Associate Professor Roger Hadgraft (Melbourne School of Engineering) has been appointed as one of the Australian Learning and Teaching Council’s two inaugural National Discipline Scholars for Engineering and Technology. The award recognises his outstanding leadership in curriculum innovation, and significant contribution to engineering education research.
As National Discipline Scholar, Professor Hadgraft will engage in a series of activities aimed at defining academic standards and in disseminating world- class curricula and teaching to lecturers and tutors of engineering at Australian institutions.
Professor Hadgraft brings more than 20 years’ experience in engineering teaching and learning to the role. He is recognised for championing the introduction of project-based curricula, first at Monash University and then RMIT University. He joined the University of Melbourne in 2007, attracted by the Melbourne Model and the innovative educational possibilities it offered.
As part of his new role, Professor Hadgraft, with Professor Ian Cameron from the University of Queensland, will document academic standards and best practice for teaching engineering. He will also develop two graduate certificate subjects for engineers who become tutors and lecturers, one focussed on how to teach, the other on how to design subjects and curricula.
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A small number of new University and faculty- level partnerships with leading institutions are under development. Melbourne is currently a partner in 202 bilateral international agreements, of which 153 include provisions for reciprocal student exchange.
In addition 27 agreements were renegotiated as part of a continuing review to ensure the currency of international agreements for academic cooperation and exchange.
In response to the Melbourne Model, negotiations focussed on including postgraduate students in exchange
agreements and on establishing collaboration on jointly-supervised doctoral degrees (co-tutelles).
Development of core international partnerships is a priority. In 2009 efforts continued to identify leading international institutions with which Melbourne will seek to develop whole- of-University relationships across disciplines.
The existing core partnership with Vanderbilt University (USA) was consolidated during the year through reciprocal high-level delegations.
The two universities have worked together to prioritise broad research themes on which the partnership will be grounded over the coming years. A three-to-five-year partnership strategy is under development for launch in 2010.
ASSOCIATION OF PACIFIC RIM UNIVERSITIES
The University continues to be an active participant in the activities of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU). In 2009, the University hosted APRU’s 6th Annual Senior Staff Meeting on the theme Changing Trends in Student and Faculty Mobility in the Asia- Pacific region. The meeting brought together the Deputy Vice-Chancellors (International) and International Directors (or their equivalents) of 32 of APRU’s 42 member institutions.
In a key outcome members agreed to reinstate the APRU Fellows Program, an annual seminar series on a theme selected to examine issues relating to socio-political, cultural and economic perspectives in the region. The APRU Fellows Program will be hosted by a different APRU member institution each year and will include annual funding opportunities of up to US$10,000 for a collaborative research paper and up to US$20,000 for a seed grant program.
A particular focus of the University’s engagement with APRU has been on opportunities to promote collaborative activities of regional benefit. Melbourne has provided leadership in the APRU World Institute (AWI) research project Pacific Rim Cities: Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies. Professor Jim Falk,
Director of the University’s Australian Centre for Science, Innovation and Society (ACSIS), leads the AWI climate change project. The AWI’s fourth Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies (CMAS) Project Meeting was held parallel with the APRU Senior Staff Meeting at the University.
Supporting APRU engagement, the Vice- Chancellor is a member of the APRU Steering Committee, as well as Chair of the Governing Board of the AWI.
Opportunities for students to participate in APRU included the 2009 Undergraduate Summer School Program held at the National University of Singapore and the 2009 Doctoral Students Conference held at Kyoto University in Japan.
UNIVERSITAS 21 (U21)
As a collegial network, U21 continued to promote international collaboration in a number of areas. Melbourne plays a leading role in increasing student mobility across the network. In 2009, 134 students studied at 15 U21 partner institutions in the semester exchange program, 27 for a full academic year, a 14 per cent increase from 2008. A number of students also participated in U21 short-term mobility programs, the annual Undergraduate Research Conference and the U21 Summer Schools hosted by the University of Glasgow and the University of Queensland respectively.
The U21 Global Issues Program entered its fifth year in 2009. Coordinated at Melbourne, this multidisciplinary, undergraduate award is offered jointly by seven U21 institutions – the universities of British Columbia, Hong Kong, Lund, Melbourne, Nottingham, Queensland, and Tec de Monterrey. The program encourages students to develop globally relevant knowledge and skills through certificate- or diploma-level study, or as a
‘minor’ within an undergraduate degree. In 2009, 11 Melbourne students participated, with all undertaking at least one subject
‘virtually.’
INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT
An international partnership strategy currently under development will guide the efforts to extend and develop the University’s international character. Relationships with key institutions abroad are fostered in a number of ways. Targeted diplomatic engagement strategy raises the profile of the University at government level, while the domestically based International Relations Office and the network of regional in-country offices maintain regular contact with external and university partner institutions in India, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, China, Indonesia, the US and Canada.
Each year the University hosts a wide range of international delegations. Although fewer institutional delegations travelled to Australia in 2009 due to the global financial crisis, the University recorded a marked increase in the number of Australian and international diplomatic staff wishing to receive a briefing on the University’s international engagement.
Numerous ambassadorial and consular staff were received on campus in 2009, both for individual meetings and at public events hosted by the University.
During the Festival of Ideas the International Relations Office organised two receptions, which enabled US and Chinese students to meet with their respective Consul-General and other consular staff.
A major German Day designed to promote and strengthen research and collaboration activities in Germany was held on campus in November.
Entitled To Germany and Back: Opportunities for Academic Cooperation and Exchange, the event was run in conjunction with the German Consul-General in Melbourne, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the Goethe Institut.
Key partner institutions hosted during the year include Imperial College London, Tsinghua University (China), Shanghai Jiao Tong University (China) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The University also hosted visits by the Chilean Minister for Economy and Innovation and the Malaysian Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
2009 was a challenging year for international recruitment with the strengthening of the Australian dollar, swine flu and the media focus, both local and international, on the safety of overseas students in Australia and particularly in Melbourne. Nevertheless, the number of international students at the University increased slighlty to over 12,000, representing 28.2 per cent of teaching load.
The top five feeder countries, based on citizenship, were China, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and India.
The focus in 2009 was on the promotion of the University’s new generation degrees and graduate pathways to key stakeholders such as school counsellors, overseas representatives and sponsor bodies. This was achieved through the development and maintenance of strategic relationships with key international feeder schools and sponsor bodies and refresher training for our overseas representatives.
The successful 2009 Discovery Week program provided the latest Melbourne Model information for 25 key overseas representatives.
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There was a continued focus on encouraging overseas students to accept places, once offered. The eight International Offices and the International Market Development team invited students to meet with staff offshore, and followed up with phone calls and personalised letters and emails.
In an effort to raise the profile of the University internationally and to attract high achieving international students, a program of 10 x 100 per cent and 10 x 50 per cent tuition fee International Undergraduate Merit Scholarships was offered for the first time in 2009.
Scholarships were awarded to high achieving students from a variety of countries who had been made an offer for a place in the New Generation undergraduate degrees and the Bachelor of Engineering.
REGIONAL ENGAGEMENT
Successful delegations to South-East and North-East Asia in 2008 were followed by a delegation to India and Sri Lanka in 2009. Led by the Vice-Chancellor, the visit strengthened relationships with Indian institutions, government and sponsorship bodies. A series of more than 100 meetings and seminars hosted jointly with the University’s recently launched Australia India Institute and the
Nossal Institute for Global Health served to raise the University’s profile.
The Nossal Institute for Global Health continues to build its reputation as an academic centre combining education, research and development practice, working with partners in the Asia-Pacific region and Southern Africa.
Highlights during the year included progress on a multi-year contract to work with AusAID, developing an academic centre or ‘Knowledge Hub’ with expertise in Health Financing and Health Systems. The hub will work on solutions to problems such as assessing the best ways to engage and regulate the non-government sector in health systems in developing countries, and how changes to financing systems can ensure that benefits reach all the community, including the poorest of the poor. The Hub partnerships between academia and AusAID are landmarks in attempts to improve the quality and effectiveness of Australia’s aid.
The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) marked a milestone in a maturing relationship stretching over many years. The MOU identifies aspirations to assist with developing Faculty and research
capacity at PHFI. To this end the Institute hosted groups of visiting professionals on such themes as pandemic preparedness, curriculum development and continuing education. This complements work with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in India (Avahan) in major efforts to prevent HIV.
A current research collaboration aims to assess progress in several countries towards achievement of health-related Millennium Development Goals (the ambitious set of goals endorsed by the United Nations in 2000) to achieve major progress in human development by the year 2015.
Increasing recognition of the global burden of disability provided a stimulus to increase work on this neglected area that affects disproportionately the world¹s poorest people – 20 per cent of those living on less than $1.25 per day among have a significant disability.
A partnership with a leading non-government organisation (CBM Australia) in the field of disability inclusive development will enhance the Institute’s contribution through education, development and research. Bangladesh and Fiji will be a particular focus.
