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Crossing into new territory

In the past it was enough to study only business subjects for an economics degree, or only arts subjects for an arts degree, but in the 21st century broader skills and knowledge are the key to success.

Professor Merran Evans, Monash University's director of planning and academic affairs, says the university is leading the way in recognising the need for versatile graduates who can adapt to the changing nature of knowledge, with cross-faculty collaborations meeting the demand.

"The university is using expertise and knowledge across a number of faculties in initiatives which enhance research developments and ensure that students have the skills and knowledge to contribute to the wider community," she says.

Monash’s Gippsland campus, for example, is developing new interdisciplinary courses – particularly in the postgraduate field. One such course is the Master in Techno-entrepreneurship, which crosses over the faculties of Engineering and Business and Economics.

At Clayton campus, the first students to take part in a joint initiative by the Medicine and Law faculties will graduate this year as both doctors and lawyers.

Professor Stephen Cordner of the Department of Forensic Medicine says the combination has been offered for the past seven years, with between five and seven students taking up the offer each year.

He says the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery/Bachelor of Laws combination was created in response to the increasing impact of law on medical practice in areas such as negligence litigation.

The new Master of Multimedia, taught by the faculties of Art and Design and Information Technology, is addressing the growing demand for technological expertise in business and industry. Graduates can work as multimedia developers, web designers, multimedia producers, information architects or project managers.

Similarly, the new Master of Business Administration (MBA) offered at Monash is addressing the fact that the skills now needed for business success are dramatically different to those previously required.

MBA course director Professor Rob Willis believes the way to meet the demands of the corporate world is by providing a broad-based management degree that allows specialisations within its structure.

The key is that the specialisations can be selected from any faculty within the university, picking up on the rapidly growing trend towards cross-faculty courses.

Professor Willis says the new MBA meets the needs of the corporate world while also providing specialisations such as design management (from the Faculty of Art and Design), eco- and cultural tourism (from the Arts faculty), and health care management (from the Faculty of Medicine).

"Monash’s MBA offers something special – a high-quality and extremely flexible course," Professor Willis says. "And MBAs from prestigious universities such as Monash, an institution that has a long-term future, will always be valued."

ACTION: For more information about the Monash MBA, contact +61 3 9903 1166, or visit the website at www.mba.monash.edu.au

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