13 August 2008
13 August 2008
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| The exchange offer is one of the most generous general offers available for exchange students in the world. |
Australian and South African students (citizens and permanent residents) being offered packages worth around A$6000 to encourage them to study in Malaysia, as part of a new University initiative to encourage international networks.
The new A$360,000 initiative will provide up to 60 Monash students with free return flights to Malaysia, free accommodation for either one or two semesters, and A$3500 in cash to cover other expenses. The exchange offer is one of the most generous general offers available for exchange students in the world.
The program is part of the Monash Passport, a bold new system of education which draws together outstanding teaching techniques and learning opportunities from around the globe, providing students with a unique research-inspired passport to opportunity.
Monash University Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) Professor Adam Shoemaker said the package had been initiated in recognition of the costs that confront many students who wish to pursue part of their degree overseas and also the value of an offshore study experience to Monash graduates.
"Monash is one of the world's most internationalised universities with campuses on three continents and a network of alumni across the world. To compete in the global economy, Australia must invest in providing our future corporate and social leaders with an international experience," Professor Shoemaker said.
"Studying at a Monash campus offshore for one or two semesters gives students a valuable insight into Asia or Africa, while ensuring an easy transition and guarantee of quality by studying at a Monash campus offshore.
"We don't believe that Australia will prosper by waiting for the world to come to us, so we have developed one of the most attractive exchange packages in the world to encourage our students to complete part of their degree offshore.
"This is an important investment in the future of our economy and our community and we are working to encourage as many students as possible to take part in exchange so that in time it will be expected, rather than a rare option."
Students will study at the University's campus in Kuala Lumpur, opened last year at a cost of A$80 million. Monash was the first foreign university to establish a fully-fledged campus in Malaysia and has operated for more than 10 years in the Sunway area of the Malaysian capital.
Students who did not travel would still receive an international experience because of the University's dedication to attracting leading students and staff from around the world through its commitment to international languages and cultures and through the development of a range of programs that make it essential for students to examine international cases or to experience global projects.
"Very few universities around the world have evolved an international footprint as significant as we have at Monash University and the Monash Passport will ensure that every student will have the opportunity to benefit from that in the future. That's good news for students but also great news for employers and the broader community, because of the qualities and insights a Monash graduate will possess."
For more information about intercampus exchange visit the Study Abroad website.
13 August 2008
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A new Monash University facility that produces a key agent central to many types of scientific research and treatment options is officially up and running at the Clayton campus.
The Monash Antibody Technologies Facility (MATF) is one of the largest and most sophisticated monoclonal antibody facilities in the world, and a first for the Southern Hemisphere.
Millions of different antibodies are created naturally in the human body to help the immune system identify, neutralise and target infection, viruses and disease.
MATF is able to generate large numbers of specific types of antibodies, creating monoclonal antibodies which are used by scientists to study immune responses to specific diseases and infection.
Monoclonal antibodies are used as:
The facility will increase Monash's production of antibodies from hundreds per year to potentially 5000, helping to solve supply problems which can cause delays in research and treatment.
"Probably the main bottleneck in biomedical sciences right now is a lack of affinity reagents like antibodies -- we wanted to remove that bottleneck and open up new ways for investigators to source their research materials," MATF Director, Alan Sawyer said.
The centre has been funded by Monash University, the Victorian State Government and the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy.
MATF products will be sold throughout Australia and internationally to the science community and related organisations. The first phase in the business venture will see biomanufacturing and bioresearch company Millipore licensing MATF antibodies.
13 August 2008
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| Lebogang Matsididi and Tshepo Kgositau with Monash Foundation Program teacher June Jarman. |
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| The MSA Choir in action. |
The dream of two first-year Monash South Africa students has become a reality with the launch of the Monash South Africa choir.
Three months ago, Tshepo Kgositau and Lebogang Matsididi took the initiative to form a choir and held their first practice with 10 other students.
Enthusiasm and word of mouth has seen membership grow to 50.
Monash Foundation Program teacher Ms June Jarman, who was approached to become the choir matron said: "I was thrilled when I heard of the students' intention to start a choir. I was inspired by their enthusiasm and dedication."
The Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Tyrone Pretorius, has donated a piano and uniforms to the choir.
"I was impressed with the fact that the students took the initiative themselves to start the choir, and with their dedication," said Professor Pretorius.
