Council Meeting 1-2002

Council was held between 5.00 pm and 7.20 pm on Monday, 11 February 2002, in the Sir George Lush Room, Administration Building 3a, Clayton Campus

Mr J K Ellis, Chancellor, Presiding

Mr P H Ramler AM, Deputy Chancellor

Dr J M Hearn, Deputy Chancellor

Professor D A Robinson, Vice-Chancellor and President

Professor A W Lindsay, Chair of Academic Board

Ms W Peter

Dr B Robinson

Professor P LeP Darvall, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Research and Development)

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

Professor Chris Cocklin, Professor and Director, Monash Environment Institute

Mr David Phillips, Special Advisor to the Vice-Chancellor and President

Professor Graham Webb, Director, Centre for Higher Education Quality

Mr T Calder, Director, Secretariat and Executive Services

MINUTES

The Deputy Chancellor, Mr Paul Ramler AM, informed Council that following involved and detailed negotiations, a joint venture between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Monash University establishing Olympic Games Knowledge Services (O.G.K.S.) would be launched on 19 February 2002. [Secretarial note: copies of press releases are attached for information. Attachment 1)]

Olympic Games Knowledge Services would deliver a range of education, management and consulting services to Olympic Games organising committees and candidate cities.

Following an explanation of the shareholder structure and board membership, Mr Ramler informed Council that Mr Craig McLatchey, formerly Secretary-General of the Australian Olympic Committee, had been appointed to the position of Director, Olympic Games Knowledge Services.

The Chancellor welcomed Dr Carol Williams following her election to membership of Council. Further, Council was informed that Mr Kim Bannikoff, appointed to Council by the Minister for Post Compulsory Education, Training and Employment, had resigned from Council due to a change of responsibilities within the Department of Education, Employment and Training.

Council was informed that media broadcasts heard that afternoon indicated that a Cabinet reshuffle had occurred resulting in changes within the Education Ministries. (Secretarial note: subsequent to the meeting, it was announced that The Honourable Lynne Kosky MP had been appointed Minister for Education and Training.)

Apologies were received from Associate Professor Louise Adler and Ms Penelope Hutchinson.

Council approved a request for special leave for meeting 2/2002 (18 March) from Ms Eleina Tava.

The Minutes of meeting No 8/2001 held on 17 December 2001 were circulated.

RESOLUTION CL 1/2002/1

Council confirmed the Minutes of meeting No 8/2001 held on Monday, 17 December 2001 subject to the insertion of the following as the penultimate paragraph of minute 3.1 Report on the annual round of discussions with Council members:

On behalf of Council, the Chancellor congratulated Ms Dale Halstead on her re-election to Council for a further two-year term (item 12.5 refers) and informed Council that Dr Paul James had resigned from Council as he had accepted the position of Professor of Globalization at RMIT. On behalf of Council, the Chancellor extended his congratulations and recorded his appreciation for Dr James’ contribution to the work of Council.

RESOLUTION CL1/2002/2

Council approved, without discussion, the recommendation of the Honorary Degrees Committee for the award of honorary degrees as presented orally by the Chancellor, Mr Jerry Ellis.

The Vice-Chancellor introduced the paper Vice-Chancellor’s Business: Council meetings 01/2002 to 08/2002 noting that the topics represented a list of issues that would not routinely come to Council via other routes.

Members suggested the following amendments:

• That a preliminary report on the Marketing Plan & "brand" (scheduled for meeting 8/2002 [9 December]) be provided to Council at meeting 3/2002 (6 May) possibly focussing on "brand positioning".

• That a preliminary report on the Monash Science Technology Research and Innovation Precinct (STRIP) and Synchrotron be provided. The Vice-Chancellor suggested that an update on the STRIP be included in Campus developments topic scheduled for meeting 3/2002 (6 May). An update on the Synchrotron could also be provided at meeting 3/2002.

Concluding the discussion, the Chancellor congratulated the Vice-Chancellor on the interesting breadth of topics and noted that preliminary reports on the Marketing Plan & "brand", STRIP and Synchrotron would be included during discussion of topics scheduled for meeting 3/2002 (6 May).

RESOLUTION CL 1/2002/3

Council noted the schedule of Vice-Chancellor’s Business: Council meetings 01/2002 to 08/2002 and approved the inclusion of preliminary reports on the, STRIP and Synchrotron as detailed above.

[Secretarial note: Following the meeting, the schedule of Vice-Chancellor’s Business: Council meetings 01/2002 to 08/2002 was revised to allow sufficient time for discussion of the above topics at meeting 3/2002 (6 May). Council members are invited to note that the topic Fundraising, previously scheduled for meeting 3/2002, will now be considered at meeting 4/2002 (24 June). A revised schedule is attached. Attachment 2]

In introducing the topic Sustainability Reporting, the Vice-Chancellor informed Council that a "scoping study" relating to the application of triple bottom-line reporting at Monash had been conducted and that an implementation proposal had been prepared for discussion by Council.

