|
|
By internationalising the curriculum, Australian universities will be well placed in the emerging global higher education system, according to Monash academic Dr Simon Marginson.
Speaking at the Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee's Leadership Program in Geelong last week, Dr Marginson, who is head of the Monash Centre for International Education, said the limits of the old curriculum were being reached pedagogically.
According to Dr Marginson, Australia's strong multicultural base gives its universities the capacity to join carefully selected international partners in developing programs which are attractive in the global market.
"We need to produce something genuinely new or better in university education, something that students and universities from other countries and global companies cannot already obtain from elsewhere," he said.
"The orthodox strategy of turning Australian universities into American universities could not lead to front-rank global institutions here."Instead of taking this approach, Dr Marginson said, it was important for Australian universities to compete on product.
|
Professor Stuart Cunningham (left) with Ms Susan Scott and Dr Simon Marginson at the AVCC Leadership Program held in Geelong last week. Photo by Gina Phillips. |
"It's about defining our competitive advantages and identifying the potential national strength in Australian universities. We need vigorous investment in those areas by government and universities, and a shared global strategy in key areas," he said.
Another keynote speaker at the AVCC program, Professor Stuart Cunningham, head of media and journalism at QUT, addressed what he called the extravagant claims of "the imminent threat of high-powered organisations on higher education".
He said that based on a study conducted with colleagues, there was no evidence for what he described as a "death star" mentality, where the provision of global education by a range of providers could be blitzed by an alliance, say, of Disney and MIT.
"In our international study with 150 leading educational organisations and communications carriers in 10 countries, we found a real conflict of interest between the two groups," he said. "Education is different from entertainment and infotainment."
According to Professor Cunningham, the study found that for the big media and communications players, the focus was on carriage, not content. He said they were interested in training rather than education. "It's all just in time, just down the corridor and just enough."
A further study on the business of borderless education identified corporate universities as being much more significant rivals for traditional universities.
"The total budget of the 1600 corporate universities in the US is already around $52 billion," he said. "We have to ask ourselves why large companies are finding that their needs are not met within the current higher education sector."
In thanking the two keynote speakers for their contributions to the leadership program, the director of AVCC's Staff Development and Training Program, Ms Susan Scott, said the impact of globalisation and information technology was a key issue for Australian universities.
"It marks the changing role of the university in the life of the nation," she said.
Planning to lead the wayThe need to keep planning in perspective was a key message from deputy vice-chancellor Professor Alan Lindsay in his recent address to 40 managers at Monash. Launching a new leadership and management development program, Professor Lindsay said planning was "an important guide for action, but must not become too ritualistic, or too rigid to allow later modification". "Our planning process is really about clarifying what the choices might be if things happen or don't happen," he said. "We should always be sceptical about planning - it can become a substitute for action. Planning isn't about putting things on paper. It's about deciding what to do and then doing it." He said that the next iteration of Leading the Way would be much more focused and provide a strategic perspective on the next 20 years. The new, shorter plan would be underpinned by a number of other functional and operational plans to provide the basis for action in the shorter term. "This balance between the long-term and the short-term that was reflected in our strategic and operational plans also applies to leadership and management. Whereas the leadership function is concerned with longer-term vision and values, the management function focuses more on the short-term and pragmatic," Professor Lindsay said. Explaining the current planning process to the group, Professor Lindsay said many staff from across the university had contributed to this year's iteration of Leading the Way. There had been a series of consultations with groups of staff since February, with input provided through the relevant committees. Monash: Leading the Way is now in its final stages. The draft version published on the web for staff comment has now been considered by the Committee of Deans. The plan will go back to the Vice-Chancellor's Group, the Academic Board, the Resources and Finance Committee and the Corporate Planning Committee before being presented to Council in late June. |
'Raise a cuppa for cancer' was the theme last Thursday for hundreds of Monash staff and students who joined in Australia's Biggest Morning Tea to raise money for the Anti-Cancer Council of Victoria.
At Caulfield, the Accounting and Finance department organised more than a hundred staff to attend its annual Morning Tea, which has become something of a tradition for the Faculty of Business and Economics and its clients.
Peninsula campus hosted its second Morning Tea, as an initiative of Community Services. "We are used to dealing with people affected by cancer every day," said the event's organiser, nurse Sheryll Coulson. "But this event enables us to raise awareness of cancer throughout the campus community, as well as promote the services we offer."
The Morning Tea organised for Gippsland by Campus Support Services catering staff was a first for the campus, so it was decided to make it an all-day event to make up for previous years.
At Clayton campus, Client Services and Systems and the Equal Opportunity Unit jointly held a morning tea for Personnel Services staff, which enabled the diverse branches within the division to get together for a worthy cause.
Introducing MonashNew Monash staff from all campuses and affiliated hospitals are invited to a half-day orientation program designed to introduce them to the university. The program, 'Introducing Monash', will feature several speakers on key issues for the university, as well as a discussion of the various services and facilities available. The session will conclude with a guided tour of the Clayton campus. The program will take place on Thursday 17 June at the Staff Development and Communications Branch, 700 Blackburn Road, Clayton. Morning tea will be provided and the session is free. Interested participants should contact Ms Vicki Mihalakopoulos for a registration form on extn 56800. Participative decision-making and providing staff with opportunities to learn new skills were also part of what makes a good manager. |
|
Energy conferencePlanning is proceeding for an International Power and Energy Conference to be held at Gippsland in late November. Conference organiser Dr Mustafa Isreb, from the Department of Civil Engineering, says there has been strong interest and sponsorship from local, national and international power and energy organisations. He estimates that more than 250 delegates from Australia and around the world will attend the conference. For further information, contact Dr Isreb on extn 26481. |
The questions of what makes a good leader and manager were put to staff attending a recent university development and training program.
Reflecting on their own operating styles and identifying learning needs, participants exchanged ideas about what leadership and management meant to them. The two concepts were seen not as separate and mutually exclusive, but rather as complementary and having a definite synergy.
Participants agreed that exercising leadership is possible whether or not staff are in a management position.
The group listed several features they believed necessary for effective leadership. These included:
Other important characteristics highlighted by the group were a willingness to take risks, utilise networks and turn around "dead' situations. Determination, persistence and optimism were also considered essential traits.
To be an effective manager, it was necessary to lead by example and be an effective communicator, according to participants.
Managers also needed to provide resources, set attainable goals, delegate effectively, be approachable and flexible and have a genuine respect for staff.
Family
friendlyA holiday program for children aged five to 12 years will run from Monday 28 June to Friday 9 July at Clayton campus.
The program offers excellent on-campus facilities, and activities include swimming, roller blading, cooking, art and craft, pottery, excursions and 'star-gazing' in the Physics laboratory.
Childcare Assistance and Childcare Rebate are available and early bookings are essential. For enrolments, call Family Advisory Services on extn 53156.
Gippsland campus will continue its usual childcare program over the vacation period for children up to eight years. For further information, contact Sheila Mouly or Stella Aubrey on extn 26227.
 |
Contact
|
Return to
|
| Copyright © Monash University - All rights reserved - Disclaimer |
Maintained by publishing@adm
|
|
