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The launch last week of two world-class research and development facilities at Monash was a great day for BHP, for the university and for Victoria, according to the Minister for State and Regional Development, Mr John Brumby.
The BHP-Monash Maintenance Technology Institute and the BHP Institute of Railway Technology have been established to assist BHP and the broader industry to improve plant reliability and safety and undertake railway research and technology development activities.
The institutes will be located at Monash's Caulfield and Clayton campuses and will be staffed primarily by former BHP Research employees, supplemented by university researchers.
Introduced to distinguished guests at the launch by dean of Engineering Mr Mike Brisk, Mr Brumby said that even in the most knowledge-intensive economy, there was still a need for manufacturing and transport.
"No matter how much the service sector and e-commerce grows, the government has a strong commitment to establishing Victoria as the centre for manufacturing excellence," he said.
Managing director and CEO of BHP Mr Paul Anderson said the new commercially focused R&D program would focus on what would make the industry more competitive.
"The formation of the two institutes recognises growth opportunities in Australia and overseas that go beyond those being pursued by BHP," Mr Anderson said.
"Partnerships are occurring throughout the world, and the cooperation between industries and universities is one more step towards globalisation."
Addressing the group, vice-chancellor Professor David Robinson called the launch of the institutes "a quintessential Monash occasion".
"The joint venture with BHP reflects the three defining themes of Monash University's vision - innovation, engagement and internationalisation," he said.
"The institutes will be nodes of excellence in a network of excellence around the globe."
Head of Mechanical Engineering Professor Rhys Jones acknowledged the support of a number of key people in establishing the institutes, including deputy vice-chancellor Professor Peter Darvall, Maintenance Technology director Mr John Rucinski and Railway Technology director Mr Graham Tew.
"We need to keep the driving force behind this initiative," Professor Jones said. "It can turn into something beyond our dreams."
Celebrating a great day for BHP, Monash and Victoria were, from left, Mr Paul Anderson, Professor Rhys Jones and Mr John Brumby.
Business Systems in tune with sponsorshipThe School of Business Systems has this year donned black tie and tails to sponsor a series of music concerts.
The school is supporting the Asian Youth Orchestra with $10,000 in sponsorship for a family concert to be held on 21 August at the Melbourne Concert Hall. The Asian Youth Orchestra is a highly talented group of musicians who come from all over Asia. The orchestra tours the world each year and this year is visiting Australia. According to School of Business Systems head Professor Rob Willis, the school's sponsorship of music concerts demonstrates its engagement with the wider community. "It is important for the school to be involved with the arts and with other departments and faculties within the university," he said. "Our successful degree programs allow us to support such worthwhile projects as the Asian Youth Orchestra and help to showcase their talents to a wider audience." Other sponsored concerts included the New Monash Orchestra and Mr Winfried Rademacher in May, and Viva Voce, Monash Women's Choir and the New Monash Orchestra with Yuri Rozum (Concerto) to be held on 14 and 20 October as part of the Making Music Series at Monash. "Sponsorship of this year's concerts forms part of the school's wider marketing strategy," Professor Willis said. "It is also a way of thanking our own loyal sponsors for taking part in the ground-breaking Cooperative Education Program and Industry-based Learning program since it started 11 years ago." - Deborah Sippitts |
The Faculty of Science staff behind the winning entry in the 'Monash: Making a difference' photo competition were recently presented with their prize of a digital camera.
The prize-winning picture captured children spellbound at the university's Giardini Planetarium.
For details of the 2001 competition, which is coordinated by the University Marketing Office of Public Affairs, email monashmag@adm.monash.edu.au
At the ceremony were, rear from left: photographer Mr Steve Morton, Public Affairs executive director Mr Stephen Dee, photographer Mr Adrian Dyer; second row: Natasha Barnes, Physics lecturer Ms Susan Feteris, Stephanie Jacobs; front row: Hugh, Andrew and Tim Morton and Christopher Jacobs.
The Monash University Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities (MUACPD) has recently commenced a staff awareness project which will involve a series of workshops.
