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Monash Passport: the world is your campus

1 October 2008

Educate08

Senior educators have unveiled a new education blueprint for Monash University.

The Monash Passport is a bold new program that builds on the existing strengths of the teaching and learning program at Australia’s largest and most internationally-focused University, and creates some exciting new initiatives.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) Professor Adam Shoemaker said the University was committed to providing every student with an outstanding educational experience with a strongly international perspective.

"The message for students is simple: at Monash University the world is your campus," Professor Shoemaker said.

"The approach, ideas and values contained in our new Monash Passport will flow through our lecture halls, tutorials rooms and research facilities and inform everything we do.

"By investing significantly in eEducation we will transform our learning and teaching experiences for all students to make their education broader and deeper.

"We will offer prestigious degrees that are recognised around the world, and provide the opportunity for rich experiences, where students can earn their qualifications and leave the University equipped with skills not just for work but to also analyse and to ultimately contribute throughout their lives."

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

  • Choose interests and career aspirations including the career-driven double degree program from day one;
  • Enhance their university experience through involvement with two new selective entry secondary schools being built on the Monash Clayton and Berwick campuses in partnership with the Victorian Government, to give the best and brightest publicly-funded access to the finest of pre-tertiary education;
  • Act by taking part in community programs, building leadership and employment skills, and giving back to their community;
  • Investigate by taking up a research project as part of a degree and being part of an enhanced Honours program; and
  • Explore by taking advantage of study links with 115 partner universities in 25 countries. Generous grants are being made available to help support students who study overseas.

Professor Shoemaker said an additional 50 scholarships had been created as part of the enhanced Honours program, plus improved mentoring and a wider range of research options.

"At Monash, we have a strong commitment to high achievement in undergraduate research and we are fostering what we hope will be Australia's premier Honours program. We aim to enrol up to five per cent of our students in that program in the next 24 months," Professor Shoemaker said.

Next week, Monash University will also sign a memorandum of understanding with the aid and development organisation Oxfam to build stronger curriculum, internship and voluntary placement links.

"Monash has always had a strong commitment to social justice," Professor Shoemaker said.

"Now we will be giving additional emphasis to opportunities for voluntary and pro-bono work for all of our students.

"Our formal partnership with Oxfam is the first major step in our strategy to work closely with key Australian and international non-government organisations."

Professor Shoemaker said the University would also offer the most generous suite of scholarships of any Australian university, creating equity-based opportunities as well as rewarding excellence.

The Monash Passport will be launched during Educate08, a celebration of teaching and learning excellence at the University from 2-10 October, and the Monash Education Expo on 8 October, an event for potential students interested in undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

For more information visit the Monash Passport website.