24 April 2006
One hundred academics from Monash University and the University of Melbourne will meet on Monday (April 24) to discuss ways to broaden collaboration in key research areas.
The meeting is being held under the auspices of the Melbourne-Monash Protocol, which was established in 1997 to encourage research co-operation between two of Australia's top universities.
It is aimed at identifying new opportunities for cooperation in key areas of global significance and at strengthening Melbourne's profile as an international higher education and research capital.
The academics will discuss research into water, material and synchrotron science, applied philosophy and health services; senior staff will also discuss the possibility of sharing administrative practices.
The meeting at the MCG will be jointly led by Monash University Vice-Chancellor Richard Larkins and University of Melbourne Vice-Chancellor Glyn Davis, and will be addressed by Victoria's Treasurer and Minister for Innovation John Brumby and Education Minister Lynne Kosky.
Professor Larkins said many areas of collaboration in education and research were already flowing from the protocol that recognised the strengths of both institutions and the fact they had similar values and respect for each other.
"This Symposium seeks to build on successes achieved from the Melbourne-Monash Protocol by extending research collaboration, cooperation in education and processes for achieving efficiencies and benchmarking in management," he said.
"Higher education is becoming more and more competitive and expensive and only through collaboration will our leading universities be able to compete at the top level internationally."
Professor Davis said the Protocol has been a valuable partnership which is now approaching the end of its first decade.
"This is a timely review of this important initiative between two of Australia's great universities," he said.
Professor Richard Larkins will be available for comment on Sunday afternoon. To arrange an interview please contact John DuBois, Media Communications, Monash University on 0417 559 287. For University of Melbourne information please contact Christina Buckridge on 0412 101 316.
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