Monash University

Education Committee Meeting 6-2003

Meeting No. 6/2003 of the Education Committee will be held on Wednesday, 15 October 2003 in the Sir George Lush Room, Administration Building 3A, Clayton Campus.

This meeting will be held between 12pm and 1:30pm.

Lunch will be available at the meeting.

Apologies: Please telephone: 9905 9003, or e-mail to: Kerri.Wilson-Reid@adm.monash.edu.au 

Ms K Wilson-Reid

Secretary

Members having a direct commercial or financial interest in any item before this meeting must declare that interest to the Chair via the Committee Secretary prior to consideration of the item, and must not take part in a vote on any matter concerning it.

A G E N D A

PART A PROCEDURAL, POLICY & COMMITTEE MATTERS

*1. APOLOGIES & ATTENDANCE

Apologies

Apologies have been received from Associate Professor M Page, Professor G Webb, Ms S Joy, Dr D Corrigan, Dr P Richardson and Professor W Young.

Invited to attend Meeting 6/2003

Associate Professor Ken Jones, Chair, Transition Policy and Planning Subcommittee

Farewell to retiring members

The Committee farewells and thanks retiring student members for their efforts and valuable contributions to the Education Committee throughout 2003.

*2. STARRED ITEMS

The Committee should note that certain items have been starred as requiring discussion. Additional items may be starred at the discretion of the Committee.

RECOMMENDATION:

That the Committee nominate any additional items to be starred, and endorse the recommendations for all items other than those starred.

*3. MINUTES

The unconfirmed minutes of Education Committee Meeting 5/2003, held 10 September 2003, will be circulated.

RECOMMENDATION:

That the Committee approve the Minutes of Meeting 5/2003.

4. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

Refer to item 6.

5. ITEMS OF INTEREST FROM ACADEMIC BOARD MEETING 5/2003

The Academic Board noted all matters that were reported for information from Meeting 5/2003 of the Education Committee.

*6. NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR LEARNING AND TEACHING IN HIGHER EDUCATION

p 1-20

Documentation is attached.

Brief discussion about the National Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education occurred at Education Committee Meeting 5/2003.

In the May Federal budget, the Government announced the establishment of a National Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education as part of a strategy to promote excellence in learning and teaching. The Institute will be established as a national focus for enhancement of learning and teaching in Australian higher education institutions.

DEST has been working with the Australian Universities Teaching Committee to develop a discussion paper on the establishment of the Institute. Information is available at: www.dest.gov.au/highered/learning_teaching/default.htm. DEST has invited submissions on the issues raised in the discussion paper by 31 October.

The Chair, Professor A Lindsay, will speak to this item.

RECOMMENDATION:

That the Committee note the advice of Professor A Lindsay regarding the establishment of the National Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, and provide comment on the discussion paper circulated.

7. ERASMUS MUNDUS

p 21-22

A document is attached for information, forwarded by Professor M Evans, regarding the ‘Erasmus Mundus’ program that will offer postgraduate courses involving study at several higher education institutions in Europe. Partnerships between EU masters courses and non-European institutions will be encouraged under this program.

For reference, a Europe Network Meeting is currently scheduled to be held on 16 October that will include discussion about this program. (Information about the meeting is available from Christine Williams, Office of International Development.)

RECOMMENDATION:

That the Committee note the information presented regarding the ‘Erasmus Mundus’ program.

*8. REPORTS FROM SUBCOMMITTEES AND WORKING PARTIES

8.1 Quality Subcommittee

p 23-30

Documentation is attached.

Associate Professor T Luff will speak to this item on behalf of Associate Professor M Page, Chair of the Quality Subcommittee, who is an apology for this meeting.

RECOMMENDATION:

That the Committee:

  • receive and note the Report of the Quality Subcommittee;

  • consider and approve the amended Terms of Reference and membership structure recommended for the Quality Subcommittee (refer report item 1); and

  • approve the amended reporting process and deadline for the preparation of a report that describes high-quality learning and teaching at Monash and affirm that annual reports would not be required in 2003 from faculties on their use of the quality process in reviewing and improving course and unit development and delivery (refer report item 2).

8.2 Internationalisation Subcommittee

p 31-32

Documentation is attached.

