2007 Annual report (PDF 8.1 Mb) - University of Melbourne

INTRODUCTION
And OVERVIEW
Introduction and Overview
2007–The Year of Transition
Last year this report traced Melbourne’s
new strategic direction – Growing
Esteem, which sets out a vision for great
scholarship, research and Knowledge
Transfer. In 2007 there were significant
developments in each of these strands.
In particular, 2007 was a watershed year
as we geared up for the introduction
in 2008 of the Melbourne Model, the
learning and teaching component of our
wider vision. The Melbourne Model is a
far-reaching reform which marks a new
national benchmark in higher education.
It offers undergraduate students core
academic programs characterised by depth
of disciplinary knowledge, complemented
by breadth of knowledge and approaches
across disciplines. Graduate professional
study or masters and PhD degrees follow
the three year undergraduate degrees.
LeARning and Teaching
Close attention has been given this year
to refining the structure and content of the
new undergraduate and graduate curricula.
For the six Melbourne Model undergraduate
degrees – Arts, Biomedicine, Commerce,
Environments, Music and Science – to be
offered for the first time in 2008, a suite
of exciting new University breadth and
capstone subjects has been developed.
Breadth subjects are cross-disciplinary,
designed to give students from all degrees
exposure to different ways of knowing,
while capstone subjects prepare students
for life as graduates.
Graduate schools offering professional
qualifications are a key element of the
Melbourne Model. The structure of the
University’s new graduate schools was
established during the year and new
masters level programs developed ready
for 2008. From next year students will
undertake new graduate professional
programs in Architecture, Education, Law,
Nursing, Social Work and other disciplines.
Introduction of the Melbourne Model will
be accompanied by a landmark package of
scholarships worth more than $100 million
over three years. Launched in 2007, the
package includes an innovative new Kwong
Lee Dow Young Scholars Program designed
to encourage the best and brightest from
every school in Victoria to consider study
at the University. More than 700 Year 12
scholars from 300 different schools across
the State of Victoria were selected to be
part of the inaugural program.
During the year we presented the
Melbourne Model in detail to the world
to ensure all sectors of the community
understand the University’s new approach.
A hugely successful Open Day with a very
positive response to the Melbourne Model
suggests that we have been successful
in doing so. Though we run the risk that
demand will fall as students adjust to
the end of double degrees at Melbourne
and the introduction of professional
qualifications at graduate level, the early
signs are that the community is embracing
the new model.
ReseARCh and Research Training
Like all Australian universities Melbourne
has been preparing for the anticipated
introduction of the Research Quality
Framework (RQF). Though the new
Commonwealth government has now
cancelled the RQF, the detailed preparation
undertaken for this exercise has helped
the University better understand
the strengths and weaknesses of its
research performance, and ensured our
readiness for the Excellence in Australian
Research initiative now announced as the
replacement for the RQF.
The complex issues facing our world
require cross-disciplinary, inter-institutional
and international research responses. In
2007 the University undertook long-term
planning for major new cross-disciplinary
institutes. Encouraging feasibility studies
have laid the foundations for major
investments in Sustainability, Immunology,
Peak Computing and Materials. A Strategic
Major Research Project Fund providing
$30 million for major initiatives now
complements the Strategic Research
Initiatives Fund (SRIF). Both offer crucial
central support for areas of strategic
research importance.
Meanwhile, work to boost crossdisciplinary
research is already bearing
fruit. The University is playing a central
role in the creation of clusters of
research expertise and partnerships
for multi-disciplinary research through
its visionary Bio21 Molecular Science
and Biotechnology Institute and the
Florey Neurosciences Institute under
development on the Parkville campus. The
Bio21 Institute now brings together more
than 450 scientists from the University,
biomedical research institutes and industry
and is home to three Federation Fellows.
Relationships with key affiliates like the
CSIRO were strengthened during the year
and six talented Future Generation Fellows
were appointed, with the calibre of the
candidates inspiring great confidence about
the future of research at the University.
Knowledge Transfer
In 2007 the University focussed on making
Knowledge Transfer part of all aspects
of University life – research, curriculum,
interaction with the community and
processes for recognition and reward. A
program of knowledge transfer awards
and grants was inaugurated, with
the multiple objectives of rewarding
excellence, providing seeding for new
knowledge transfer activities and improving
understanding of knowledge transfer
within the University. The applications for
these awards demonstrated the breadth of
impressive knowledge transfer activities
across the University. Knowledge transfer
is now part of the promotion criteria for all
staff and incorporated into the executive
“The University of Melbourne’s Growing
Esteem strategy affirms our intention to be
one of the finest universities in the world,
highly regarded for making distinctive
contributions to society in research, learning
and teaching and knowledge transfer.”
Glyn Davis
Vice-Chancellor
Left: More than 60,000 prospective students and their families visited the University on Open Day.
The University of Melbourne Annual Report 2007