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

INTERNATIONAL
ENGAGEMENT
and engaged institution. Asialink also assists
in the coordination of many University-wide
Asia related programs and activities.
One of the highlights of 2007 was the
prestigious ‘APEC 2020 – Asialink
Conversation for Leaders’ held in Sydney
immediately following the APEC Leaders
Summit. With keynote speaker Indonesian
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono,
40 leaders from business, government,
think tanks and academia from 21 APEC
economies discussed contemporary issues
facing the region such as regional architecture,
capacity building and climate change.
Regional Initiatives
The Asia-Australia Mental Health (AAMH)
network, a partnership with the University’s
Department of Psychiatry, the Centre for
International Mental Health, the Australian
International Health Institute, St Vincent’s
Health and Asialink continued to collaborate
on culturally appropriate responses to
escalating mental health challenges in
the Asia region. AAMH projects included
disaster-related mental health care to
protect children and facilitating collaboration
between Beyondblue, Australia’s national
depression initiative, and China’s Psychiatric
Association aimed at raising community
awareness in China about depression.
In another regional initiative, the
University’s Asia Institute is leading a
consortium of eight Australian and four
Indonesian Universities in a collaborative
program to help re-build research capacities
in the devastated Indonesian province of
Aceh. This is a three-year research program
which has been supported by grants of
$3 million from AusAID and the Myer
Foundation, and involves staff from a wide
range of disciplines.
Outlook
2008 will see the opening of two new
offshore offices in San Francisco and
Shanghai, bringing the University’s network
of offshore offices to seven. The University
will work through these offices and other
means to promote the new graduate
schools internationally and to promote the
split PhD in Malaysia. The support of the
new San Francisco office will be particularly
useful in engagement with partner
universities in North America. An Australia
India Institute will be established to provide
regional perspective on relations between
the two countries as well as enhancing
inter-governmental relations, collaborative
research links and strategic alliances with
leading institutions. The University will also
work to further enhance the contribution
made by the Confucius Institute to
strengthen Australia-China relationships.
Radhika Coomaraswamy delivered the 2007 Chancellor’s
Human Rights Lecture, titled “The protection of
women and children during armed conflict. Whose
responsibility?”.
ASIALINK – QUICK FACTS
Conferences
> ‘Linking Latitudes India.’ Nearly 300
Australian educators travelled to India
for a conference in Delhi and Agra and a
two-week fieldwork program.
> ‘Asia Connect,’ a one-day conference
which focused on the opportunities and
the war for talent in Asia.
> Program of public and private events at the
University. Asia-focused public lectures
addressing themes such as climate
change, globalisation, human rights and
security and ‘insider perspectives’ into
countries including Burma, China, India,
Indonesia and Singapore.
> Asialink Ambassadors Roundtables with
Ambassadors from the People’s Republic
of China, Korea and Thailand and
Australia’s Ambassadors to Singapore
and Vietnam.
> Business Briefings with eminent speakers.
Arts Program
> Sponsored over 40 artist residencies
throughout Asia (in Visual Arts, Arts
Management, Performing Arts and
Literature).
>Organised six visual arts touring
exhibitions with 30 participating artists.
> Funded three Australian authors to travel
to China and Taiwan.
> Held annual Australia-Asia Arts Forum in
Brisbane with speakers from Australia,
Korea and Singapore.
Education Program
> Sponsored over 200 Australian teachers
on international study programs.
> Hosted 30 Asian educators.
> Sent 50 Australian educators to Asia.
> Delivered a national forum for leading
educators on Engaging Young Australians
with Asia in Australian Schools.
Leaders Program
> Secured major funding from the Potter
Foundation for participant Scholarships.
The University of Melbourne Annual Report 2007 55