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A celebration of education

8 October 2008

Executive Director of Oxfam Australia Andrew Hewett and Monash Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard Larkins sign the memorandum of understanding as the partnership’s initial student beneficiaries Neda Monshat and Jessica Malin watch on.

Jessica Malin and Neda Monshat are the first student beneficiaries of the new Monash/Oxfam partnership.

Monash is celebrating education this week with a showcase of opportunities for current and future students, the launch of the new education blueprint, the Monash Passport, and the signing of a historic agreement between the University and Oxfam Australia.

Today's Education Expo is a program highlight, enabling students to find out more about the opportunities available throughout Monash.

The Expo, from 3-8 pm in Building H at the Caulfield campus, will allow both undergraduate and postgraduate students to find out more about the Monash Passport, have one-on-one discussions with Monash advisers, speak to faculty staff about course options, and apply for postgraduate study in 2009.

Yesterday Mrs Jan de Kretser, wife of Victorian Governor Professor David de Kretser AC, officially launched a new partnership between Monash and Oxfam Australia, designed to build curriculum, internship and voluntary placement links with the international development agency.

The Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard Larkins AO and Executive Director of Oxfam Australia Mr Andrew Hewett announced the partnership's initial student beneficiaries, Neda Monshat and Jessica Malin.

The two law students, studying with the Castan Centre for Human Rights, will travel to South Africa early in 2009 to undertake internships with Oxfam and their partner organisations working on human rights and HIV/AIDS issues.

Professor Larkins said the Oxfam partnership would provide a rich learning experience for students in a world where traditional boundaries were becoming less relevant.

"This program reaches beyond the confines of the classroom, encouraging students to become global citizens and providing them with a unique opportunity to learn about the challenges facing their own and other communities," Professor Larkins said.

The launch also included a keynote address by Ms Sue Robson, Head of the School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences at Newcastle University in the United Kingdom on 'Making the international local and regional.'

More than 200 people also watched a lively and freewheeling discussion at the Great Alumni and Friends Debate last night.

The debate 'Is it a good thing that I have forgotten more than I have learned?' featured alumna and commentator Dr Sally Cockburn (Dr Feelgood), arts/law student Amit Golder and recent Monash law graduate Jacob Clifton on the affirmative team and alumna and actor Jane Clifton, Professor Peter Sullivan from the Faculty of Education and current student Claire Lindsey for the negative.

MC and moderator Professor Adam Shoemaker, assisted by timekeeper Helen Fletcher-Kennedy, was a creative but fair adjudicator declaring the debate a tie.

The Educate08 program included the awarding of the Vice-Chancellor's Awards for Teaching Excellence and a workshop on strategic Indigenous cultural awareness.

Educate08 runs until Friday 10 October. For up-coming events, including the next 50th Anniversary public lecture on Thursday night, see the Educate08 website.

For more information on the Monash Passport visit the website.