Issue 4 - 23 February 2000

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CHED course receives international recognition

The Graduate Certificate in Higher Education offered by Monash's CHED through the Faculty of Education has been accredited by the Staff and Educational Development Association in the UK.

Designed for experienced teachers as well as those new to higher education, the graduate certificate focuses on the teaching roles.

According to director of CHED Professor Graham Webb development of the certificate is part of the global trend towards formal recognition and professionalisation of university teaching.

"The course is an exemplar of flexible learning utilising face-to-face interaction, custom designed software (called InterLearn), on-line discussion groups and print support material, a prime aim of the course being to encourage interaction among participants," he said.

Congratulating CHED on achieving accreditation, vice-chancellor Professor David Robinson said that this was a significant achievement, and precisely the kind of development which would establish Monash rapidly as a major global institution.

The Graduate Certificate in Higher Education is being taken by staff across all Monash faculties and campuses, including Monash Malaysia. Those completing the course will now receive international recognition as accredited university teachers.

The first module of the Graduate Certificate comprises a series of workshops focusing on introducing important and common elements of university teaching. These workshops are currently being conducted for approximately 70 staff from Monash campuses in Victoria and late last year 45 staff at Monash Malaysia completed the workshops.

Further information on the Graduate Certificate in Higher Education, the Introduction to University Teaching Workshops and other services offered by CHED can be found at http://www.adm.monash.edu.au/ched

Mr Paul Sugden, lecturer in business law and taxation at the Gippsland campus, provides feedback during an 'Introduction to university teaching' workshop at Clayton campus last week.

Emergency scenarios replicate real life

Students from the Centre for Ambulance & Paramedic Studies at Peninsula campus are utilising local industry for their emergency training.

Last week, the officers undertook mass casualty trauma training at HMAS Cerberus at Crib point and BHP at Hastings.

The ambulance paramedics worked through two mock emergency scenarios at BHP - an explosion in an underground pipeline and a chemical spill - and another at HMAS Cerberus - a car accident involving a drunk driver hitting a group of sailors.

According to ambulance and paramedic studies senior lecturer Mr Mark Chilton, the scenario situations help bridge the gap between theory and practice for student officers.

"While a lot of scenarios are completed in a classroom environment, on-site opportunities allow us to add a sense of realism to the situation," he explained.

"Collaborating with local organisations such as BHP and HMAS Cerberus not only establishes good working relationships with industry, it also gives the paramedics the opportunity to test their own responses to an emergency situation."

Monash took over the training of the state's ambulance paramedics in December last year, and a new multi-purpose teaching facility has recently been completed at the Peninsula campus.

The centre has also established an Online First Aid Resource that can be accessed at http://firstaidoz.com.au/index3.html

- Julie Ryan

Items of interest from Council,
14 February 2000

1. Vice-chancellor's report

Development assistance projects

The vice-chancellor reported on three recent projects in which the university had successfully tendered and which would result in Monash skills and experience being made broadly available:

Indonesia Rural Health and Population Project - A$1.7 million dollar contract to deliver a fellowship program in the Master of Public Health Services Management to Indonesian Ministry of Health Officials in Australia.
Papua New Guinea - Bachelor of Nursing Conversion Degree - A$1.2 million dollar AusAID project to deliver the Bachelor of Nursing (Post Registration) by Distance Education to 40 nurses in eight locations in Papua New Guinea.
Azerbaijan Education Reform Project - Monash International, World Wide Project Management Services and King's College of London have been shortlisted to provide US$5.5 million in consultancy services to the Ministry of Education in Azerbaijan.

Gippsland campus

The vice-chancellor advised that following adoption of the report of the Gippsland Working Party by Council, a working group comprising Professor J. Anderson, Ms K. Spierings and Dr K. Macrae had been formed to assist deans and others with the implementation of academic and other recommendations contained in the report. The Vice-Chancellor's Group would take carriage of recommendations concerning the appointment of a pro vice-chancellor for the campus and the establishment of the Institute of Regional Studies and the Academic Forum. Further consideration to the recommendations would be given by the Committee of Deans at its next meeting on Tuesday, 22 February 2000. An update of developments would be provided to the 2 March 2000 meeting of the Gippsland Advisory Council.

