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Stephen Parker revisits student life

31 August 2005

Senior deputy vice-chancellor Professor Stephen Parker put aside his normal duties for an afternoon last week to experience student life at Monash's Caulfield campus.

Professor Parker chats with his guide, Mr Andy Poon.

His schedule reflected a normal afternoon in a student's week and gave Professor Parker an opportunity to meet Caulfield student representatives.

He started his undergraduate experience by meeting his student host, Monash University Student Union Caulfield vice-president Mr Andy Poon, who took him on a walking tour of the Caulfield campus.

Professor Parker then met students from around the campus for an exchange of views on the student experience at Caulfield.

After that, it was off to a lecture on marketing situation analysis.

Professor Parker said although some aspects of his experience brought back memories there were also some important differences, including the need for many students to undertake paid work and the level of debt incurred while a student.

During the exercise, Professor Parker identified areas for improvement that he said may not otherwise have come to the attention of senior university management.

Since last year, he has been a 'student for a day' three times, dividing his time between the Clayton and Caulfield campuses.

"We are starting to build up a picture of the everyday circumstances of Monash students, and we have identified opportunities for improvement," Professor Parker said.

"While there is clearly wonderful teaching at Monash, there are also some issues about the timeliness and usefulness of feedback on students' work and the communication skills of some teachers which need further investigation.

"I have found the students who have helped me with these exercises to be constructive, critical friends of the university, who are committed to the importance we attach to excellence in education," he said.