No.3-81 May - Adm.monash.edu.au - Monash University

THAI ACADEMICS ON SIX MONTH VISIT Avec survey on international links The Australian Vice-Chancellor.' more than 400 pages long, and containsCommittee has just completed the 1497 separate entries on academicfirst survey of academic links links; 1284 of them with Australianbetween Australian tertiary universities and 213 with colleges.institutions and overseas A copy has been sent to the Library.universities and related institutions. Addition.al copies are available (at aThe survey was commissioned by cost of $5 each plus poetage) from thethe AVCC about 18 months ago AVCC, PO Box 1142, Canberra City,following considerable expansion of ACT,2601 •.academic links between Australianand overseas institutions.It will provide assistance to thePlants patentsAustralian Government in thedevelopment of its cultural, scientificand other ties with other countries, as Plant varietal rights - patents onwell as providing information for plants - is, so to speak, a thornyuniversities and other educational and issue.scientific institutions.Legislation covering such rights isWhat the survey sought to do was es­ due to be tabled in the Autumn sessiontablish what links had been of Parliament but plans are that it willestablished by Australian educational not be passed for six months to enableinstitutions other than through the for­ discussion.mal Australian-Asian Universities Co­ Making a contribution to the debateoperation Scheme. AAUeS, as it is will be speakers at a pre-dinnerknown, is funded largely by the seminar on plant patents beingAustralian Government through the organised by the Monash Law faculty'sAustralian Development Assistance Continuing Legal Education Centre forBureau. Tuesday, May 19.AAUCS was started by the A VCC 12 For further information contact Mrsyears ago to mobilise the resources of Lisa Cooke or Mrs Dot Grogan on ext.Australian universities to help 3377.strengthen universities in ASEANnations and New Guinea.Many of the new links described inTutor vacancythe survey have been establishedduring outside studies programs.In the foreword to the report of the A vacancy exists for the position ofsurvey, the Chairman of the AVCC's tutor in Roberts Hall.International Relations Committee, Applications - to be submitted asProfessor D.A. Low, said the survey soon as possible - have been invitedwas modelled on the British Council's from married members of Monash staff1974 survey of academic links. and married poetgraduate students.He said the main purposes of the An applicant's spouse, if academicallyAustralian survey were:qualified, may also be offered a• To provide source material for tutorship.universities and other interested The weekly accommodation rate forbodies wishing to establish, or be a married tutor is $24.64 or $20.44 ifinformed about, links with overseas both husband and wife are appointed.institutions.Accommodation includes private• To provide a guide for answering the bathroom and a kitchenette, althoughnumerous enquiries which the A vee, tutors are expected to take most ofuniversities and other institutions their meals in the Hall's dining room.receive from overseas institutions Application forme and furtherwishing to establish links.information may be obtained fromThe A VCC Occasional Paper the Halls admlni8traUve aa.latent,containing the results of the survey is Mrs. Eileen Rogers, ext. 2900_Fourteen ThaI academlCl are cur­ This year's group is more senior thanrently visiting Mon8lh for ahl: in previous years and includes Dr Parmonthsunder the Thai University nlch Tinnlmlt, Assistant .to the RectorLecturers Scheme.for Academic Affairs. Several top­The academics, all from the Prince ranking members of departments andof Songkla University in Hatyai in the head medical librarian at the ThaiSouth Thailand, wilJ be aiming to university are aleo in the group.increase knowledge and skills in theirsubject areas, academic Their program at Monash is in twoadministration and modem education parts. The academics spend two days atechniques.week with HEARU undertakingThe Scheme, funded through the studies in 8uch aspects as courseAustralian Development Assistance planning, teaching techniques,Bureau, is organised by the Univer· applications of educationalsity's Centre for Continuing Education technology, 888essment methods andin association with the Higher the planning of teaching resources. OnEducation Advisory and Research Unit the other three days they join a hootand departments. This is the fourth department covering their own interestyear in which the Scheme has areas to observe and participate in itsoperated.day to day operation.Vllitlng Thai lcedemic. Ind. in braeke ... the depertmenta to which they Ire ItteChed ItMonuh: front row. Mr Pinei Orrunaroege (Mechlntcal Engineering). Mlu Preuich.tf. Suithlvll1i(Educat~) . Miss Woraouch Tiautrakul (BiornecUc.1 library). and M, NKi Rrttrohonbhun (Zoology);centre. Mrs Suman81 Jitpituk (Anthropology .nd Sociology). Mrs Jongpid $i,ir.t (AdminmratiwStudies'. Mr. Boonchuay Chetanasena (Geogrephy). Mrs Anharpom Chotnipet (Education) end MissKritlri Samabuddhi (Education); beck row, Mr Vudhipong Teehedernrongsin (Comput... Science). OrSunthorn Sotthibandhu (Zoology). Or Swei Uemkeew (Education), Mr Peltoon Bunnjewlht (French)and Or Parnich Tinnimit (HEARU).:~,~;,\!j;~." ». ' ,)4." ,:1f\'t·.!"::':~f~,.io~·wi~~.~\!'-"n:. •• " , •••r,;.w.r........~~• Pr.kelchetre Sukhsv..ti with two of her danee students. Toni Pusterlll Ueft) and M.ry-.nne Titler.Music sludents and staff play instruments of the Mahori behind.'Ginger' leads the dance ­Students in Monash's Music play two of the instruments of thedepartment this year are being orchestra or one of the instrumentsoffered. a novel opportunity - to plus take tuition in dance. This i8 thelearn Thai dancing as part of their first time the dance option has beenformal study.available.(The skiJIs of another Thai visitor, The students are in third and fourth Panya, taught to members of the year and are taking the unit MU8ic of department when be was here in 1976, the Southeast Asian Mainland. are being passed on to students inTheir instructor in dance is Mi.1 tuition by Greg Hurworth on stringedPrakaichatra Sukhsvasti - known instruments and Poedljono onin the department as "Ginger". Miu percussion) ,Sukhsvasti is visiting Monash for six Miss Sukhsvasti is teaching twomonths with 13 other academics under forms of Thai dance - the Rsmwongthe Thai University Lecturers' (80cial dancing) and classical dance.Scheme. Her home institution is the She learned dancing as a child - inPrince of Songkla University (see informal classes at her cousin's houseseparate story) where she specialises in and has maintained an interest in it asthe teaching of Engli8h as a second a leisure activity ever since.language.Miss Sukhsvasti points out that sheThe course, conducted by Reader in is not a formal teacher of classicalMusic, Dr Margaret Kartoml, sur­ dance. To hold such a position a Thai,veys extensively the music of Thailand after long study, must reach the stagebefore going on to that of Burma, Laos, of being "knighted". Her sister i8 suchKampuchea and Malaysia. Thailand a teacher.has been in contact - peaceful and To respect tradition, 88 a "nonnon-peacefulwith these teacher", Miss Sukhsvasti cannotneighbouring countries over the touch her Monash students as part ofcenturies and her varied musical forms their tuition. What she can do,may be seen as a bridge between the however, i. explain the movementsmusics of mainland Southeast Asia. and act as a model for the students toThe course focuses on the music of follow.the Pi Phat, the Thai percussion • Students taking the subject will takeorchestra, and the Mahori 88 it is part in a public performance featuringcalled if strings are added.Thai music and dance on Thursday,As part of the subject's June 25 · at 1 p.m. in the Musicrequirements, students must learn to auditorium in the Menzies building.May. 19814 MONAIH ftll'OftTeft