Associate Professor V Clifford, Chair of the Internationalisation Subcommittee, will speak to this item.

RECOMMENDATION:

That the Committee receive and note the Report of the Internationalisation Subcommittee.

8.3 Academic Policy Subcommittee

p 33-36

Documentation is attached.

Mr D Secomb, Chair of the Academic Policy Subcommittee, will speak to this item.

RECOMMENDATION:

That the Committee:

  • receive and note the Report of the Academic Policy Subcommittee;

  • approve the recommended revised Terms of Reference for the Subcommittee (refer report item 2 and attachment 1); and

  • endorse the recommendation that, once new or revised policy has been developed by relevant committees and other groups, the Academic Policy Subcommittee be empowered to vet policy prior to posting and to undertake any minor, non-substantive editing needed to shape the policy to the preferred format (refer report item 3).

8.4 Transition Policy and Planning Subcommittee (incorporating Orientation)

p 37-38

Documentation is attached.

Associate Professor K Jones, Chair of the Transition Policy and Planning Subcommittee, will be in attendance and is invited to speak to this item.

RECOMMENDATION:

That the Committee receive and note the Report of the Transition Policy and Planning Subcommittee (incorporating the Orientation Subcommittee).

8.5 Exclusion for Unsatisfactory Progress Procedures Review Working Party

p 39-68

The Report of the Exclusion for Unsatisfactory Progress Procedures Review Working Party is attached.

The Working Party was established to review and recommend improvements to the procedures titled ‘Faculty Academic Progress Committee Functions and Procedures’ and ‘Exclusion Appeals Committee Functions and Procedures’ following their first cycle of implementation in relation to the 2002 academic year. These procedures are attached for reference. (The procedures, including links to relevant legislation, are located on the Secretariat web site at:

http://adm.monash.edu/unisec/academicpolicies/menus/topic-academicprogress.html )

Associate Professor J Hurst, Chair of the Exclusion for Unsatisfactory Progress Procedures Review Working Party, will speak to this item.

RECOMMENDATION:

That the Committee:

  • receive and note the Report of the Exclusion for Unsatisfactory Progress Procedures Review Working Party; and

  • consider and approve the recommendations contained in the Report for amendment to the university’s procedures for exclusion for unsatisfactory progress.

9. OTHER BUSINESS

PART B: FACULTY REPORTS AND PROPOSALS

There are no items under this section for this meeting.

PART C: NEXT MEETING

Members will be advised by email of the schedule for 2004 meetings of the Education Committee.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Membership:

Professor Alan Lindsay (Chair)

Dr Peter Maddock

Dr Heinz Kreutz

Associate Professor Alan Farley

Ms Sally Joy

Dr Debbie Corrigan & Dr Paul Richardson

Associate Professor Ian Prince

Professor William Young

Associate Professor John Hurst

Mr Chris Avram

Mr Leighton Morris

Associate Professor Tony Luff

Dr Glenice Ives

Associate Professor Michael Page

Dr Tony Patti

Associate Professor Louis Roller

Dr David Taylor

Professor Max King

Professor Chris Browne

Professor Merran Evans

Professor John Harris

Professor Graham Webb

Ms Mary Aldred (MONSU – Caulfield)

Mr Anthony Hillen (MONSU – Peninsula)

Mr Chris Hurley (MSA – Clayton)

Ms Brooke Anderson (MUBS – Berwick)

Mr Terry Pritchard (MUGSU - Gippsland)

(Pharmacy Students Association) – position vacant

Mr Lim Jian An (MPA – masters by coursework)

(MPA – graduate/postgraduate diploma) – position vacant

In Attendance:

Mr Clive Vernon

Mr David Secomb

Mr P Yates (alternate for Mr P Marshall)

Ms Cathrine Harboe-Ree

Associate Professor Valerie Clifford

Associate Professor Yoni Ryan

Associate Professor Marg Lindorff

Ms Kerri Wilson-Reid (Secratary)

Further Distribution:

Faculty Managers/Registrars (*9)

Mr T Calder

Mr D Mernagh

Ms P Williams

Ms P Herman

Ms S Stafford

Ms B Le Grand