Monash University > News and Events > Monash Memo

Ancora Imparo, February 2006

1 February 2006

I trust everyone had a refreshing break over Christmas and the New Year. I have much pleasure in welcoming you back to what I am sure will be another challenging but exciting and rewarding year.

This year will be particularly significant for Monash University, as we will be audited through the Australian Universities Quality Agency (AUQA) process. Although you may view this as another intrusion on our autonomy, I take the view that the process of external quality assurance is essential if universities are to continue to be granted self-accrediting status. Rather than impinging on our autonomy, it is an essential safeguard to help preserve it. Like any process of audit, the system is not perfect and attention is being given to refining it, but it is important that we cooperate in every way we can. Of course, as in any external review, the greatest benefit comes from the attention we give to improving the way we do things before the review, and you will be aware of the substantial progress already achieved.

It also seems likely that the Research Quality Framework (RQF) will proceed, with implementation planned for 2007, although the final paper on the preferred model has not been released and the timeframe seems ambitious. Considerable preparation will be required by all universities and this will also occupy significant time, judging by the UK and New Zealand experience. The stakes are high, so we must make sure that we present ourselves in the best light.

Although the AUQA audit and the RQF are vitally important, it is even more important that we continue to focus on maintaining the momentum in the key activities we have established over the past two years.

The MEQ2005 showed striking improvement in virtually all elements of the student experience, including but not limited to the educational experience. We must continue to improve the students' learning experience at Monash as well as providing support for other components of their life and university experience. This will not be helped by the so-called VSU legislation, but we must still preserve the best elements of broad university life.

Monash's research performance improved markedly in 2005 as evidenced by success in obtaining external research funds, ARC Centres of Excellence and Federation Fellows. But if we are to achieve our objective of being a truly great international university, we must continue to improve.

It has been very striking that we have been relatively reticent about submitting Discovery and Linkage Grant applications to ARC and Project Grant applications to NHMRC. Our improved performance in obtaining funding in 2005 for 2006 and beyond correlated with a larger number of submissions, but we still submit far fewer applications than universities of comparable status and size. I am sure that many of you are working hard to finalise strong applications to these funding sources as well as other categories of grant applications.

We are also in the advanced planning phase of a major capital raising campaign. We do need more resources and cannot rely solely on government funding, HECS and international and Australian student fees. The Advancement Division has designed a campaign strategy that we are confident will bring substantial additional capital to Monash University, which will be vital to our future plans.

Finally, it will also be another important year for our international activities. The demand for places by international students is strong, with last year's decline being reversed. Student demand at our campuses in Malaysia and South Africa is also very positive with rapid growth in numbers, particularly in South Africa. Our centre in Prato is continuing to flourish.

Our attention in the early part of the year will be focused on a potential joint research facility based in India, as well as increasing our collaborative activities in China and Europe. The new Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International), Professor Stephanie Fahey, will be commencing at Monash University early in February and will oversee the review of our formal international strategy document.

I am sure that with a continuation of the enthusiasm and commitment shown by you all, Monash University will have an even more successful year in 2006.