The University also plays an active role in the region through the Asia-Australia Mental Health (AAMH) network, a partnership with the University’s Department of Psychiatry, St Vincent’s Health and Asialink. The AAMH continues to engage extensively in Asia on culturally appropriate responses to mental health challenges. In 2009, work focussed on cementing existing bilateral programs, expanding the reach of the program to include India as a new country partner and strengthening and promoting the Asia-Pacific Community Mental Development Network’s program of activities. AAMH hosted the visit of the Vice President of the Chinese Ministry of Health’s Non Communicable Diseases Division to Australia, a visit which reaffirmed the University’s position as a trusted partner for China in the sensitive area of mental health reform. Work on disaster-related mental health issues continued to expand in China, with particular emphasis on preparing communities to protect the mental health of children.
Programs developed for China are now being adapted for India in collaboration with India’s National Mental Health program.
Veterinary Science student, Ben kaye, assisted by Dr Liz Tudor, performs surgery on a dog as part of the Western Arnhem Land Dog Health Program. Dr Tudor received a knowledge Transfer Excellence Award in recognition of her program’s support of the Western Arnhem Land community. The program has improved the health of the community’s dogs and, as a result, their owners.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ENROLMENTS (EFTSL)
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
International Enrolments 8,335 8,804 9,385 9,895 10,154
% International 24.5% 25.9% 27.1% 27.9% 28.2%
2005-2008 data is based on reporting to Commonwealth. 2009 data is based on enrolments as at 31 December 2009.
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Stage 2 of AAMH’s Asia Pacific Community Mental Health Development project was launched at the AAMH international seminar and workshop. The seminar attracted high-level representation from 15 countries in the Asia Pacific region including representatives from the World Health Organisation and World Psychiatric Association as well as Australian government, academic, medical and NGO leaders. Late in the year, the AAMH was successful in gaining support from the Indian Ministry of Health for a new program of work with India.
ASIALINK
Asialink, a non-academic department of the University of Melbourne, is Australia’s leading centre for the promotion of public understanding of Asia and of Australia’s role in the Asian region. Its annual program of initiatives across the arts, education, business, health and the community within Australia and Asia significantly advances the University’s reputation as an Asia-engaged institution.
Asialink also assists in the coordination of many University-wide, Asia-related programs such as the Confucius Institute.
Asialink began 2009 with a focus on engaging closely with the federal government on the development of the national curriculum and with business in increasing the Asia-literacy of Australian young people. Asialink’s education program, the Asia Education Foundation, achieved a 40 per cent increase in funding from the federal government.
During the year Asialink expanded its role in second-track diplomacy with the second meeting of Australia and New Zealand with ASEAN ISIS (Institute of Strategic and International Studies) and holding the first Generation 21 Asia-Pacific New Leaders’
Dialogue in Jakarta.
CONFUCIUS INSTITUTE
In its third year of operation, Melbourne’s Confucius Institute continued to deliver advanced programs to enhance business and trade relations between Australia and China.
The Institute plays a valuable role expanding the University’s relationships with business, industry, the community and government, particularly through its Chinese business and networking programs and cross-cultural training. In 2009 the Confucius Institute won contracts to train staff for a number of major Australian companies. The University has entered into a new five-year agreement with the Chinese Government for the continuing operation of the Institute.
AUSTRALIA INDIA INSTITUTE The Australia India Institute, launched in September 2009, was established to strengthen and sustain engagement and understanding between Australia and India.
The Institute draws on the University’s expertise and linkages with partners across Australia and in India to support research and graduate training, establish knowledge partnerships and provide executive briefings and policy advice for the benefit of both countries. New research linkages and networks with Indian institutions, government, business and industry are being forged through the Institute, building on the University’s strong collaborative partnerships with more than 40 Indian education and research institutions at the faculty level, as well as a small number of University-level collaborations with leading Indian universities and research centres. Collaborations with the University of New South Wales and LaTrobe University broaden this research and engagement network and increase student access to expertise on India and Hindi language training, creating graduates with India-specific knowledge and networks.
In 2009 the Institute was awarded $8.106 million in funding over three years from the Commonwealth Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. The funding will support the work of the Institute in providing opportunities for both Australia and India to make substantial contributions to public discourse in both countries, and in the regional context, on issues of mutual importance in relation to trade, science, politics, culture and society.
RANKINGS
The University’s strong performance in international rankings is discussed in the Research and Research Training section of this report on p23. The rankings place the University at the forefront of education internationally and reflect the University’s particularly high standing in the Asia-Pacific region. The Times Higher Education (THE-QS) 2009 World University Rankings shows the University’s graduates continue to be well- regarded around the world with major global and national employers across the public and private sectors ranking Melbourne at No.6 in the world for the employability of its graduates. Similarly, international colleagues ranked Melbourne at No.20 in the peer review rankings.