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A new class of honours

11 February 2009

Monash Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Research Training) Professor Max King, Australian National University’s Dr Margaret Kiley and Monash Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) Professor Adam Shoemaker.

Representatives from six Victorian universities attended an Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC) workshop on the role of honours study in higher education in Australia at the Caulfield campus last week.

In the last five years many Australian universities have been debating and reviewing their honours programs. The workshop heard from Dr Margaret Kiley from the Australian National University who presented the findings of a recent ALTC research project into the state of honours study in Australia.

Dr Kiley emphasised the pivotal role of the honours year in Australian higher education and the variety of forms that honours takes across different disciplines and universities.

She praised Monash for raising the profile of its honours program, in contrast to what is happening at many other universities.

With demand for honours study at Monash growing significantly over the past five years, the University is aiming to create the best honours program in the country.

In 2009 Monash is offering increased support to honours students including providing 70 honours scholarships, and new scholarships linking honours and PhD study.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) Professor Adam Shoemaker said the Monash honours year allowed students to gain a deeper understanding of topics that fascinated them.

"honours study gives students a grounding in research and self-driven analysis that will equip them for future work or a research career," Professor Shoemaker said.

"What is important about honours is not always the qualification itself, but the experience."