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Education Committee Meeting 2-2008Meeting No. 2/2008 of the Education Committee was held on 30 April 2008 in the Sir George Lush Room, Building 3a, Clayton campus commencing at 3.15pm. MinutesPART A PROCEDURAL MATTERS 1 ATTENDANCE AND APOLOGIES Attendance: Professor Adam Shoemaker (Chair), Dr Lorraine Bennett, Dr Angela Carbone, Mr Joe Choy, Associate Professor Gary Codner, Dr Melissa de Zwart, Ms Cathrine Haboe-Ree, Ms Dash Jayasuriya, Ms Glenda Key, Professors Max King, Tony Luff, Dr JaneMaree Maher, Mr Terry Masocco, Associate Professor Louise McCall, Mr Sean Murphy, Ms Eliza Murray, Associate Professor Sid Nair, Dr Geoff Romeo, Professor Peter Stewart, Associate Professor David Taylor, Ms Joanne Tyler, Dr Cristina Varsavsky. The Chair welcomed Professor Schelluch, Monash South Africa campus and Professor Walter Wong, Sunway campus, via teleconference. The Chair expressed his thanks and congratulations to Professor Mark Gabbott who has accepted an appointment at Macquarie University. In attendance: Mr Gerard Toohey (for Mr Peter Yates), Ms Jodie Burgess, (for Ms Sue Bell), Ms Michelle King. Observers: Ms Sharon Cahill (Faculty of Education). Apologies: Professors Jayne Godfrey, Ms Sue Bell, Mr Peter Yates, Associate Professor Robert Nelson, Associate Professor Tony Patti, Professor Phil Steele, Ms Tara Trickey, Professor Graham Webb (on leave). 2 ARRANGEMENT OF AGENDA AND STARRING OF ITEMS All unstarred items on the agenda were adopted without discussion and the actions recommended taken or the information therein noted. Items 10, 11.2, 11.3, 14 were starred at this point. Additional items: Item 4.1 ‘Educate -08’ added, Item 13 “Other Business” – Diversity and Structural Adjustment Fund, Malaysia anniversary week, campus developments added. 3 MINUTES The unconfirmed minutes of meeting 1/2008, held on Wednesday 5 March were confirmed. 4 CHAIR’S REPORT 4.1 Monash Passport The Chair informed members of developments in the Monash Passport programs, with particular reference to the following matters of interest: The Berwick selective entry secondary school was progressing rapidly with funding and architects secured for the development. The School is scheduled to be opened in 2010 commencing with 200 students. Monash University was well represented on the strategic and infrastructure advisory groups which would develop, inter alia, student learning spaces, student accommodation, and develop alliances with the TAFE to establish a local education precinct. It was reported that productive discussions were underway with Oxfam and its South African Regional Office in relation to establishing volunteer networks and internships. Discussions had also commenced other “Not for profit” organisations regarding similar arrangements in the future. It was reported that preliminary data on Honours enrolments for 2008 indicated a 4.1% upward trend and that detailed data would be presented at the next meeting of Education Committee. It was noted that a number of faculties were working on the structure of honours programs using a variety of research methodologies and that Michelle King, Senior Project Manager, would continue working with faculties through Associate Deans on these developments. Education Committee would act as the forum through which all endorsements on the Honours Project would come. 4.2 Educate 08 The Chair informed members that an event to celebrate and showcase education excellence at Monash would commence the week beginning 6th October. Tagged ‘Educate 08’, the week of activities would include events with alumni, students and international guests delivering public lectures and internal seminars. PART B POLICY & COMMITTEE MATTERS 5 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES There were no matters arising. 6 ITEMS FROM ACADEMIC BOARD Members noted that the following items were considered by Academic Board meetings 1/2008 and 2/2008, held on held 17 February and 16 April. In relation to item 6.1.2, ESOS Policies and Procedures, Education Committee noted that subsequent to Academic Board 2-2008, a refinement to the procedures was made which would be reported as a secretarial notation to Academic Board and Education Committee 3-08 agendas. 6.1 Academic Board meeting 1-2008 6.1.1 Monash Passport – Honours Project Academic Board noted that a working group had been established for the Honours Project and that consultation would commence with Education Committee. Course Structure Policy and Procedures
6.1.2 ESOS Policies and Procedures The Board agreed to amend the draft ESOS Student under Age 18 Policy and ESOS Student Transfer between Registered Providers Policy to extend the policies’ coverage to the offshore campuses, by including in the definition of “international student” to include “a person within/outside Australia who holds a student visa as defined by the ESOS Act” and include a reference to the Migration Regulations. Academic Board approved with amendment the:
6.2 Academic Board 2-2008
7 LEARNING, TEACHING AND QUALITY COMMITTEE (LTQC) 7.1 Receipt of Report Education Committee received and noted the report of meeting 1/2008 of the Learning, Teaching and Quality Committee. 8 EDUCATION POLICY AND PROGRAMS COMMITTEE (EPPC) 8.1 Receipt of Report Education Committee received and noted the report of meeting 2/2008 of the Education Policy and Programs Committee. 8.2 Amendment to Statute 6.1.2 Courses and Degrees Education Committee:
8.3 Timetabling Policy and Procedures Education Committee noted it would receive the revised Timetabling Policy and Procedures at meeting 3-2008. 8.4 Handbook Policies and Procedures Education Committee:
