Pro Vice-Chancellor Gippsland noting that a Dean would be a member. It was agreed that Professor John Rosenberg would be invited to occupy the position.

Members reported on the 8^th March NTEU action. The overall impression was that, with minor exceptions, activity had been relatively low key and few classes had been cancelled across the University.

Close 8.55pm

Vice-Chancellor
Deputy Vice-Chancellors

Deans
Acting General Manager