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Education Committee - Meeting 4-2008Meeting No. 4/2008 of the Education Committee was held on 30 July 2008 in the Sir George Lush Room, Building 3a, Clayton campus. MINUTESPart A Procedural Matters *1 Attendance and Apologies There were present: Membership change: Apologies were received from: In attendance: The Chair welcomed:
*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. Item 10.2 was starred and the Chair confirmed that all components of item 11 were starred. *3 Minutes The minutes of meeting 3/2008 held on Wednesday 11 June were confirmed. The minutes are located at: http://www.adm.monash.edu.au/execserv *4 Chair’s Report Professor Shoemaker informed members of the very extensive and successful program of activities to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Sunway campus, Malaysia held during the week of Monday 21 July. Of particular note was:
4.1 Update on Monash Passport Program The Chair informed members that the components of the Monash Passport Program will encourage student mobility between campuses, in particular amongst postgraduate students, with an emphasis on research and research training linkages across international borders. The terms of the Memorandum of Understanding between Monash and Oxfam had been agreed and the first Oxfam nine internships will commence in February 2009. Participants will include three Monash South Africa students. It is also anticipated that in the near future further agreements with non-government organisations will be negotiated. 4.2 Monash Honours Project Professor Shoemaker informed members that work on the Monash Honours Project, to reform Honours at the University, was progressing. Two successful half-day seminars had been conducted in June, with valuable feedback received from several focus groups. Professor King suggested that, as there was such a high level of interest in Honours reforms in the University, it would be an opportune time to create an Honours Project Sub-Committee of Education Committee to develop strategies, policies and to propose concrete actions and reforms as a priority. There was strong interest in this idea amongst members. Members were advised that Mr Adrian Devey could provide executive support to the Sub-Committee. The Chair invited Education Committee members who wished to participate in the Sub-Committee to contact Professors Shoemaker or King. During discussion, the following points were made:
Resolution: It was agreed that the terms of reference for the Monash Honours Project Sub-committee and an invitation to join the sub-committee would be circulated to Education Committee members within 48 hours of the conclusion of this Education Committee meeting. For more information on the Monash Honours Project go to: http://www.odvce.monash.edu.au/projects/honours/project-plan-04-08.rtf For Action/Information: Professors A Shoemaker and M King Part B Policy and Committee Matters 5 Matters Arising from the Minutes Monash Honours Project and further data on Honours trends (minute 5.1 refers). Executive Services Note: Members were advised that it is anticipated that further data on Honours trends will be presented by a representative of the Monash Honours Project Sub-committee to the September meeting of Education Committee. 6 Academic Board Matters – Meeting 4-2008 Items referred to Academic Board 4-08. As Academic Board meeting 4-08 was cancelled, items referred by Education Committee to Academic Board will proceed to meeting 5-08 scheduled for 3 September. 7 Learning, Teaching and Quality Committee No meeting held. 8 Education Policy and Programs Committee Receipt of Report Education Committee received and noted the report of the Education Policy and Programs Committee meeting 4-2008 held on 24 June. 9 Education Technology Committee Receipt of Report Education Committee received and noted the report of the Education Technology Committee meeting 5-2008 held on 12 June. 10 Coursework Admissions and Scholarships Committee (CASC) 10.1 Receipt of Report Education Committee received and noted the Report of Meeting 2/2008 of the Coursework Admissions and Scholarships Committee held on 8 May. 10.2 Early Offers Pathway into Diploma of Tertiary (formerly Foundation) Studies CASC meeting 2-2008 endorsed a proposal that the early offer pathway into the Diploma of Tertiary (formerly Foundation) Studies be extended for another year (2009) beyond the three year pilot period originally approved by Academic Board, for transmission to Education Committee for endorsement, then to Academic Board for approval. Members were informed that the measures detailed by the proposal would ensure that admission criteria had been strengthened. It was noted that early offers were conditional on applicants meeting the University’s English language entry requirements, achieving the Diploma of Tertiary Studies ENTER score requirement of 50, and satisfying any specific VCE study score prerequisites for their intended bachelor’s degree. Resolution: Education Committee endorsed the proposal that the early offer pathway into the Diploma of Tertiary (formerly Foundation) Studies be extended for another year (2009), for transmission to Academic Board, with the proviso that the early offers are to be conditional on applicants:
