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Deans Discussion Group Meeting 8-2002

Meeting 8/2002 of the Deans Discussion Group was held between 4.00 pm and 8.30 pm on Tuesday, 3 December 2002 in the Monash City Office, Level 11, 30 Collins Street, Melbourne.

NOTES

Pre-dinner discussion

1. Attendance and apologies

There were present:

  • Professor P LeP Darvall, Vice-Chancellor

  • Professor A W Lindsay, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Planning)

  • Ms A Crook AO, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Resources)

  • Professor G Bouma, Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Development)

  • Professor B Mackenzie, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Gippsland Campus

  • Professor J K Redmond, Dean, Faculty of Art and Design

  • Professor H Le Grand, Dean, Faculty of Arts

  • Professor G Palmer, Dean, Faculty of Business and Economics

  • Professor S Willis, Dean, Faculty of Education

  • Professor M Brisk, Dean, Faculty of Engineering

  • Professor J Rosenberg, Dean, Faculty of Information Technology

  • Professor S Parker, Dean, Faculty of Law

  • Professor N Saunders, Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

  • Professor C Chapman, Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy

  • Professor R Norris, Dean, Faculty of Science

  • Professor M King, Director, Research Graduate School

In attendance:

  • Professor M Evans, Director, Planning and Academic Affairs

  • Professor C Cocklin, Director, Monash Environment Institute

  • Mr T Pollock, Executive Director, Office of International Development

Secretary:

  • Mr T Calder, Director, Secretariat and Executive Services

Update on Singapore

Mr Tony Pollock, Executive Director, Office of International Development, was in attendance for this item.

Mr Pollock informed members that a further meeting with representatives of the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) had taken place where issues relating to the establishment of a campus in Singapore were further discussed.

Representatives of the EDB agreed that in order for Monash to establish a world class campus with a significant research profile, that made a major contribution to Singapore’s strategic focus of becoming a regional education hub, a further range of assistance measures could be explored. These could include grant assistance, assistance with loans, establishment of an endowment fund and assistance with research funding and scholarships.

Following a meeting of the Singapore Working Party, a draft response to the EDB had been prepared. The draft response was tabled for discussion.

The Vice-Chancellor noted that discussions with representatives of the EDB had also focussed on the service sector of the Singapore economy and the strategy of developing Singapore as an educational hub for the region. Other issues raised by the Vice-Chancellor included the need to develop an appropriate business model for any proposed campus, the effect a Singapore campus may have on Monash Malaysia and queries regarding the capacity to attract suitable staff.

During discussion, members noted the following:

  • several members noted that any proposed campus be broad based and include Arts/Social Sciences and interdisciplinary courses;

  • comparative salary levels between Malaysia and Singapore may be an issue;

  • existing activities in Singapore would, most likely, close down over a four to five year transition period;

  • a proposal for a Singapore campus would have implications for the proposed medical degree in Malaysia;

  • that the balance sheet of the University cannot take on more debt; and

  • the possibility of having discussions with King’s College re Singapore.

Concluding the discussion, Professor Alan Lindsay, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Planning), noted that a key element of the discussions was that the focus would place a Monash Singapore campus at the top end of the sector – a research led University – and that further discussions should be approached in a positive yet cautious manner.

Following further discussion, the Vice-Chancellor requested Deans to forward any further comments to Mr Pollock. Mr Pollock would then amend the draft response to EDB to incorporate issues raised by Deans.

Concluding the discussion, Mr Pollock noted that Monash would need to develop a Business Plan incorporating strategic, academic and costing details should discussions progress to the next phase.

2. Notes

Notes of meeting 7/2002 held on 5 November 2002 were received and noted.

3. Matters arising from the Notes of meeting 7/2002

4. Reversing the decline in the top ENTER applicants to Monash

A document titled, Summary Enrolments by ENTER Range was tabled. Professor Merran Evans, Director, Planning and Academic Affairs, was in attendance for the item.

Professor Evans provided the following background information to facilitate discussion of the matter:

  • the ENTER data used to compile the agenda papers was sourced from VTAC year 12 entrants over the period 1998-2002;

  • noting that the combined Monash-Melbourne share of the top 5%, 10% and 20% had varied little, Monash’s VTAC Year 12 market share was now significantly lower than in 1998 in nearly all cohorts between the top 1% to top 20% - market share had been lost to the University of Melbourne;

  • an increasing number and proportion of students from Monash’s main feeder schools were enrolling in comparable courses at Melbourne;

  • the tabled graphs illustrated that while most other Victorian universities’ "% of total x cohort" remained relatively stable over time, Monash’s was variable; and

  • an analysis of first year results of Monash VTAC Year 12 entrants revealed that students in the top 5% achieved significantly higher marks that those in the 5% to 10% cohort across all faculties.

During discussion, a range of suggestions were offered as to how best arrest the decline. These included, that further research and analysis be conducted, greater emphasis be placed on double degrees, the appropriateness of shifting load to more "successful courses", reviewing the range of courses and units offered and the location of some courses and to review the range of scholarships offered by Monash.

Concluding the discussion, the Vice-Chancellor requested that Deans prepare a one page strategy note aimed at identifying ways of increasing Monash’s share of high ENTER applicants noting that the strategies should not include shifting load between campuses. However, the strategy note could include a paragraph on strategies should that proviso not be in place. Further, the Vice-Chancellor noted that the Vice-Chancellor’s Group would review the scholarships issue and remove identified absurdities.

5. The Monash Environment Institute

Professor Chris Cocklin, Director, Monash Environment Institute was in attendance for this item.

Professor Cocklin provided members with an overview of the Monash Environment Institute (MEI) noting that since its establishment in 1999, MEI had been funded for a 3 year term via a 50% contribution from the University and 50% contribution from seven faculties.

Following discussion of the learning and teaching activities of the Institute, consulting activities, and engagement by the Institute with internal and external stakeholders, the Vice-Chancellor summarised the short term major issues as follows:

  • the need to consider the most appropriate model for MEI;

  • noting that funding for the Institute runs out on 30 June 2003, the position of Director needed to be resolved; and

  • funding for Centres/Institutes should be included in the scheduled budget discussion for 2003.

Dinner Discussion

6. Planning for the Deans Advance in early 2003

Noting the advice of the Vice-Chancellor that it would be preferable for all Deans to be present at the proposed Advance, the following topics were suggested:

  • unstructured discussion would be desirable;

  • campus planning versus faculty planning;

  • globalisation;

  • image/branding;

  • Monash and being multi campus – the role of campuses; and

  • topic leaders to facilitate each discussion would be desirable.

The Vice-Chancellor thanked members for their suggestions and advised that his office would commence organising the Advance.

7. Matters raised by Deans

8. Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Deans Discussion Group will be held at 4 pm on Tuesday, 10 February 2003 in the City Office.

The next meeting of the Committee of Deans will be held at 2.15 pm on Tuesday, 28 January 2003 in the Sir George Lush Room.

Distribution

Vice-Chancellor

Deputy Vice-Chancellors

Pro Vice-Chancellors

Deans

Director, Research Graduate School

Professor Merran Evans, Director, Planning and Academic Affairs

Professor Chris Cocklin, Director, Monash Environment Institute

Mr Tony Pollock, Executive Director, Office of International Development