"The establishment of this choir forms an exciting part of the development of a broad cultural life on the Monash South Africa campus."
"We are delighted to be able to support our students in initiatives like this. We believe that experiences outside the classroom form an important part of a well-rounded education."
The Monash Choir sings in several languages and plans to develop a repertoire of both traditional chamber choir songs and African songs.
The group performed at the MonChrist Gospel festival on campus and was a highlight at the first annual Student Association performing arts night as well as at the launch of the Pro Vice-Chancellor's Leadership Program earlier this year.
"We are very excited about the future of this choir," Mr Kgositau said. "We aspire to compete in local university choral music competitions as well as the Gauteng Choral Music Competitions."
For more news from MSA visit the Monash South Africa website.
13 August 2008
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| Professor Russell Smyth |
China could significantly improve the well-being of its pollution-sick people by reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by just one per cent, a world-first study by Monash University economists has found.
Professor Russell Smyth, the study's lead author, said the findings were at odds with China's official position that curbing its emissions would have mostly negative consequences for its people.
"The findings challenge China's argument that it should keep producing big amounts of greenhouse gas pollutants, despite the huge threat posed by climate change, because the Chinese people would otherwise forego some increased quality of life," Professor Smyth said.
The study is based on a survey of 8890 adults living in 30 major Chinese cities, including Beijing. Respondents ranked their well-being on a scale of one to five.
Professor Smyth said there was a strong negative correlation between peoples' well-being and their city's level of atmospheric pollution, as measured by sulphur dioxide emissions. China is the world's biggest burner of coal, a resource that accounts for 90 per cent of the country's sulphur dioxide emissions.
"We found a one per cent increase in a city's atmospheric pollution increased the probability of a respondent classifying themselves in a lower well-being category by 15 per cent," he said.
"We also found that in cities with high levels of atmospheric pollution and traffic congestion, Chinese citizens reported significantly lower levels of well-being."
Professor Smyth said the study was the first to focus on the relationship between environmental variables and well-being in China.
"The threat posed by climate change and a better knowledge of the relationship between atmospheric pollution and well-being in urban China should be a strong incentive for China to be more proactive in curbing emissions," Professor Smyth said.
Professor Smyth is Director of the Asia Business and Economics Research Unit in the Faculty of Business and Economics at Monash University.
13 August 2008
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| Professor Farhad Khosrokhavar |
Professor Farhad Khosrokhavar, an expert on Islamic radicalism and internationally-acclaimed author of Suicide Bombers: Allah's New Martyrs and Muslims in Prison: a comparative perspective between Great Britain and France, will visit Australia this month to present a series of public lectures about jihadism in Europe and the Middle East.
Monash University's European and European Union Centre has organised the visit to facilitate discussion on the common challenges faced by Europe and Australia, including dealing with the threat of Islamic radicalisation.
Professor Khosrokhavar will speak at Melbourne's State Library on Wednesday 20 August at 5 pm -- one of five talks he will give in Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra and Sydney during his 19-day visit.
An expert in the fields of Islam, violent radicalisation and Iranian society after the Islamic revolution, Professor Khosrokhavar is well-known for having personally interviewed detained, suspected young recruits of Al Qaeda to determine what leads them to contemplate terrorism.
Earlier this year, he was part of a working party on violent radicalisation whose report Radicalisation Processes Leading to Acts of Terrorism questioned the perception that jihadism is a unique phenomenon.
Director of Monash University's Global Terrorism Research Centre Dr Pete Lentini said Professor Khosrokhavar was regarded as one of the world's leading scholars of jihadist political violence.
"His work is unique -- few academics have had first-hand knowledge of the radicalisation of Islamic youth," Dr Lentini said.
"His research can provide a basis for identifying patterns that lead (mostly) young men to such violent forms of political expression.
"His insights will appeal to a broad audience including community leaders and youth workers, law enforcement, media and those interested in terrorism and counter-terrorism."
Professor Khosrokhavar teaches at the leading French Institution for Social Research, L'Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, in Paris.
He has also published extensively and will release his new book on jihadi terrorism in November this year and another on youth in the holy city of Qom in 2009.
For more information visit the European and European Union Centre website.
