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The very successful collaboration between Monash University and the CSIRO was celebrated and renewed last week by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to continue development of the common purposes of the two organisations.
Welcoming CSIRO's chief executive officer Dr Colin Adam and CSIRO scientists to Monash, vice-chancellor Professor David Robinson said the collaboration had a past, a present and a future.
"Scientific collaboration between the two organisations grew from the very beginning and now is quite extensive," he said.
"Not only do we have all the local activity, as represented by CSIRO and Monash personnel here tonight, but also partnerships in national enterprises."
Professor Robinson said that locally, the divisions of CSIRO had worked with Monash academics from the faculties of Engineering, Science, Medicine and Pharmacy.
"We have enjoyed inter-library collaboration and successful joint bids for expensive scientific equipment."
Of particular note was the collaboration between the Pharmacy College and the CSIRO in the development of the Relenza flu treatment drug, he said.
"Nationally, we have collaborated in some dozen CRCs in manufacturing technology, information and communication technology, mining and energy, agriculture and rural-based manufacturing, environment, and medical science and technology."
Speaking about the future, Professor Robinson said there was the prospect of building on these foundations for "the greatest collaboration of them all".
"A team of senior Monash and CSIRO staff, convened by Professor Peter Darvall, is building a case for the possible siting, in our research precinct, of an Australian Synchrotron," he said.
"That indeed would be the culmination of the partnership which began here 40 years ago."
Addressing the group, Dr Adam said he was speaking to all CSIRO staff about major external issues he had recently discussed with government ministers.
He said the restructuring of Australian industry and company takeovers meant that industries were becoming part of multinationals with world-wide relationships.
"There's a completely new game out there involving rapidly growing new companies," he said.
"In the international investment community, there's a huge amount of capital looking for homes."
Dr Adam contrasted this with the availability of funding from the Australian Government, which he said had no great appetite for investing in science and technology.
"Our challenge is to get one relatively simple story together that is so compelling, the Prime Minister will know that by giving us two billion dollars, he's getting a bargain."
Discussing issues of common interest at the signing of the MOU were, from left, deputy vice-chancellor (Research and Development) Professor Peter Darvall, chief executive officer of CSIRO Dr Colin Adam and deputy vice-chancellor (Resources) Ms Alison Crook.
Changing direction after 900 years
For the third year running, the Melbourne- Monash collaboration has included leadership and management development for general staff managers from both universities. Meeting at Geelong recently, the combined group of 20, with facilitators Ms Sue Brown from Monash and Melbourne's Ms Orania Tokatlidis, took part in the three-day residential component of the full six-month program. Keynote speakers this year were Monash vice-chancellor Professor David Robinson and University of Melbourne vice-chancellor Professor Alan Gilbert. Doing a 'double act' on current higher education and leadership issues, the two vice-chancellors compared the broad strategies of their universities. Professor Gilbert pointed out that Monash and Melbourne had many similarities, with strengths in their size, vision and sense of urgency rather than complacency. "Universities in Australia are gravely under-resourced and, being geo-politically marginal in world terms, are not on people's 'mental maps'," he said. But both he and Professor Robinson agreed that despite these realities, there were enormous opportunities. "With the advance of new technologies and the rapid expansion of online education, it is not an option for a university to have no global strategy," Professor Robinson said. Professor Gilbert said that although Melbourne and Monash were currently pursuing different global strategies, both would work, and there would be a convergence of these broad strategies over time. "In a mass higher education market, there are a number of ways that universities can operate," he said. "Universities have enjoyed a monopoly for their first 900 years, but competition is now enormous. Knowledge is the driver of wealth and status rather than realty or finance, and intellectual property has become the most valuable property." Addressing the question of leadership, the vice-chancellors said leaders must have a sense of purpose, invest in the future, make decisions based on clear priorities and continue to communicate constantly and widely throughout their organisations. "However much you think you are communicating, it's not enough," they said. |
Community consultation on Victoria's first education precinct in Gippsland is now in full swing after the release of a discussion paper by the parliamentary secretary of the Department of Education, Employment and Training, Mr Theo Theophanous.
Speaking at Traralgon on 7 June about the $10.5 million initiative, Mr Theophanous said the precinct, to be located at Monash University Gippsland in Churchill, marked a new direction and a new vision for Central Gippsland.
"The precinct will work towards reducing the region's high level of unemployment and low school retention rates, while encouraging the development of new skills, through the integration of local education, training, employment and industry sectors," Mr Theophanous said.
Mr Theophanous said several models had been developed for the precinct following extensive consultation between the State Government, local education and training providers, industry and local government.
Latrobe City mayor Tony Hanning will chair the Working Party Consultative Committee to give the local community the opportunity to comment on the broad-based model preferred by education providers in the Latrobe Valley, which includes a major role for Monash University's Gippsland campus.
The closing date for submissions has been extended to 14 September.
At the release of the discussion paper on an education precinct for Gippsland were, from left, Monash Gippsland campus director Mr Bob Burnet, Traralgon Secondary College principal Ms Val Friend, Lowanna College (Moe) principal Mr Chris Corcoran and DEET parliamentary secretary Mr Theo Theophanous. Photo courtesy of the Latrobe Valley Express.
Following a successful conference on the theme of life stories and personal narratives in 1998, the School of Historical Studies has organised a second inter-disciplinary conference to be held at the Bayview Conference Centre from 14 to 16 July.
The conference will include papers from people working in literature, psychology, philosophy and anthropology, as well as from historians and professional writers. It will be of interest to people reading and writing biographies and to those working in academic disciplines.
The conference will begin with a panel discussion on stolen generation narratives and will include sessions on life stories and national histories; death, mourning and narratives of loss; self and other in the life stories; and subjectivity, sexuality and identity.
The keynote speakers will be Drusilla Modjeska, Moria Gatens and Stephen Garton, with other speakers including Peter Read, Robert Manne, Graeme Davison, Maria Pallott-Chiarolli and Alison Ravenscroft.
The full program and registration forms are on the conference web page at www.monash edu.au/oce/lifestories/program.htm
For further information, email Barbara.Caine@arts.monash.edu.au
Items
of Interest from Council,
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New Monash staff from all campuses and affiliated hospitals are invited to attend the next 'Introducing Monash' morning at 9 am on Friday 14 July at the Staff Development Unit, 700 Blackburn Road, Clayton.
This half-day orientation program, offered at regular intervals throughout the year, is designed to give an official welcome to new staff and to assist their effective induction by providing an introduction to the university from a number of perspectives.
Presenters, including senior managers, will speak on a wide range of topics from the university's strategic plan, Leading the Way: Monash 2020, to the current services and facilities available to staff and students.
During the 'Meet the Monash People' segment and at morning tea, there will be the opportunity to put names to faces and to start developing your own Monash network.
To register, contact Ms Vicki Mihalakopoulos on extn 56800. Application forms are also available on the web at www.monash.edu.au/personnel/sdu/
An opportunity exists for a faculty-based employee to work as a key team member on an activity-based costing project.
The ideal candidate is likely to be currently at HEW 7 or above, have good numeracy and communication skills and an excellent understanding of university activities. This represents a unique opportunity for professional development. An immediate start is preferred.
Contact Reynold.Dias@adm.monash.edu.au for further information.
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