The workshops will focus on accommodating and supporting students with disabilities and will be available for both academic and general staff.
Monash is committed to ensuring that its students with disabilities are able to participate as fully and independently as possible in its educational activities.
Under the Disability Discrimination Act (1992), the university has a responsibility to meet the specific requirements of students with a disability or long-term medical condition.
Workshops will provide an introduction to issues relating to disability and will have a practical focus on developing staff skills and increasing confidence in working with students with disabilities.
Topics will include the definition of a disability, attitudes and stereotypes surrounding disability, statistics of Monash students with disabilities, the Disability Discrimination Act and its effect on work practices in higher education, policies, plans and programs available at Monash, and where staff can get support and advice.
Workshops can be designed to meet the specific needs of particular staff groups and will include typical scenarios encountered in the university workplace.
For further information about the project or to book a session, contact Ms Barbara Dalton, project officer, Disability Liaison Office, on extn 55704.
Malaysia hosts leading ideas forumThe first in a series of monthly lectures titled 'The Monash Malaysia leading ideas forum' was held in early June at the Malaysia campus, with Professor John Rosenberg speaking on 'IT incubators: An approach to successful start-ups'. The series, which aims to strengthen campus-alumni networks and showcase the quality of Monash teaching and research, is a joint initiative of the Alumni Office and Monash University Malaysia. For further information, contact Michael.Simmonds@adm.monash.edu.au or call extn 55007.
Among the 80 alumni attending the forum were, from left, Mr Rajesh Kumar and Ms Seah Min Wai, seen here with Monash Malaysia staff member Ms Janice Chow |
Staff at the Peninsula campus and in the Faculty of Education were recently saddened to learn of the sudden and tragic death of a highly esteemed work colleague, Heather Jacobs.
Heather passed away on the 12 June at Kyneton.
She was well known to a large number of staff and students through her work in the Professional Development Institute for many years, and more recently in Campus Administration. She was a loyal and trusted colleague as well as a highly efficient administrator. More importantly, she was a friend to many in the university and therefore her loss is more keenly felt.
Heather will be remembered as someone involved in fundraising for various charitable causes, especially the Anti-Cancer Council for which she was organising friends and colleagues to participate in a 24-hour relay in November.
She had a sense of fun and adventure also. She was especially looking forward to an extensive tour of the outback in her newly acquired camper trailer with her partner Lindsay. With three grown children and two beautiful grandchildren, who were born before Christmas, she had much to live for.
In our grief we mourn her passing, but we will always remember her with great fondness.
Michael Kupsch
Faculty of Education
Challenges in the modern workplaceFederal Minister for Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business Mr Peter Reith was in Gippsland last month to present the Australian Institute of Management (Gippsland Branch) and the Faculty of Business and Economics Annual Joint Management Lecture. Speaking on 'The challenges for managers in the modern workplace', Mr Reith provided a thought-provoking and often controversial address, according to the head of the Faculty of Business and Economics, Gippsland, Mr Len Pullin. "By using the Employment Relations Act and proposed employment legislation as a framework and foundation of the presentation, Mr Reith threw out challenges not only to managers, but also to the Federal and State Opposition parties and to the trade union movement in general," Mr Pullin said. While at the Gippsland campus, Mr Reith also attended a luncheon with more than 70 senior executives and managers from the region.
Pictured with Mr Reith (third from right) are, from left: Federal Member for Gippsland Mr Peter McGauran; president of AIM Gippsland Mr Ray Blaney; campus director for Monash Gippsland Mr Bob Burnet; head of the Faculty of Business and Economics, Gippsland, Mr Len Pullin; and regional coordinator of AIM, Gippsland, Mr Eric Thorne. |
Monash staff and students are invited to apply for grants of up to $25,000 from the Apple University Development Fund (AUDF).
The grants have become available through the university's association with the Apple University Consortium.
Information on the three categories of grants and advice on how to prepare applications is available at http://auc.uow.edu.au/ audf/audf00/ audf2000.html
For assistance with the application process or for further inquires, email david.yammouni@education.monash.edu.au or call extn 59058. Applications close on 14 July.
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