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

RESEARCH &
ReseARCH TRAINING
reducing isolation, while at the same time
providing broader feedback on general
issues pertaining to thesis research. The
Committee acts as the first point of contact
for discussion of issues that candidates
may wish to raise with persons other than
their supervisor(s).
Over the past two years, the University
has developed Postgraduate Essentials 1:
Strategies for a Successful Start, an online
interactive course aimed at equipping
PhD students with the academic skills
and management tools essential for the
first year of candidature. All commencing
candidates enrol in this course. Completing
the suite of online programs, Postgraduate
Essentials: Completion and Beyond was
launched in November 2007 to help PhD
candidates in the final stages of their
degrees write, edit and submit a doctoral
thesis, as well as plan and prepare for life
after thesis.
Each of these new initiatives has
contributed to the continuing improvement
in RHD completion rates. The rolling
average timely completion rates for PhD
candidates increased by 10.2 per cent (from
49 per cent in 2005 to 54 per cent in 2006)
representing the third consecutive annual
increase of over 10 per cent.
Overseas Experience
Strategic Priority
> Ensure that all ‘on track’ Melbourne
PhD students are encouraged to apply
for financial assistance to enable them
to spend some time at an overseas
institution and/or attend an international
conference during candidature
Achievements
To enhance their international experience
and global networks, all Melbourne
PhD students who are progressing in a
timely manner are encouraged to apply
for financial assistance to enable them
to spend time at an overseas institution
or attend an international conference.
Supplementing travel and conference funds
available through candidates’ faculties and
departments, the Melbourne Scholarships
Office provides Melbourne Abroad
Travelling Scholarships and Postgraduate
Research Experience Scholarships.
To strengthen student links between
Universitas 21 (U21) institutions in 2007,
Solander Scholarships provided funds to
travel to Lund University and US$10,000
U21 program funding was available to
support student-networking activities at
U21 conferences. Further details are set out
in the International section of this report.
Maintaining RHD Leadership
Strategic Priorities
> Finalise and implement Melbourne’s
‘Research Higher Degree Marketing and
Recruitment Strategy’
> Complete a review of Research Higher
Degree research load targets to ensure
a level of supervision and infrastructure
necessary to provide an outstanding
experience for all our RHD students to
ensure quality, timely completions
> Develop the Melbourne Advanced Studies
Award for PhD students to be introduced
in 2008
Achievements
As competition for graduate research
students increases across Australia,
Melbourne is keen to maintain its
leadership in research training. In 2007,
a comprehensive RHD Marketing and
Recruitment Strategy was developed to
promote broadly the opportunities the
University offers in graduate research
education. The plan aims to increase both
the load and quality of RHD candidates.
An academic advisory group, staff and
marketing resources have been allocated
to implement the strategy, which will take
shape in 2008.
Whether the aim is to increase load or
improve the quality of the RHD cohort, there
are significant carrying capacity differences
both across and within faculties. In 2007,
faculties were surveyed by the SGS to
inform the load setting process. Load
targets will be set with consideration of
the level of supervision and infrastructure
available to provide an outstanding
experience for all RHD students and to
ensure quality, timely completions.
As an element of providing a distinctive
experience for Melbourne PhD students,
the University has endorsed in principle the
development of a Melbourne Advanced
Studies Award (MASA) as a recognised
award program. In 2007, extensive market
research was conducted to assess student
interest and faculties were consulted to
investigate the relevance and relationship of
a MASA to existing and future postgraduate
programs. The need for generic and
discipline specific offerings was identified.
A Graduate Certificate in Commercialisation
for Research Students was also introduced
in 2007 supported by funds from the DEST
Commercialisation Training Scheme. The
suite of generic, for-credit subjects which
have been developed for this scheme will
provide a firm foundation for the generic
subjects in the MASA.
PROFILE
Professor
COLIN Masters
Laureate Professor Colin Masters,
based in the University’s Department
of Pathology, is one of the world’s
foremost neuroscientists and a leader
in research into Alzheimer’s disease
and viral infections of the brain. His
research spans more than 30 years.
In 2007 he was awarded the Victoria
Prize from the State Government of
Victoria and the Smorgon Foundation,
for his major achievements in isolating
and characterising elements of the
primary pathway causing Alzheimer’s
disease. Professor Master’s research
holds that the accumulation of
toxic amyloid protein in the brain
impairs memory. His work is widely
acknowledged as having had a major
influence on the direction of a now
worldwide research effort. It has also
opened up new insights into other
major neurodegenerative diseases
such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob and
Parkinson’s diseases.
Professor Masters was admitted as a
Fellow of the Australian Academy of
Technological Sciences and Engineering
(ATSE) in 2007.
The University of Melbourne Annual Report 2007 27