Education Matters 2010

1 September 2010

The third annual celebration of outstanding learning, teaching and research-led education is about to be launched.

Education Matters will run from next Monday 6 September through to Friday 17 September, 2010.

This year's program centres around the theme of visionary education, with 20 events planned over two weeks on every Monash campus in Australia.

One of the highlights of the ten days will be the public event: 'Visionary Education: Ethics, Sustainability and Inspiration' with the keynote address by Professor Julian Savulescu, Uehiro Chair in Practical Ethics at the University of Oxford and Monash alumnus. Julian's address will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Professor John Thwaites, Chairman, Monash Sustainability Institute and Chair, ClimateWorks Australia, Dr Leslie Cannold, Senior Lecturer, Monash Institute of Health Services Research, Professor Geoffrey Setswe, Inaugural Head, School of Health Sciences, Monash South Africa, and Chris Varney, National Co-Director of Vision Generation (VGen) and Australian Youth Representative to the United Nations 2009.

The event will be held on Wednesday 15 September, 6.30 pm for 7 pm start at BMW Edge at Federation Square, Cnr Swanston and Flinders Streets. Bookings are essential.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) Professor Adam Shoemaker said, "The Education Matters program for 2010 is 10 days of celebration, which recognises our extraordinary strengths and our outstanding achievements in education."

"I encourage everyone to read the program, which offers a wide range of events, both informative and entertaining. There is something of interest for everyone."

Events next week will feature Community of Practice at the Parkville Campus on Tuesday 7 September and Peer Assisted Learning at the Peninsula Campus on Thursday 9 September.

The Official Opening of Education Matters 2010 will be a special luncheon program on Monday 13 September from 11 am - 2 pm in Building H, Exhibition Space H1.16, at the Caulfield campus. Dr Susan Maushart, columnist for the Weekend Australian Magazine, author and social commentator, will deliver a presentation on The Sound of One Hand Doing Howmework: The Mystique of the Digital Native. The Vice-Chancellor will present this year's Awards for Teaching Excellence and Excellence in Honours Supervision.

An exhibition of African art, Eiphany and Periphery, will be auctioned later in the evening at 6 - 8 pm on Monday 13 September in Building H, Exhibition Space H1.16, at the Caulfield campus. Works on display will include those by MUFESA scholar Xolani Mtshizana, as well as local artists from around South Africa.

Also on the program, The Great Alumni, Students and Friends Debate 2010 will explore the topic 'The world has too many visionaries and not enough pragmatists'. This verbal extravaganza will feature Professor Julian Savulescu, Dr Susan Maushart, Anna Burke MP, Dean of the Faculty of Law Professor Arie Freiberg, internationally renowned student debating champions Victor Finkel and Fiona Prowse.

The event will be held in the Clarendon Ballroom, The Langham Melbourne, Southbank on Tuesday 14 September at a 6.30 pm arrival for a 7 pm start.

For all event information and registration visit the Education Matters website.