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Deputy chancellor Dr Geoffrey Knights (pictured) is retiring from Monash Council after 25 years of service.
Throughout that time, he has contributed to numerous committees and played significant roles in restructures and reviews that have helped shape the future of the university.
Dr Knights came to Melbourne from the UK, where he had completed a PhD at Cambridge and worked as an engineer.
In 1962, he took up an appointment as managing director of the Australian operations of Chartwell Industries Ltd, located in Forster Road and close to the "muddy patch of ground" that was then developing into Monash University.
He later went on to be director of Velcro (NZ), Velcro Australia and MTM Pty Ltd.
In 1976, Dr Knights' experience of business and research in engineering led to his election to Monash Council as a representative for the Faculty of Engineering. Ten years ago he became deputy chancellor of the university.
Acknowledging Dr Knights' support and contribution to Monash, chancellor Mr Jerry Ellis said Dr Knights had long experience as well as dedication.
"That has made my own introduction to the university very much easier," Mr Ellis said
He said Dr Knights' interest in engineering and remote location issues at Monash had added great value to the university.
"Most recently, this included his review of the Gippsland campus and also his contribution to Green Chemistry and its successful bid for funding this year," he said.
Speaking about his retirement from Monash, Dr Knights said he felt it was time other people had the chance to have greater input into the university's future.
"The changes I have seen over the past 25 years have been all to the benefit of broadening the availability of tertiary education," he said.
"The university is certainly poised now for another period of great development."
Monash Council will farewell Dr Knights at a function next week. He will be succeeded by Dr June Hearn, who will serve as deputy chancellor with Mr Paul Ramler.
Staff from the Law faculty and the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law recently met with delegates from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS).
The delegates met with Law dean Professor Stephen Parker, Castan Centre director Professor David Kinley, and lecturer Mr Mark Davison to discuss issues relating to human rights conventions and treaties in Australia.
Professor Kinley said making contact with such a highly respected centre was important for the new Castan Centre for Human Rights Law, as the groundwork for further collaboration had now been laid.
Members of the Chinese delegation included Mr Liu Nanlai, Ms Zhu Xiaoqing and Ms Huang Lie from the academy's Institute of Law, and Mr Sun Yu from its Foreign Affairs Bureau.
The visit was part of a study trip to Australia hosted by China's Department of Foreign Affairs.
CASS plays an important role in informing Chinese Government policy-making across a broad range of social science issues, and its Law Institute is often asked to comment on draft legislation under consideration by the National People's Congress.
After a morning spent enjoying Camp Monash's academic program, these Year 11 students take time to check out the university's sporting facilities. About 250 students from 80 schools took part in the three-day residential camp last week. The Prospective Students Office organised the event, which involved staff and students across the Monash campuses.
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| Dr Francesco Crusca in the Integrated Automation Laboratory. |
The Consul-General of the Federal Republic of Germany, Mr Hans-Michael Schwandt, last week visited the Faculty of Engineering for the inauguration of the new Integrated Automation Laboratory.
Laboratory director and senior engineering lecturer Dr Francesco Crusca said the visit involved the official launch of the new laboratory, which was a joint venture between Monash and electrical engineering and electronics company Siemens Ltd.
The venture offers Monash students the chance to learn about the latest automation technology and will also function as a Centre of Competence to develop software tools for Australian industry.
The Monash-Siemens alliance will continue to focus on developing software/process tools and specialised training modules for the requirements and benefits of the Australian industry.
A three-day intensive workshop for academic staff titled 'Introduction to university teaching' will be held from 12 to 14 December.
The Higher Education Development Unit (formerly CHED) of CeLTS is running the workshop at Clayton campus.
For more information go to www.adm.monash.edu.au/ched/Workshops___Forums/J_J_Programs/intro_to_university_teaching.html
For new staff unable to attend, the workshop will run again at Clayton campus, as well as at Monash Malaysia, in mid-February 2001.
Academic staff are also reminded that the internationally accredited Graduate Certificate in Higher Education is now accepting enrolments for the third intake.
The closing date for first-round applications for 2001 is 8 December 2000. Visit the course website at www.adm.monash.edu.au/ched/courses/GCHE/gcheintro.html
Monash staff and students can explore new media possibilities for learning and teaching through a website from CeLTS.
Features include website searching, introductory audio grabs, password protection, and links to discussion groups via the My.Monash portal.
Further details are available at www.celts.monash.edu.au/website or by contacting Mr Matthew Griffiths on extn 26865.
CeLTS helps teaching staff to access and use a range of media to facilitate their students' learning. For further information, connect to www.celts.monash.edu.au/html/learning_materials_general_inf.html
How can you be involved in the London Centre of Monash University?
Why not begin by talking to the centre's director, Professor Richard White, when he is next in Australia? Professor White has invited staff to make appointments with him between 23 January and 10 February by contacting Mr Matt Anderson on extn 59204, or email matthew.anderson@adm.monash.edu.au
You could discuss running a short course for European students, explore scheduling an international conference at King's College London, suggest a high-profile speaker connected with Monash who you know would attract an audience there, or raise your ideas for other academic activities.
The Monash centre is located at King's in the heart of the London CBD. By establishing this Centre, together with the new Monash Centre in Prato, Italy, the university has been able to strengthen its European presence and provide greater opportunities for teaching and research.
Further information about how staff can be involved can be found at www.monash.edu.au/staff/london and www.monash.edu.au/staff/prato
Monash masters student in tapestry Ms Cresside Collette has completed the first stage of a project to celebrate Australia's Federation.
Commissioned by the City of Stonnington, the work is a 1.5-metre by 2.4-metre tapestry representing a retrospective look at Stonnington through the eyes of students from seven schools within the municipality.
The project was supported by Chadstone Shopping Centre, owned by the Gandel Group.
Gandel group chairman Mr John Gandel and Stonnington mayor Mr Claude Ullin cut the tapestry off the loom in a special ceremony at the shopping centre last week.
Ms Collette said the tapestry, which will be hung in the Malvern Town Hall, was woven from artwork submitted by primary and secondary school students around the theme of parks, gardens, leisure and recreation in the area.
She said the next stage of the project would be to weave a second tapestry highlighting major buildings in and around Stonnington.
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