13 August 2008
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| Faculty of Business and Economics Associate Dean (India Development) Professor Amrik Sohal with Indian students Arijit Chakraborty and Jeeja Gjopalakrishnan, and Graduate School of Business Director Professor Julian Teicher. |
Monash University's Graduate School of Business is giving emerging Indian business leaders the chance to gain valuable experience in Australia as part of a new partnership with one of India's most prestigious business schools, the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta (IIM-C).
The Monash Graduate School of Business is offering students enrolled in IIM-C's Post Graduate Program for Executives the opportunity to do an internship of about five weeks based in Melbourne.
The students will receive education on global business from Monash academics and will complete an internship at a leading Australian company of their choice.
The students, supervised by an IIM-C professor, will work in groups of three to four on a project of strategic value to the company.
IIM-C is one of the top three business schools in India and offers places to only 300 post graduate executive candidates annually from a pool of about 240,000 applicants.
Associate Dean, India Development, Professor Amrik Sohal said the new partnership between Monash and IIM-C highlighted the strong international focus of Monash University's Faculty of Business and Economics.
"The aim of this partnership is to provide an umbrella for academic activities," Professor Sohal said. "Areas of joint activity may include research and training programs. We will also look at exchange of materials, articles and publications."
13 August 2008
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| Dr Catherine Forbes |
Monash academic Dr Catherine Forbes has called for vastly improved government support for Victorians who were brought up in institutional care after her research showed many are struggling.
Dr Forbes, from the Faculty of Business and Economics, co-authored the study It’s not too late to care with Sunitha Raman from the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare, which represents non-government organisations in the child and family welfare area.
The study is based on detailed interviews and surveys of 77 adult Victorians who were brought up in institutional care. The life outcomes of these "care leavers" were compared with that of the general population.
The study found many experienced poor health, education, income, employment and personal relationships attributable to their institutional care experiences.
The study called for the State Government to:
Dr Forbes said the measures were needed to ensure Victorian care leavers were properly cared for.
"Our research demonstrates the lifelong impact of institutional care and the trauma that many experienced within that setting," Dr Forbes said.
"But it is not too late to care, and we urge the Government to provide funding for services to help care leavers and their families now."
13 August 2008
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| Career Gateway allows students to search for internships and part-time and full-time vacancies. |
Monash University's Employment and Career Development unit has launched Career Gateway, a new online employment and career information resource for students.
The improved system means students and graduates now have access to an online resume builder and events calendar. Students are invited to visit Employment and Career Development staff during on-campus launches across Monash campuses in Victoria and Malaysia.
Students who register Career Gateway on-the-spot will receive a merchandise gift.
Team Leader with Employment and Career Development Ms Glen Wilson said by registering with Career Gateway students could access additional employment and career development resources to help them stand out as a candidate.
"Employers look for applicants who have a degree, job hunting skills, and work and life experience so it's never too early for students to start planning their career," Ms Wilson said.
On Career Gateway students can search for internships and part-time and full-time vacancies. Graduate positions, both degree-related and general are also available.
Employment and Career Development also provides career resources, events and seminars where students can connect with future employers.
"Our seminars are a great opportunity for students to understand employers' expectations during the application and recruitment process. The workshops encourage students to practise their interview skills," Ms Wilson said.
For more information on launch events and Employment and Career Development services visit the Career Gateway website.
13 August 2008
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| Elissa Lipshutz |
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| Naomi Frauenfelder |
Two Masters students from the Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation in the Faculty of Arts have received scholarships to undertake international work placements as part of their research into Holocaust and genocide studies.
Elissa Lipshutz, who is examining the plight of Sudanese refugees, will travel to Israel to work with a number of groups, including the Hotline for Migrant Workers (HMW), an organisation dedicated to promoting the rights of migrant workers and refugees.
She will work with HMW and other lobby groups to encourage policy changes and better conditions for refugees.
"These asylum seekers, many of whom are escaping genocide in Darfur, have found their way to Israel where they face the precarious situation of being detained or even deported," Ms Lipshutz said.
"Those who are able to stay find it difficult to obtain accommodation and employment.
"I am interested in the way different governments around the world have responded to the issue of Sudanese seeking asylum, as well as the role played by different non-governmental organisations in this area."
Naomi Frauenfelder will travel to Rwanda at the end of 2008 to work at the Rwanda Cinema Centre, supporting the production of a documentary on an expedition of Tutsi survivors to Berlin.
