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Ancora Imparo, September 2007

5 September 2007

In August, I presented my annual State of the University address to Council describing the progress of the University towards achieving its objectives in research, education, engagement, the student experience, staff attitude and financial performance including fund-raising, equity and environmental performance. The power-point presentation is accessible from the Executive Services website. I will devote this month's column to addressing some of the highlights from this address.

Our performance in research has improved markedly, both in absolute and in relative terms. The best indicator of this is our performance in terms of attracting research income. Although this is correctly described as an input rather than an output indicator, as the national competitive grants (NCGs) are based on peer-review, they are a rigorous indicator of quality and track-record. The total research income also includes industry funding and as this will not be obtained unless the industry considers that it will impact positively on their business, this is an indicator of both industry engagement and a good surrogate for impact of research.

Our research income has risen from $112m in 2003 to $186m in 2006 and our NCG income from $46m to $87m in the same period. It is true that there has been a significant increase in the funding pool for ARC and especially NHMRC, so it is even more significant to point out that our ranking in the Group of Eight (and thus for all Australian universities) has risen from 5th to 4th in total research income and from 8th to 4th in NCG income between 2003 and 2006. Our weighted publications are also 4th and our research higher degree student load and completions 5th.

In education, we had been hopeful that the education measures in the Monash Experience Questionnaires (MEQs), which are administered on a biannual basis to current students and which had improved markedly between 2003 and 2005, would be a lead indicator of the Course Experience Questionnaires (CEQs) administered to recent graduates. Monash had been performing in a fairly flat way compared with the other Group of Eight universities with respect to the CEQ, but as shown in the graphs there was a marked improvement of several per cent in all the CEQ measures for the 2006 surveys reflecting graduates from 2005. Unit evaluations are now administered routinely in virtually all units and have improved steadily since being introduced in first semester 2005. Results from MEQ 2007 will be available later this year.

We anticipate from the continued improvement in Unit Evaluations that our performance in the CEQ will continue to improve. Benchmarking data with two other Group of Eight universities have shown marked relative improvement in the MEQ. Graduate employment has improved markedly. The preference of the top undergraduate students for Monash has also improved with the University having over 30 per cent of the top 5 per cent of VCE students over the last 2 years.

In the area of community engagement, the Academy of Performing Arts was launched and is staging a number of musical and theatrical performances.  Engagement with governments is demonstrated by the major grants ($50m in total) from the State and Commonwealth governments to establish the Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, and additional substantial grants to establish the Electron Microscopy Centre, the Monoclonal Antibody facility, the Gippsland Graduate Entry Medical School and the Northern Victorian Regional Clinical School . Our successful industry engagement is demonstrated by the large amount of industry research funding and our intent to build on this is shown by the appointment of a highly qualified PVC Industry Engagement and Commercialisation.

International student commencements have increased this year and exceeded targets. Our overseas campuses in Malaysia and South Africa are flourishing.  There are over 3200 students at our Malaysian Campus and they are now in a state-of-the-art, purpose-built Monash campus. There are over 1700 students at Monash South Africa, the operating deficit is falling each year and the budget expectations are being bettered. Prato continues to be a wonderful method of engaging with Europe. The joint research academy with the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay is progressing and the first PhD students will be enrolled shortly. Substantial links have been built with China, both with universities, particularly Sichuan University and Shanghai Jiaotong University, and with industry.

Despite 2007 being the first year where the University was no longer permitted to charge compulsory amenities fees, most student services have been preserved and in some cases -- careers and employment, and sport -- enhanced. The staff attitude survey has shown a marked improvement in benchmarked items since 2005 with overall satisfaction rising from 58 per cent to 68 per cent.

Financial performance has been strong. The quiet phase of our fund-raising campaign has commenced and by the end of August the milestone of $35m since the beginning of 2006 will have been reached.

Equity measures have been in the top 3 of the Group of Eight with the exception of indigenous student enrolment where we are taking measures to improve our performance. Once admitted, our indigenous students perform well.

We have committed to a 20 per cent reduction in total energy use per EFTSL by 2010. A plan has been put in place, but this will be difficult to achieve. Our water use has decreased substantially.

Overall, Monash is making great progress in virtually every quantitative and qualitative measure we are able to evaluate. It is a tribute to the quality and hard work of our staff and students.

Many challenges remain, but we are well and truly heading in the right direction.

Professor Richard Larkins
Vice-Chancellor

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