annual report/2006 - University of Melbourne

international
engagement/
Asialink
Asialink, a non-academic Department of
the University, continued to strengthen
its reputation as Australia’s leading
centre for the promotion of public
understanding of Asia and of Australia’s
role in the Asian region. Through an
active program of events within Australia
and Asia, it significantly increases the
University’s reputation as an Asiafocussed
and engaged institution.
Asialink also strengthens coordination of
University-wide programs and activities
under the banner ‘Melbourne Asia’,
helping to raise community awareness
of the initiative.
In 2006 Asialink:
• Held the prestigious ‘Asialink
Conversations’ in Vietnam to coincide
with the APEC Leaders’ Meeting.
Sponsored by the University, BHP
Biliton and Singapore Airlines,
the initiative brought 30 leaders
from ASEAN together to discuss
contemporary issues facing the region.
• With the University’s Asia Insitute,
launched the ‘Melbourne Asia’ web
site (www.unimelb.edu.au/asia)
providing links and information
about the University’s Asia initiatives,
research expertise and activities.
The web site will be utilised by
current students, possible future
local and international students,
staff, and by the general community
interested in Asia issues.
• Held an extensive program of public
events at the University including:
- 85 Asia-focussed public events
such as public lectures, conferences,
private roundtables and private
dinners and lunches, with almost
8,000 attendees.
- 37 partner collaborations (including
ANZ, Australia Council of the
Arts Friendship Society, Islamic
Council of Victoria, the Vietnamese
Community of Australia, ACTU,
Lowy Institute for Public Policy,
The Age, Multimedia Victoria and
PricewaterhouseCoopers.)
- 20 presentations from Ambassadors,
Ministers and Members of Parliament
• Published ‘Access Asialink’
e-newsletters and ‘Asialink News’
highlighting Asia-focussed events
and initiatives at the University and
in the community to 4000 readers.
In programs aimed at engaging the
Australian community with Asia:
• Asialink’s Arts Program sent 36
artists on residencies (in literature,
performing arts, visual arts and
literature) to the Asian region; held
six visual arts exhibitions across Asia
with over 28,000 visitors and took
10 Australian authors to Asia for its
Literature Touring program.
• Asialink’s Education Program sent
over 200 Australian teachers to China,
India, Korea, Japan, France, Germany,
Italy and Mexico on its Access Asia
and Endeavour Language Programs.
One hundred and forty-five Australian
teachers travelled to China, India,
Korea, Vietnam and Cambodia, while
32 teachers from Korea, India and
Indonesia visited Australia on Asialink
programs.
In 2006 over 100 external (non Asialink,
but Asia focussed) events were held
at the University’s Sidney Myer Asia
Centre, attracting more than12,000
attendees. The events involved 30
external event partners ranging from
the Japan Foundation to the Royal
Australian Institute of Architects.
Regional Initiatives
Through the University’s Department of
Psychiatry, the Centre for International
Mental Health, the Australian
International Health Institute (AIHI)
and Asialink, the University has for
many years worked in collaboration
with St Vincents Mental Health Service
as partners in the Asia – Australia
Mental Health Consortium (AAMH)
to strengthen mental health in the
Asia-Pacific region.
In 2006 the AAMH worked with senior
mental health leaders including hospital
directors and senior government leaders
in China, Malaysia. Korea, Japan and
Thailand on various projects including:
• The innovative ‘686’ community
based mental health service program
involving 60 sites in both urban and
provincial areas throughout China.
• A three stage training program
for Mental Health professionals
in Malaysia.
• A delegation of Seoul government
administrators to the University for
training in community mental health
service delivery.
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 three-year
research program is supported by grants
of $3 million from AusAID and the Myer
Foundation, and involves staff from a
wide range of disciplines.
Outlook
During 2007 the University will
implement the strategies set out in the
new International Plan. In particular,
strategic engagement frameworks will
be prepared for regional sectors. These
will include promoting Research Higher
Degree opportunities in Malaysia,
finalising establishment of the offshore
office in Bangalore, India and working to
improve the benefits of the Go8 Berlin
office to Melbourne. The University
will become actively engaged with its
partners in the APRU and will develop
strategies to increase study abroad
and student exchange opportunities.
The University of Melbourne Annual Report 2006
47