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The medieval notion of the 'travelling scholar' may be revived electronically in the future, according to vice-chancellor of the University of New South Wales and chair of the Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee Professor John Niland (pictured below).
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With loose groupings of scholars forming and associating with different universities and entities across the world, virtual learning and multi-badged qualifications are likely to be among the suite of options available to students.
Speaking at a breakfast session for Monash staff last week hosted by Professor David Robinson, Professor Niland observed that we may be at the end of 1000 years of the great tradition of universities as we know them.
"It's impossible to talk about the current higher education environment without mentioning the impact of globalisation. We just don't have the option of standing by and waiting to see what this is going to do to us," he said.
Professor Niland explained that with globalisation driving costs down, universities had to front foot student recruitment and promotion and start learning how to build lifelong relationships with their potential clients.
"Although there is likely to be continued demand for campus-based learning, over a lifetime people are likely to want a mix of different experiences to suit their work and life commitments anywhere in the world."
Describing the challenges for universities in this environment, Professor Niland said that universities need to develop their reputations as capital if they are going to secure a future in the changing higher education market.
"Universities are starting to draw distinctions among one another. Some will grow and prosper, and others may well languish. It's a system on the move, and some say nudging into turmoil."
In all the shifting changes, the AVCC was having to acknowledge this differentiation of universities in Australia, Professor Niland said.
"The big challenge in the last year has been to hold the AVCC to a sufficiently common cause so that it can make the mental adjustment about what it is and what it does but still have a future for the organisation.
"Australia is very well served by having something like the AVCC which can represent the interests of universities at a national and international level."
For individual universities, Professor Niland said that the way they pick their alliances and make smart choices with resources will determine whether their reputational capital grows or falls away in the space of 10 or 20 years.
"The single most attractive thing about the world in which we live is that the current speed of discovery and transmission of knowledge means that for the first time in history, universities are able to build that capital within the timeframe of their own planning cycles."
Top teachers rewardedTwo academics from the Law faculty, lecturer Ms Melissa de Zwart and senior lecturer Dr Bernadette McSherry, are this year's winners of the Vice-Chancellor's Awards for Distinguished Teaching, based on nominations by students and staff colleagues. Along with Associate Professor Graham Jenkin from Physiology, who won the award for Postgraduate Supervision, they will each receive a $5000 grant, a commemorative medal and a permanent citation in the University Calendar. Meeting last week with Professor David Robinson, the three award winners were quick to point out that they were not alone in their commitment to teaching. "We are flag bearers for many excellent teachers at Monash," they said. Congratulating Ms de Zwart, Dr McSherry and Dr Jenkin, Professor Robinson said the vice-chancellor's awards particularly recognised efforts that enhanced and promoted student learning. "All good universities recognise the importance of teaching quality to their reputation internationally," he said. "These awards provide an opportunity to acknowledge the outstanding teaching and postgraduate supervision by some of our best academic staff." Further information on the Vice-Chancellor's Awards for Teaching and Postgraduate Supervision is at www.adm.monash.edu.au/ched/
The Vice-Chancellor's Distinguished Teaching Award winners for 1999 are, from left, Associate Professor Graham Jenkin, Ms Melissa de Zwart and Dr Bernadette McSherry. |
Monash Malaysia recently hosted the two-day International Information Security Workshop (ISW '99) showcasing the very latest in multimedia, electronic commerce and network security.
Twenty-five internationally renowned experts from North America, Europe and the Asia Pacific region shared their latest research results at the workshop, which focused on four main areas: multimedia watermarking, electronic cash, secure software components and mobile agents and protection of digital intellectual property.
Co-chair of the program committee from Monash Malaysia Professor Yuliang Zheng said the workshop provided an opportunity for participants to share their experience in applying security technology to solve real security problems arising in e-commerce on an international scale.
"It is our belief that the ISW '99 workshop will promote awareness of the importance of data security in e-commerce and stimulate research in the area, both by academics and industrial experts in Malaysia and the Asia-Pacific region," Professor Zheng said.
The conference host and co-chair of the general organising committee, Professor Robin Pollard, said the international conference was not only a first for Malaysia, but also an important milestone in the development of the Monash campus at Bandar Sunway.
"A real campus provides a focus for academic and industry professionals working at the forefront of human knowledge," he said.
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At the official opening celebrations for the Faculty of Engineering's building 72 and Sir Alexander Stewart conference facility on the Clayton campus are, from left, the chancellor, Mr Jerry Ellis, and relatives of Sir Alexander Stewart's, Ms Alexandra Stewart, Ms Judith Kerr, Ms Bronwyn Stewart, Mr Malcolm Stewart, with vice-chancellor Professor David Robinson.
The chancellor opened the new building, while Mr Malcolm Stewart, grandson of Sir Alexander Stewart, opened the conference facility. Funds from a trust set up by Sir Alexander Stewart were used to assist in the development of the new facility.
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The old adage that as one door closes another opens is certainly true for Victoria's ambulance paramedics.
On Monday 29 November, the first group of ambulance paramedics embarked on a new stage of industry training at the Centre for Ambulance and Paramedic Studies (MUCAPS) based at Monash's Peninsula campus.
The premises of the previous training body, the Ambulance Officers' Training Centre, (AOTC), in Queens Road, Melbourne, closed its doors for the last time on 30 November after 30 years, marking the end of an era.
While Monash has been responsible for training the state's ambulance paramedics since July 1998, the university contracted the AOTC to continue to conduct officer training during this period.
However, with the new premises at the Peninsula campus soon to be completed and most of the staff already established at the campus, Monash officially takes over the full responsibility of officer education and training from the beginning of December.
Inaugural director of MUCAPS Associate Professor Frank Archer says the move to the university environment recognises the increasing importance ambulance paramedics have in the health industry.
"Before 1961, ambulance personnel were only required to have the equivalent of a St John First Aid certificate," Associate Professor Archer explained.
"The first school in Australia dedicated to training ambulance officers was set up at the Geelong hospital in 1961. The first director of training was appointed in 1963 and the school was moved to Malvern, where a career structure began to evolve with promotion requiring completion of course work and assessment."
Associate Professor Archer said the establishment of the centre at Monash was a further transitional step for ambulance paramedic training and one that recognised the ongoing need for highly trained officers in the field.
A history of ambulance officer training was launched at a farewell function for the AOTC on Saturday 27 November.
- Julie Ryan
Ambulance paramedics enjoy a break on their first day at the Peninsula campus.
New alumni business managerThe new business manager of the Monash Alumni Association, Ms Jane Harris, started on 6 December. Located in Public Affairs, Ms Harris has experience which includes executive officer responsibilities to the Alumni Association of the University of South Australia, management of alumni activities and fundraising for the Faculty of Music at the University of Melbourne. She has developed an extensive network of business relationships in both university alumni and performing arts organisations. |
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