"I am hoping to develop my understanding of the process of reconciliation and progressive development in Rwanda that has occurred over the past 14 years since the genocide," Ms Frauenfelder said.
"Having the chance to live in Rwanda, research material and conduct interviews will be an invaluable experience."
For more information visit the Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation website.
6 August 2008
Over the last month, I have been involved in a number of international activities that epitomise the breadth of Monash University's international engagement.
The first was to attend the official ceremony at the High Commissioner's residence in Kuala Lumpur where the Australian Prime Minister awarded an honorary AO to Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah in recognition of the role he has played as chair of the Sunway Group and its not-for-profit subsidiary, the Sunway Education Trust, in the success of Monash University's Sunway campus in Malaysia. In this event and the accompanying formal lunch and State dinner for Prime Minister Rudd, the importance of education in building links between Australia and Malaysia was emphasised with Monash University being particularly identified in the award ceremony.
I then attended the Board of Trustees and associated planning meetings of the University of Sharjah in London. The Board is chaired by the Ruler of Sharjah who has built a close relationship with Monash University and more widely with Victoria following the successful role played by the Faculties of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, and Pharmacy in the establishment of the Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy at the University of Sharjah. The Ruler is an enlightened man, with two earned PhDs from UK universities (Exeter and Durham) and active interests in Portuguese exploration, preservation of the biodiversity of desert plants and in wild life preservation in the desert with the creation of a large sanctuary. He is determined that the unique role of the University of Sharjah will be as a university firmly embedded in the history and culture of the region but genuinely outward looking, admitting students of all faiths and engaging with universities throughout the world. He is keen to extend his partnership with Monash University and has agreed to provide funding towards a Chair of Islamic Studies within the Centre for Islam and the Modern World at Monash.
In London I was able to meet with the Victorian Agent-General, David Buckingham, and the Provost (Vice-Chancellor) of University College London (UCL), Malcolm Grant, about extending our current partnership with Kings College London (KCL) in the field of medical science to include UCL and Imperial. Following that, I had a brief visit to Warwick University to follow up an earlier visit by our DVC (International) Stephanie Fahey and VP (Finance) David Pitt to explore the establishment of a comprehensive partnership with Warwick. Warwick University is an excellent fit for Monash -- established in 1965, it has quickly become one of the leading universities in the UK, with the fifth highest ranking in the last Research Assessment Exercise.
Warwick has an outstanding division specifically charged with building industry engagement, WMG Innovative Solutions, directed by the imposing and influential Lord Bhattacharyya. He was liberal in his advice about the secrets of getting a successful program for university and industry partnership for mutual benefit.
There are already active collaborations between Monash and Warwick in the areas of stem cell science involving the Monash Institute of Medical Research and in materials science, where Maria Forsyth from Materials Engineering is undertaking a sabbatical program. There are several other areas of common interest in the humanities and social sciences as well as in science, engineering and health sciences. The next step is to have a more comprehensive research-mapping exercise which will be conducted when the PVC (equivalent to our DVC) Research, Mark Smith, and an accompanying delegation visit Monash in late 2008 or early 2009. Mark already knows Monash well as he spent several years at CSIRO Clayton in the 1990s and collaborated extensively with Monash during that time. Student exchange, joint PhD supervision, funded research collaboration and benchmarking will be direct dividends from the partnership that will complement our established partnerships with KCL, Newcastle and Nottingham in the UK.
On the way back from the UK, I attended the dinner at Monash University's Sunway campus in Malaysia celebrating its 10th anniversary coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Monash University. It was a wonderful event which came after a two-day education symposium and a two day research symposium led by the relevant DVCs and in which the Associate Deans from the involved faculties took part. The progress made by the campus has been stunning. Together with the Sunway campus Pro Vice-Chancellor Robin Pollard, I visited the Vice-Chancellor of UPM. This University has also made outstanding progress since its expansion from an agricultural college to a university and will join the University of Malaya and UKM as major partners of Monash University's Sunway campus in Malaysia.
At the end of the month I spent two days at our South African campus for a Board meeting and to meet most of the staff and the student association. The progress of the campus is quite remarkable. It now has over 2500 students and its financial position is continuing to improve markedly with this year's operating deficit likely to be about $4m compared to a peak in 2003 of over $12m. There have been some problems relating to IT services and with the new residential block but these have been or are being sorted out. Overall, the campus is an incredible achievement and it will be great to have more of our Australian students accessing the amazing cultural and educational experiences available at the campus and more generally in Africa.
