Australian origins, international future

2 August 2006

Monash University's Malaysian and South African campuses will be developed into research hubs as part of the University's Engaging the World vision, announced today.

Engaging the World recognises the need for universities, particularly those in an economically and geographically isolated country such as Australia, to actively participate in the global research networks that are developing solutions to some of the problems that threaten humanity's survival.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard Larkins said Engaging the World was a clear statement of the University's priorities for research, education and international development.

"Our university has Australian origins, but an international future," Professor Larkins said. "We already have the strongest international presence of any research-intensive university in the world, with campuses in Malaysia and South Africa, centres in Italy and London, and plans for a collaborative research institute in India and collaborative research laboratories in China and North America.

"This statement acknowledges that we cannot sit back and wait for theworld to notice how good our research is; or hope that our children will embrace the cultural change that will inevitably come with globalisation. It has never been more important to equip our graduates to be able to live, work, learn and contribute globally."

Monash University has already taken steps towards achieving its global research and teaching goals:

1. a research director, Dr Dina Burger, has been appointed at Monash South Africa to drive the campus's research strategy
2. key research staff are being appointed at all campuses including renowned neuroscientist Professor Ishwar Parhar at Monash University in Malaysia
3. student numbers are increasing rapidly at Monash University in Malaysia and Monash South Africa
4. 24 scholarships have been introduced for Higher Degree by Research students in Malaysia
5. the Monash University Centre in Prato in Italy is a vibrant hub of undergraduate and postgraduate coursework students, research higher degree students and international research conferences

The University is using its research expertise, its multi-campus structure and its international reach to address six key areas of research priority for the 21st century. The areas of sustainability, peace and security, economic development, innovation, health and disease, and community cohesion will all benefit from this global approach.

Professor Larkins said Monash held fast to the belief that undergraduates should be provided with knowledge and expertise to make a contribution to the global workforce and the wider international community after graduating.

"We want a significant proportion of our students to spend at least one semester abroad at a Monash campus, graduating with not just a rigorous understanding of their discipline, but also an international perspective and knowledge of other cultures," he said. "The Student Mobility and Student Experience initiatives have been developed to help us achieve this goal."

Further information: Penny Fannin, Media Communications, on 03 9905 5828 or 0417 125 700, or visit the Engaging the World website.