Two issues for 2000

The vice-chancellor reported on two issues that were closely linked and would be under consideration by the university:

Governance: The vice-chancellor reported that this issue had arisen from consideration of the Global Development Framework and concerned managing Monash in light of the university's developments outside Australia. The Vice-Chancellor's Group had given consideration to clarifying the current position, and were currently in the process of identifying issues and would consequently be seeking to establish an appropriate framework to embrace Monash Malaysia, South Africa, King's College, London and any further developments. The vice-chancellor anticipated that by June specific proposals may be ready for consideration by Council.

Monash: The vice-chancellor noted that the administrative work of the university and the academic programs of the university are increasingly delivered on-line. During 2000, there would be further progress to deliver university services and activities electronically and the director, Information Technology, would focus on identifying the necessary systems. In this context, the vice-chancellor also commented on capitalising on the intellectual power of the Monash community, the intellectual property policy, and the capacity of the university to foster new initiatives such as the start-up of new companies and courseware and research initiatives.

2. Chancellor's business

The chancellor congratulated the university on the successful outcome of its preparations for Y2K. In particular, congratulations were extended to Professor Peter Darvall, to Mr Max Robinson and to all members of the Year 2000 Steering Committee and all staff involved across the university.

The chancellor spoke on the Council year ahead. He emphasised the need for continuity in managing the activities and projects that had already commenced including eMonash, the teaching and learning plan and the research management plan. The chancellor indicated that there was a need to be diligent in Council's oversight of ventures that contained an element of risk in a highly competitive environment. He urged Council members to continue to get to know the university and to fill out their knowledge of its diverse operations. He foreshadowed the holding of a strategy meeting of Council members in the second half of the year to discuss direction, governance and other issues. Members supported the holding of such a meeting.

3. Other business

Council approved that meeting 2/2000 scheduled for 20 March 2000 be held at the Parkville campus.
Council noted with acclamation Australia Day Honours awarded to key individuals associated with Monash and Monash Alumni.
Council approved that the membership of the Subcommittee for Student Equity and Access be extended to include the director of the Centre for Australian Indigenous Studies.
Council, subject to Academic Board agreement to the advertising and filling of the chair, approved the advertising and filling of a Chair of Jewish Civilisation, Faculty of Arts, and the establishment of the selection committee for an appointment to the position.
Council received and noted the Monash Unicomm Pty Ltd: Strategic Plan Towards 2002, and recorded its gratitude for the work of Mr Paul Ramler AM, deputy chancellor.
Council noted that separation from Monash Mt Eliza Graduate School of Business and Government Ltd has been agreed, subject to further approval at the Annual General Meeting of the School.
Council approved in principal the University and Private Practice Policy subject to clarification of a number of issues.

Letter from London

Monash's link with King's College London took a step forward with the opening in January of Monash University Centre London. We have already had our first students come by. A group from Art & Design, led by Dr Bronwyn Stocks, had a program of seminars that included visits to art galleries and museums. King's College principal Professor Arthur Lucas and I met the students and went with them to the Courtauld Gallery, next door to the College's Strand campus. It appeared to me that they were having a good as well as an educational time.

The Centre acts as an embassy. Among its functions is the promotion of links between Monash and King's staff. I have been able to do some of that already, finding out for Monash people their counterparts at King's who have similar scholarly interests, who they can then contact directly. Sometimes a promising link fails because of trivial problems in communication such as a mistaken email address or fax number. I straightened out a couple of these last week.

Several people have asked about accommodation in London. The agreement with King's covers cheap accommodation for students at times when King's College students are on vacation. The King's College Vacation Bureau has agreed to extend this to Monash staff. I have sent details of dates and rates to each Monash dean and to Dr Grant McBurnie. I must emphasise that Monash University Centre London is not a booking agency - you have to communicate directly with the King's College Vacation Bureau.

If you think I can help you (other than with accommodation), my email is Richard.White@kcl.ac.uk, fax +44 207 848 3702.

Richard White

Pro Vice-Chancellor, London

Rethinking Indonesia

Monash Asia Institute will next month present a conference on contemporary Indonesia titled 'Rethinking Indonesia'.

The conference will take place on 4 and 5 March at the Iwaki Auditorium, ABC Studios, Southbank Boulevard, Melbourne. It is being presented jointly with Melbourne, LaTrobe, Deakin, Swinburne and Victoria universities.

Further information and a registration form can be obtained from Ms Colleen Claudius on extn 55280.


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