8.5 Special Consideration Policy and Procedures Members noted that, subsequent to the endorsement of the special consideration policy and procedures at EPPC meeting 2-08 (1 April), a working party had been established to review the special consideration application form. Changes to the special consideration procedures arising from the deliberations of the working party would be returned to EPPC and EC for endorsement at their respective meetings in May and June. 9 EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE 9.1 Receipt of Reports Education Committee noted the reports of Education Technology Committee meetings 1-08 and 2-08 held on 14 February and 11 March. 10 ACADEMIC ADVISORY BOARD – SUNWAY CAMPUS 10.1 Receipt of Minutes Education Committee noted the minutes of Academic Advisory Board, Sunway campus held on 28 March. In response to a question regarding the Terms of Reference of the Academic Advisory Board, it was confirmed that boards and committees which report to Education Committee would normally have their terms of reference approved by the Education Committee. 11 COURSEWORK ADMISSIONS AND SCHOLARSHIPS COMMITTEE 11.1 Receipt of Report Education Committee received and noted the report of meeting 1/2008 of the Coursework Admissions and Scholarships Committee held on 13 March 2008. 11.2 MUFY results and university conversion table A document was circulated to members electronically prior to the meeting. Members were reminded of the confidential nature of the material. Lengthy discussion took place on the statistical modelling and methodology employed to determine the ENTER- MUFY conversion table. Professor Wong commented on the methodology employed for the purpose and remarked that the R2 value is only 30.53, indicating poor explanatory power. He requested that further residual tests be undertaken and this was agreed by the meeting. It was generally acknowledged that although the correlation between first year university marks and MUFY scores was not strong, it was the best available. The modelling indicated that the strongest predictor of performance is past performance and routine testing of results across various cohorts, of which MUFY was one, revealed a decline in comparative performance of this group. Acknowledging that an increase in the MUFY score would result in an increase in the pass rate, Professor Wong nonetheless expressed serious concern that the jump in MUFY score for Engineering at Malaysia (from 270 in 2008 to 305), would result in a significant loss of students for the campus and jeopardise its ability to meet quota. In response to this concern the committee agreed that a transition period of eighteen months would be adopted, with the first cohort to enter Monash Sunway in 2010 under the new criterion. In addition, Professor Evans agreed to provide further data to the committee on results for students in later years. Resolution: Education Committee approved the introduction and use of a university-wide MUFY-ENTER conversion table from 2010 as noted in the circulated documents. 11.3 Admission to Coursework Programs Policy and Procedures It was agreed that, as the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy and Procedures had not been viewed by the Education Policy and Programs Committee, the matter be referred to the subordinate committee in the first instance. 11.3.1 Admission to Coursework Programs Amendment to Statute 6.1.1 Education Committee endorsed the amended Statute 6.1.1 -Entrance and Admission to Courses - and the relevant regulations pursuant to Statute 6.1.1 - for transmission to Academic Board. [Secretarial note: The amendments would be transmitted to Academic Board for approval following endorsement and approval of the relevant policies and procedures]. 11.4 English Language Entry Requirements for Coursework Programs Procedures Education Committee approved the English Language Entry Requirements for Coursework Programs Procedures. 11.5 Key Admission Pathways into Bachelor Degrees Education Committee noted the confidential report on Key Admission Pathways into Bachelor Degrees. PART C OTHER ITEMS 12 REPORTING REQUIREMENTS WITHIN THE EDUCATION PORTFOLIO Education Committee:
13 OTHER BUSINESS 13.1 Diversity and Structural Adjustment Fund Professor Evans encouraged members to respond to the Diversity and Structural Adjustment Fund call for Expressions of Interest. Application forms would be circulated to members and were due by May 9 to Melanie Blackwell. 13.2 Malaysia Anniversary Dinner The Chair informed members that the Malaysia campus would be celebrating its tenth anniversary commencing 21 July. The week of celebrations would showcase educational initiatives and accomplishments and conclude with a Gala Dinner on 25 July. 13.3 Campus developments The Chair reported wireless and other IT infrastructure developments were progressing well at the Gippsland, Clayton and South African campuses. 13.4 Future of Research Training The Chair reported that a House of Representatives Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Innovation has been established to inquire into and report on research training and research workforce issues in Australian universities. The Committee will inquire into the contribution that Australian universities make to Australian research training, and the challenges Australian universities face in recruiting, training and retaining quality research staff in Australia. Information on the inquiry can be found at: http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/isi/research/index.htm PART D FACULTY REPORTS 14 BIANNUAL FACULTY REPORTS ON APPROVED COURSE AND UNIT DEVELOPMENTS Members noted the tabled bi-annual report from the Faculty of Art and Design. Education Committee noted the bi-annual reports on approved course and units from faculties and the summary report. PART E NEXT MEETING 15 NEXT MEETING Meeting 3/2008 will be held on Wednesday 11 June 2008 at 3.15pm in the Sir George Lush Room, Building 3a, Clayton Campus. Final submissions for the agenda for this meeting are due by Wednesday, 28 May 2008. |