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Distinguished engineer named deputy at Malaysia

23 November 2005

Mechanical engineer and distinguished academician Professor Walter Wong has been appointed Monash University Malaysia's Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor.

Professor Wong (pictured) comes to Monash from the University of Vudal in Papua New Guinea where he was the inaugural vice-chancellor.

He has spent nearly four decades as a practising engineer, researcher and academic working in Australia, the UK, Norway, the US and Papua New Guinea.

Professor Wong said Monash University Malaysia planned to form further partnerships with industry and leading universities and research centres, both nationally and internationally, to conduct collaborative research.

He said a first-rate university requires a commitment to research that addresses the priority agenda of the nation in which it operates and meets the development needs of industry. Sound financial management practice and good governance were also required.

"Good learning and teaching practices reflect the existence of quality management processes which encourage student focus and continuous improvement," Professor Wong said.

"The use of technology in education, including information and communication technologies, to achieve better learning has now become mandatory."

Prior to his appointment to the University of Vudal, Professor Wong was head of the School of Mechanical, Manufacturing and Medical Engineering at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) from 1982 to 1998.

In recognition of his contributions to scholarship and academic leadership, QUT named Professor Wong an emeritus professor in 1998.

In 2004, the University of Vudal conferred him the honorary Doctorate of Science (DSc) for distinguished services to the East New Britain Province of Papua New Guinea.