Towards the end of the month, I hosted two significant delegations in Australia. Of course, each month we have many international visitors, but I have particular reason to refer to these two. The first was led by the Iraqi Ambassador and included the Cultural Attache and the President of al-Nahrain University. This delegation referred to the warm relationship already established between Iraq and Monash and the opportunity to expand research higher degree training. Opportunities for more extensive research collaboration were sought. The extreme resilience of the Iraqis (al-Nahrain University was not closed for a single day during the war and subsequent insurgency) and their commitment to education and research were very apparent. Fortunately, the security situation in Baghdad has improved significantly and the delegation was very optimistic about the future.
The second delegation was from Chile. I signed an Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of Universities Australia with the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The Chilean Government has established a $6b Bicentennial Fund to provide scholarships for the best Chilean graduates to undertake PhDs in a limited number of 'like-minded' countries which includes Australia. It is expected that around 500 fully-funded scholarships per year will be available for PhD students wishing to study in Australia. Their philosophy is that they should take advantage of the resources boom which is benefiting Chile as well as Australia by investing in their brightest students. This is another wonderful opportunity for Monash.
Finally, I attended along with several other colleagues from Monash, an inspirational fund-raising dinner conducted by the Jewish community to establish a medical research fund called AusIMed to support collaborative research between Australian universities and hospitals and the Hadassah Medical Centre in Jerusalem. The event was orchestrated by our Senior Deputy Dean of Medicine, Leon Piterman, and the fund was launched by the Federal Minister for Health Nicola Roxon. The committee has been generous enough to name me as the Patron of the Fund.
Monash's international strategy has many dimensions. It has been a defining element in the unique path that Monash has followed and a major reason why we are the only university aged 50 years or less ranked in the top 50 universities in the world by the Times Higher Education Supplement (UK). It is a key factor in raising our international profile which contributes to our success in the 'global war for talent' amongst academic staff and in our continued success in attracting international students.
13 August 2008
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Name: Stephen Gray
Org. Unit: Faculty of Law
Title: Lecturer and researcher
How long have you been with Monash University?
Just over two years.
Prior to working at Monash, where were you located and what was your role?
I taught law at Charles Darwin University, dealing as much as possible with Indigenous legal issues.
What challenges are ahead in your current role?
Being the best teacher and researcher I can, and also finding ways to make a broader contribution.
What has been the most interesting aspect of your time at Monash so far?
The highlight is probably the trip to the Monash University Sunway campus in Malaysia with a group of Clayton law students in June. Many of our guest speakers had been involved in Anwar Ibrahim's trial and other recent upheavals. It was a tumultuous two weeks in Malaysian politics and we were in a bubble on the crest of it.
What is it about your job that holds your interest or is particularly satisfying?
The chance to pursue things that I find interesting and to find ways of showing other people that they are interesting and worthwhile as well.
What is your favourite place in the world and why?
Waterfalls in Kakadu, a place called Tampaksiring in Bali, and the MCG.
What is the best piece of advice you have received?
Listen to other people's advice. Decide what you want to do and persevere with it. Somebody once said to me -- when I die, I want people to be able to write on my gravestone -- here lies X. He did his duty. I've never been sure whether he was joking.
What is something about yourself that most of your colleagues wouldn't know?
I once sang 'I'm an Intellectual' a parody version of former St Kilda player and stand-up comic Jacko's song 'I'm an Individual, you can’t fool me' dressed in a Geelong jumper in front of 500 law students at a lunchtime barbecue. I was very skinny at the time.
Archive of 60 seconds with...13 August 2008
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Monash academics from the Centre for Biospectroscopy are pioneering research using the Australian Synchrotron to examine the effects of climate change on microalgae photosynthesis.
Microalgae could be described as nature's vacuum cleaners, fixing 65 billion tonnes of carbon per year.
This research will help to determine what may happen to our natural environmental defences under the predicted factors of climate change.
The research team includes Dr Philip Heraud, Professor John Beardall, Professor Don McNaughton , Dr Bayden Wood, Mr Anthony Eden and Ms Sally Caine.
For more information visit the Centre for Biospectroscopy website.