Report of the Pro Vice-Chancellor and President, Monash South Africa The Campus Operational Plan 2009 - 2011 has guided the ongoing strategic development of Monash South Africa (MSA) during 2009 in the following portfolios:
Education Objective two of the Campus Operational Plan was to expand the courses and disciplines offered by MSA. A proposal to establish a School of Health Sciences was approved and two new majors in child and youth development and journalism will be offered within the Bachelor of Arts. A proposal to offer a Bachelor of Business and Commerce (Honours) was approved and advisory boards were established for the School of Health Sciences and the School of Information Technology. The South African Government has accredited the Master of Philosophy in Integrated Water Management, the Master of Philosophy in Arts, the Bachelor of Business and Commerce (Honours) and the Bachelor of Health Sciences - the latter two subject to the alignment of the degree designators to the Higher Education Qualifications Framework of South Africa. Objective one was to develop an innovative approach to learning and teaching. To share best practice, several Teaching and Learning Forums were held for academic staff. At the Australian Awards for University Teaching 2009, the Monash South Africa Foundation Programme (MSAFP) was awarded a prestigious Award for Programs that Enhance Learning - The First-Year Experience by the Australian Learning and Teaching Council. Furthermore, a number of MSA staff received the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Research The Campus Research Plan provided the strategic framework for the development of school and individual research plans and for deriving specific research themes for the campus. Collaborative research links were explored and established with both national and international institutions. These included universities, government departments, research councils and industry. The introduction of Higher Degrees by Research (HDR) within the respective schools commenced, with the Master of Philosophy in Arts approved by the Monash Research Graduate School and the Monash University Academic Board. This has paved the way for upward articulation for MSA undergraduate students. A Postgraduate Development Program was introduced to provide both academic and personal support to postgraduate students. This was complemented by a Research Coaching and Mentoring Program to develop and nurture early career researchers. The Ford Foundation Future Academic Leaders Scholarship program was implemented during 2009. Research funding for the campus increased significantly during 2009, mainly through contract research projects.
Community engagement The Community Engagement Office initiated various community engagement projects during 2009, in line with the campus objective to respond to local and national needs and requirements of the surrounding communities. These initiatives included workshops aimed at improving the skills of mathematics teachers from local secondary schools, a Youth Leadership Forum attended by 100 grade 11 learners from 66 schools across South Africa, Botswana, and the UK, and a recycling project to foster environmental awareness. Community engagement activities also included service learning initiatives that integrated community engagement with the achievement of academic outcomes for the benefit of MSA students and the community. Projects such as the Monash University Student Volunteer Program continued to engage with local disadvantaged communities e.g. at the Monash Saturday School, MSA students assisted learners with home work and coordinated sporting activities, and also provided emotional support.
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Quality audit improvement plan A Quality Audit Improvement Plan in response to the audit by the South African Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC) was developed and approved in 2009. A formal progress report is due in March 2010.
Facilities A new building comprising 2000 square metres of teaching space, equipped with data projectors, touch-screen displays and smart-board technology, was completed in June.
Staff development and mobility Staff development initiatives included a range of Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) courses, and general and formal training opportunities for academic, professional and services staff. In addition, the Research Directorate offered a range of research capacity building courses and seminars. A number of staff received funding from the Cross-Campus Staff Mobility and Travelling Fellowship Programs. These programs allowed staff to work at other campuses on projects or activities that visibly strengthened the quality, value and impact of the various functions within MSA. Professor Tyrone Pretorius Pro Vice-Chancellor and President Monash South Africa
Report of the President, Academic Board The Monash University Academic Board (the Board) is responsible to Council for, inter alia, supervising and directing Monash University academic affairs, including maintaining high standards in teaching and research (Statute 2.2). To discharge its remit effectively and efficiently Academic Board considers a range of strategic, structural, program and policy issues.
Direction of Academic Affairs During 2009 Academic Board continued to be involved at critical stages in the development of the University’s high-level ambitions, future directions and responses to Governmental agendas. This involvement was directed towards achieving Monash’s aim to become one of the best universities in the world. Processes of academic strengthening, the University’s intention to focus its research efforts within five overarching Research Themes and proposals for enhancing the University’s directions in education were major items on the Academic Board’s agenda for setting Monash University’s academic directions. Academic Board received and considered a range of significant strategic documents and reports, including: • The 2010 Annual Plan and Budget; • The 2009 Annual Plan Mid-year Progress Exceptions Report; • Reports on University Rankings and Monash Key Performance Indicators and Business Intelligence reports; • Reports on key Portfolio (Research, Education, International) initiatives including further implementation of the Monash Passport Program, proposed development of revised Indigenous Learning and Teaching strategies, Monash’s National Competitive Grants performance and subsequent presentation of strategies for improvement developed under the guidance of the Monash University Research Committee; and • Progress in developing partnerships with key international institutions. The Board continued to receive regular environmental scans, designed to provide members with information regarding the environment in which the university operates. My 2008 Report noted that a key theme for the Board had been the development of processes of internal renewal. Academic Board is now halfway through its membership transition and will be functioning fully under the new model from 1 July 2010.
MONASH UNIVERSITY ANNUAL REPORT 2009