Monash University > News and Events > Monash Memo

Ancora Imparo, October, 2008

1 October 2008

I trust that everyone is now aware of the Monash Passport model, to be launched formally during the Education Expo on October 8 as part of the Educate08 celebration of excellence in learning and teaching at Monash, which will be held from Thursday October 2 to Friday October 10.

The Monash Passport offers students a broad menu of opportunities, combining degree programs with international exchanges, leadership programs, work training programs and volunteer and research opportunities as a grounding for outstanding careers.

The hallmarks of the Monash Passport are embedding opportunities for students to:

• Choose interests and career aspirations on their own terms, including the very popular double degree programs
• Enhance their university experience through leadership programs, work-integrated learning and lateral extension opportunities
• Act by volunteering and making a difference to their own lives and those of others
• Investigate by taking up opportunities to undertake research throughout study and by an enhanced honours program and
• Explore with scholarships to enable students to have a global experience at Monash's international campuses in Malaysia and South Africa, at Monash's Centre in Prato, or at our large number of partner universities throughout the world

Details of the exciting Educate08 program and the Monash Passport model are accessible through the Monash website.

Participation in sport is, for many students, a highlight of their university experience and nowhere is this better supported than at Monash. On Sunday evening, September 28, I officially opened the 2008 Australian University Games (AUG) at the Melbourne Town Hall. Monash University is the Principal Partner University for the Games. These Games will encompass approximately 7000 participants competing in 28 sports making it the biggest University Games to date. There will be more participants than in the Melbourne Commonwealth Games. Monash University has 520 students taking part and of course many other students and staff are involved in the organisation of the Games and as volunteers.

Monash University was placed second in the AUG in 2007 and taking into account the non-AUG sporting events was placed first overall in sports in 2007.

Importantly, it is not only in sport that Monash students are taking part in activities that add to their university experience in areas other than academic achievement. Our debaters again performed outstandingly well at the World Championships and Monash is the fourth ranked university in the world in debating. Student theatre, the Monash Philharmonic and the many other Clubs and Societies provide opportunities for students to pursue a wide range of interests. Many other students are active participants in volunteer organisations such as the Oaktree Foundation, Engineers without Borders, AISEC, Students in Free Enterprise and Golden Key as well as many others within the University and in the community. Other students play leadership roles in student associations.

Monash University is strongly committed to giving students the opportunity to undertake a range of activities outside the classroom that help them to develop personal and life skills beyond anything that can be achieved through academic studies alone. Lifelong friendships are commenced, often crossing national boundaries. Organisational, leadership and communication skills are developed and personal interests are fostered outside work that enrich the lives of our students and often form the basis for lifelong activities.

Such activities well and truly prepare students to "Adopt as your fundamental creed that you will equip yourself for life, not solely for your own benefit but for the benefit of the whole community" as exhorted by Sir John Monash.

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