Year 2001 - University of Canberra

Corporate Services
Corporate Services continued to provide the
University with effective and efficient services in
the areas of Property, Human Resources, Planning
and Resource Development, Financial Services,
Marketing and Development, Student Residences,
Student Administration and Secretariat.
During the year the Division dealt with 89 staff
resignations, 21 retirements, 33 non-renewals of
contract and three deaths. Further information
on staff is provided in Appendix C. A total of
16 academic staff members (9 female, 7 male)
completed Outside Studies Programs. Most spent
at least part of their program in Australia, while
approximately half spent time overseas.
In the area of Equal Employment Opportunity
the University continued to be a leader in
the employment of women in universities.
In particular, the representation of women in
middle level and senior academic positions
continued a rate of increase far above the
national average. In 2001, half of the University’s
Senior Lecturers and one quarter of its Associate
Professors and Professors were women.
The proportion of women with tenured
appointments increased following a review of
fixed term appointments, and the success rate
for women applicants for promotion was higher
than for men. A successful Group Mentoring
Program for Women benefited the University
through the increased communication skills and
motivation of participants, and raised awareness
of the values, needs and contribution of women
to the University.
Percentage of international undergraduate
and postgraduate students on Canberra
campus, by country:
Thailand (9.6%); Bangladesh (8.7%); Malaysia (5.9%);
India (5.8%); Pakistan (5.6%); Indonesia (5.5%);
Hong Kong (4.8%); Singapore (4.6%); China (4.4%);
United States (4.3%); Canada (3.5%); Korea (3.0%);
Japan (2.6%); Other (31.8%).
Percentage of ELICOS students on
Canberra campus, by country:
Korea (26%), Thailand (19%), Japan (19%),
Taiwan (12%), China (7%). Other (17%).
In 2001, UC students studied overseas
in the following countries:
Thailand (11), Japan (8), Finland (5), Canada (5),
Italy (3), Mexico (3), United States (3), China (2),
Germany (1), Netherlands (1).
In 2001, UC hosted 57 exchange
students from the foll owing countries:
Thailand (15), Japan (12), Canada (10),
United States (4), Finland (3), Germany (3),
Mexico (3), Italy (3), China (2), Taiwan (2).
Conditions of service assisting employees to balance work and family
were updated. A review of the use of maternity leave indicated that all
participants returned to paid employment.
A Disability Action Plan was developed with the intention of increasing
the number of staff who identify as a person with a disability. An on-site
service was facilitated by the Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service,
providing publicity and group presentations to managers and
supervisors. This resulted in four job placements for people
with disabilities.
To ensure that all its staff received appropriate skill sets, the Division
implemented during the year the first stage of the staff development
plan. This resulted from a skills audit project conducted in 2000 and
the first half of 2001.
In addition to training programs, staff were supported in undertaking a
range of other development activities, such as attending conferences,
participating in the Outside Studies Program (OSP), taking part in the
University’s group mentoring program for women, and undertaking
formal study. Of the 194 staff in the Division, 31 per cent have
Bachelor’s degrees and 9 per cent have postgraduate qualifications.
The department established in 1999 to develop and implement
procedures for the flexible delivery of the University’s courses was
closed during the year and its staff and functions devolved to the
Business Units in the academic divisions.
International marketing continued to focus on the predetermined
country priorities established by the University’s marketing committee.
The University focused on seven key countries—Hong Kong, Thailand,
Singapore, Malaysia, Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan—in which the
University has an established position, and on two development
markets—China and the United States.
Some 869 international students from more than 70 countries were
enrolled in on-shore courses during 2001 and 594 students in partner
programs in China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore.
An additional 497 students were enrolled in UC English language
courses and approximately 180 in University of Canberra College
foundation studies courses.
The Division conducted conferring of awards ceremonies in Hong
Kong and Singapore for the first cohorts of students completing
their studies offshore.
The University’s domestic marketing focus continued to be on the
provision of higher education services to Canberra, Queanbeyan and
the broader Capital Region of south-east New South Wales. This was
effected through visits to schools in the region, school visits to the
Canberra campus, the annual Open Day, career exhibitions around
the region, the distribution of specialist publications and targeted
newspaper advertising features. The University’s ‘Future Students’
website was extensively re-designed in the latter part of the year.
Courses for which the University of Canberra has special national
expertise have been promoted Australia-wide through national
education guides and specialist advertising.
The Community Relations section continued to help raise the corporate
profile of the University, particularly at the local level but also at the
regional and national levels. This was reflected in a marked increase
in the number of media references to the University, which in 2001
averaged 80 a month. This was achieved by way of increased liaison
with Divisions and key media, and aggressive publicising of University
activities. The section continued to provide comprehensive web design,
graphic design and publications services to the University, and to
oversee the activities of the Convocation Officer.
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