For Action/Information: Mr M Fenaughty, Mr M Hatwell Part C Other Items *11 Other Business 11.1 Update on the Monash University Library Learning Skills Activities and Programs The Chair invited Ms Smith to update Education Committee on Learning Skills Activities and Programs offered by the Library. Ms Smith informed members that the meeting was an opportune time to provide members with an update on learning skills activities and programs offered by the Library over the past 12 months since the introduction of Learning Skills Advisors. The broad context of student learning at Monash relates to the core skills and attributes with which the University wishes to equip its graduates. These are led by a holistic approach to developing such skills and providing a service available to all students. Of particular note was: The Library has conducted a total of 473 learning skills sessions with a grand total of 8011 participants;
Ms Smith introduced Ms McCann, who briefed members on the processes that staff teaching units in the Faculty of Business and Economics Foundation Year, supported by Learning Skills Advisors and Librarians, had undertaken to redevelop a curriculum of six core first year units, including assessment tasks and skills development. The Learning Skills Advisors are also undertaking work with academic staff from the faculties of Law, Information Technology, Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, and Pharmacy, with further strategies to be developed in collaboration with staff at Berwick campus. In response to a question from a member, the challenges associated with working with students close to completing their degrees who were presenting with poor written English skills were acknowledged. Ms McCann emphasised the importance for students to attend learning skills sessions as close as possible to the commencement of their studies. It was noted that statistics comparing the user level of learning skills programs offered by the Library and the previous provider, the Centre for Learning and Teaching, would be difficult to obtain; however, a number of members expressed a high level of satisfaction with current service provision by the Library. Resolution: It was agreed that Professor Shoemaker and Ms Harboe-Ree would meet to discuss the preparation of a report on learning skills activities and programs offered by the Library for consideration by Academic Board and Council. For Action/Information: Professor A Shoemaker Ms C Harboe-Ree Executive Services Note: A copy of the PowerPoint presentation accompanies these minutes. 11.2 Increase of the Maximum Number of International Students Registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students Ms Roth provided a briefing to members on a proposal to increase the maximum number of international students registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) from the current maximum of 10,000 to 12,000 students. It was noted that the application to increase the maximum number of international students would have as much information about the University’s operations as possible and, further, it was anticipated that this would negate the need for an inspection of the University’s operations after the application had been lodged to the relevant government authority. The Chair advised members that the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International) would consult with faculties in terms of available facilities and capacity issues and assured members that the increase of the maximum to 12,000 students was not explicitly linked to the abolition of full-fee places for domestic students. Resolution: Education Committee:
For Action/Information: Ms Roth 11.3 Listing of Monash Courses on the AusLIST Website Ms Roth informed members that the AusLIST website is a new initiative developed by the Federal Government to provide international students with access to information regarding registered tertiary courses available in Australia. Members informed Ms Roth that there were a number of courses listed in Appendix Two to the document that appeared to be duplicates with several course codes e.g. there were three different course codes for the Doctor of Philosophy offered at Sunway campus, Malaysia. A member advised that this was the result of classifications of new course codes for low cost disciplines. Resolution: Education Committee:
For Action/Information: Ms Roth Part D Faculty Reports No reports. Part E Other Business and Next Meeting 12 Other Business 12.1 Lectures Online A member informed the meeting that there was strong student support for all lectures to be available to students online, with a preference for the current ‘opt in’ system to be amended to an ‘opt out’ structure. During discussion, the following points were made:
Resolution: It was agreed that the recording of all lectures and subsequently making the recordings available online would be an item for consideration by the next Education Committee meeting. For Action/Information: Mr M Fenaughty 13 Next Meeting Meeting 5/2008 will be held on Wednesday 3 September at 12.00 noon in the Sir George Lush Room, Building 3a, Clayton Campus. The Chair invited members to note that, in order to accommodate members also attending the Academic Board meeting commencing at 3.30pm on 3 September, Education Committee will commence at 12.00 noon. A light lunch will be provided. Final submissions for the agenda for this meeting are due by Wednesday, 20 August 2008.
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