Professor Chris Cocklin, Director, Monash Environment Institute, took Council through the "scoping study" noting the following:

• that the practice of Sustainability Reporting (or Triple Bottom-Line Reporting) refers to organisations reporting on their performance via social, environmental and economic outcomes;

• the objectives of the study included a review of current practice, consultation with internal stakeholders, assessment of the availability of appropriate data and information technology systems and development of a range of implementation scenarios; and

• outcomes from the introduction of Sustainability Reporting at Monash would include improved internal and external stakeholder relations, an enhanced capacity to anticipate and respond to future challenges and opportunities and advancement of Monash’s position of leadership in terms of the environmental and sustainability agenda.

Following an outline of the model and process for implementing Sustainability Reporting, Professor Cocklin informed Council that the study recommended that Monash implement the "sufficient" model as detailed on page 11 of the Scoping Study report. Further, Professor Cocklin noted that the "sufficient" model would build upon existing information technology processes and systems, integrate sustainability reporting into the planning processes of Monash, be introduced via a phased approach that further refined the Sustainability Reporting framework and would initially result in draft Sustainability Reports for the Clayton and Gippsland campuses.

During discussion, members provided a range of comments including the importance of seeking and incorporating the views of external stakeholders, the role of Monash in facilitating and extending the debate on Sustainability Reporting and comment on the suitability of some indicators.

In response, Council was informed that during 2002 the priorities and views of external stakeholders would be sought and their views incorporated into the incremental rollout of the process. Further, Council was advised that the "sufficient model" was the most appropriate for implementation at this point as it would enable Monash to bed-down the planned processes and review the adequacy of the implementation without placing an excessive burden on current resources.

In concluding discussion, the Chancellor, on behalf of Council, thanked Professor Cocklin and Ms Jo Strahan (Monash Sustainability Enterprises) and confirmed that the implementation plan, as per the "sufficient" model should commence subject to incorporating and prioritising the requirements of external stakeholders.

[Secretarial note: a copy of the overheads used during Professor Cocklin’s presentation are attached for information. (Attachment 3)]

RESOLUTION CL 1/2002/4

Council received and discussed the scoping study and approved implementation of the "sufficient" model as detailed in the document presented.

The Vice-Chancellor invited Professor Graham Webb Director, Centre for Higher Education Quality, to introduce the topic and Mr David Phillips, Special Advisor to the Vice-Chancellor and President to facilitate discussion.

Professor Webb informed Council that the Commonwealth Government established the Australian University Quality Agency (AUQA) in March 2000 to audit teaching, research and administration in Australian universities on a five-year cycle. Professor Webb noted that while the establishment of AUQA created a formal framework for quality audits in the higher education sector, Monash had, over a long period, recognised that quality was crucial to its ongoing success.

As part of its commitment to continual improvement, the Vice-Chancellor’s Group commissioned an institutional self-review to augment current quality processes and inform Monash’s preparation of a quality portfolio for any future AUQA audit.

Following establishment of the review panel chaired by Professor Stephen Parker, Dean, Faculty of Law, the panel developed a matrix of review themes, sought input from a wide cross-section of staff (including use of an on-line survey), reviewed the output of the interview process and produced the document University Self-review: Key Emerging Themes outlining a range of emerging themes.

Mr Phillips invited Council members to comment on issues and themes as detailed in the document.

During discussion, members provided the following comments:

• the "Monash student experience" varied depending on campus location and type of course/program - undergraduate, postgraduate or higher degree by research program.

• Monash needed to further enhance its strategies to attract the best students, identify the core experiences that were essential to the Monash student experience and develop appropriate benchmarks.

• A tension exists between the desirability for uniformity and the benefits derived from offering students a diverse range of experiences. It was suggested that Monash identify a core set of experiences that allowed the University to also capitalise on its internal diversity.

Noting the importance of setting meaningful benchmarks that facilitated the University’s progress towards its strategic goals, members noted that implementation of sustainability reporting could also inform and contribute to the self-review process.

Noting the dual role of Heads of Departments/Schools as leaders of the intellectual development of staff and administrators, Council members supported the need for on-going support and training in management skills and the need to improve opportunities for training in aspects of leadership and overall management skills.

During discussion of time management and priority setting, it was noted that "priorities" referred not only to the division of time between research and teaching but also to the need to balance competing demands at an institutional level.

During discussion of the strategic and operational planning cycle and planning horizons, members noted the need for a flexible and adaptive planning cycle that facilitated resource planning and permitted both pre-determined planning horizons and revisions of plans when necessary.

In summarising the discussion, Mr Phillips thanked Council members for their contribution and noted the specific issues of the linkages between sustainability reporting and the ongoing self-review process, the issues raised relating to the recruitment of students and the "student experience" and the need to offer incentives that encourage staff to seek further professional development. Further, while the discussion of five year operational planning did not generate great enthusiasm, it was noted that planning horizons needed to facilite appropriate resource planning.

RESOLUTION CL 1/2002/5

Council noted and discussed the key themes emerging from the University Self-Review.

RESOLUTION CL 1/2002/6

Council noted acceptance of offers of appointment as detailed in the document presented.

The next meeting of Council is scheduled to be held at 5.00 pm on Monday, 18 March 2002 at the Berwick Campus.