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29 September 2004
Monash's Mr Stephen Lay, soon to be awarded his PhD in medieval history, has won a prestigious international prize for his essay on today's interpretation of the Magna Charta Universitatum.
An initiative of the University of Bologna, Italy, the Magna Charta is a series of principles to guide university administration, originally agreed to in 1988 by more than 400 universities and now endorsed by more than 500 around the world.
Mr Lay received the Carmine Alfredo Romanzi Award and a cheque for 10,000 euros (about A$20,000) during a ceremony at the University of Bologna on 18 September.
The main argument in his 30,000 word essay is that a university is an evolving institution and this must be reflected in the Magna Charta's principles.
Open to doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers in any discipline from universities all over the world, the essay competition is organised by the Observatory of the Magna Charta, which monitors implementation of the principles.
"I was stunned to find out I'd won," Mr Lay said. "The advertised date of notification had passed, and about three weeks later I received an email asking when I could come to Bologna to collect the prize."
Mr Lay, who has just commenced as an administrative officer with the Monash University London Centre, said his essay arose from his interest in university policy, particularly its international focus and development.
"For this reason I very much look forward to my work at the London centre, which is at the forefront of Monash's strategic vision for international research collaboration." | 
