Professor Nigel Tapper, Interim Director, Monash Environment Institute (for item 5.3)

Ms Belinda Towns, Project Manager, Triple Bottom Line Reporting (for item 5.3)

Tim Winkler, Senior Manager, Marketing (for item 7.1)

Mark Pettitt, Senior Manager, International Recruitment (for item 7.1)

Paula Langley, Manager, International Admissions (for item 7.1)

Jodie Martin-Blick, Manager, Prospective Students Office (for item 7.1)

Mr Marshall highlighted significant features of the revised EB, including the protection of core entitlements, extension of the academic period of probation up to two (2) years and greater flexibility to deal with organisational change matters. He advised members that the process of negotiation and compliance certification would have to be repeated for those agreements applying to trades staff. The offer of the AWA option to staff would be made within the next week or two, however there was not expected to be a large take-up.

The EB would become effective as soon as it was certified by the AIRC, which was expected to occur in the last half of November.

There were two possible impediments to achieving a certified EB:

Dr Nelson, in his address to a recent meeting of the AVCC Board indicated that the legislation would not reach the House until December. As a consequence, indications were that implementation in 2006 would be unreasonable – however, the final decision rested with the Prime Minister.

In response to the University of Melbourne’s decision to levy an ASF in 2006, the Minister had advised that this was a risky strategy, as VSU might well be introduced in 2006.

Monash had requested Campus Service Councils to cast their budgets on the basis that amenities fees would be payable and would commence preparations for implementation of the legislation in 2007.

Professor Larkins reported on two (2) recent meetings between Sir Gareth Roberts and the AVCC and Go8. The objective had been to form a Research Quality Framework Implementation Committee. However, significant unresolved issues surrounded RQF implementation, including accounting for research output, and how to deal with employment change in the year prior to assessment.

There had also been discussion on appropriate commercialisation metrics and measurement of impact of research, which had revealed discordance between the AVCC and Go8 positions. Reference had also been made to 3^rd stream funding, which would operate outside the parameters of the RQF.

Professor Larkins reported on his election as Deputy President of the AVCC from 2006, and emphasised the importance of ensuring that the AVCC continued to operate as a single body with continued input from the G08.

The Monash MBA had been ranked as the best Australian MBA for 2005 by the Economist Intelligence Unit. It was ranked second highest in Asia and 59^th in the world.

The Faculty of Education’s Master in Counselling was ranked as the most popular recognised training course by the Australian Counselling Association.

Monash researchers were awarded more than $24 million in the latest round of NHMRC Project Grants, a considerable increase over comparable income in 2004.

Mr Marshall emphasised that the establishment of the Committee represented significant progress in the way the University approached the scrutiny of issues of ethics and integrity. In endorsing its establishment from an audit and risk management perspective, Mr Connell observed that the Committee would monitor the way relevant policies were both developed and applied.

In generally endorsing the Committee’s Terms of Reference, members raised a number of issues, including:

In view of the comments received, it was suggested that paragraphs 1.6 and 1.7 required amendment. The Chair indicated that the Committee’s Terms of Reference would also be circularised for further comment by members.

Members considered a number of issues relating to the KPI Report, including:

In speaking to the agenda paper (SMC 6/05/04) Professor Tapper emphasised Monash’s position at the forefront of implementation of environmentally sustainable practices. He noted that the recommendations were aligned with Monash’s mission, and had the potential for significant budget savings.

Professor Tapper explained that the recommendations were grouped by areas of responsibility – staff; buildings, infrastructure and utilities; environmental and social responsibility; engaging Faculties.

Subsequent discussion canvassed a range of issues, including:

The Chair summarised discussion by concluding that:

The next meeting of the Education Committee would consider its Terms of Reference and review course approval processes and cross-campus academic standards.

The Human Resources Division was preparing proposals for a comprehensive approach to staff development.

Compilation of case studies of global vision did not appear to be as necessary as in 2001/2. It was considered that these might be appropriately located in the International Plan.

Ms Lee-ann Norris introduced this item, and stepped members through the market analysis, which included acceptors research for the first time. Features of the analysis included:

The Recruitment and Marketing Division had undertaken considerable work following the June meeting, including:

Ms Norris emphasised that it was crucial to attract quality students to Monash, and that the key to achieving this was to increase conversions.

As at the date of the meeting, acceptances were up 47% as at the same time in 2004, and 52.9% over the same period in 2003. (However, it was noted that the numbers were, at this stage, still very small.)

A short presentation on key issues and projects was made by each member of the Recruitment and Marketing management team, following which Ms Norris put the recommendations (summarised in SMC 6/05/08 – page 54 of the agenda papers) to the Committee.

Members raised a number of matters in the subsequent discussion:

Observing that work was progressing on those recommendations for action from the International Self-Review (SMC 3/05/13) also considered at the June SMC meeting, the Chair referred to the need to develop an intervention strategy for ‘at risk’ students. Noting the measures developed by the Faculty of Business and Economics, it was suggested that further ideas might come back to the Committee for consideration. Insofar as the review of Learning and Language Services was concerned, the Chair advised members that the increased resources for that area had been redirected from other parts of CeLTS.

Mr Marshall added that further investigation of issues specific to the research community was ongoing.

Members expressed general concern at the complexity of processes relating to overseas travel – Mr Pitt indicated that this issue was being addressed and that he would provide a status report to the next meeting of SMC.

It was suggested that a useful way of streamlining process requirements would be to load the system with pre-populated forms.

Professor Cornish suggested that there should be an appropriate linkage from the proposed Publications Committee to other relevant activities e.g. research publications and faculty/institute promotional material. Options to facilitate this would be considered by Professors Parker and Cornish.