news
Gippsland- Ballarat
regional uni to proceed
By Aileen Macalintal
Despite the changes to government funding, the planned joint venture of Monash University and the University of Ballarat will go ahead.
Monash vice-chancellor professor Ed Byrne said that with the councils’ decision to proceed, they can focus on seeking government actions that include the Victorian parliament’ s approval of a new name for the university. The universities decided to form an expanded, regionally focused university after the suggestion of a joint effort in improving the delivery of regional higher education.
“ In February, the two universities announced that they would undertake extensive consultation and due diligence process to determine the viability of this proposal,” said UB chancellor Paul Hemming.
“ It was well-known that Monash University had been looking at ways to enable the Gippsland campus to better meet the needs of its communities, including improving university participation rates regionally,” said Hemming.
He said they will now seek the necessary formal approvals from the Victorian and commonwealth governments and move to detailed implementation planning and activity.
Consent will also be required from the federal government and from the Tertiary Education Quality Standards Agency( TEQSA).
Discussions are continuing with the NTEU and staff regarding the detail behind the proposed staffing arrangements. However, Gippsland staff can be assured that all eligible staff will be offered employment by the new university on terms and conditions no less favourable than they currently enjoy.
Victorian minister for higher education and skills, Peter Hall, has offered his inprinciple support.
He said the proposition would benefit students across the state, giving them access to a wider range of courses and to support services that are tailored to the needs of regional students.
UB vice-chancellor professor David Battersby said,“ This initiative would bring together the skills and expertise developed in Gippsland, Ballarat and the Western regions of Victoria to further benefit these and other regional communities.
It would support the economic development of regional Victoria by ensuring a thriving, broad-based, regional university that facilitates learning through education and research, and which provides the foundation for regional growth and competitiveness, he added.
“ This new arrangement, once approved, will offer more students the opportunity to undertake their studies locally,” Battersby said.
“ It holds great potential to develop new ways of delivering courses that better suit regional communities including better and closer connections with other
regional education providers, especially TAFE Institutes,” he said.
“ Whilst the proposition cannot be implemented until these approvals are received, we can make preparations while they are being sought.
“ The next seven months are going to be very busy for everyone involved,” Byrne said.
Pro vice-chancellor professor Robin Pollard extended his appreciation to all involved in the consultation process.
“ Since late February, we sought input and engagement with all those who will be affected by this development. While some concerns and disagreement were expressed, we also received support from organisations and individuals who see the benefits of the changes proposed,” Pollard said.
“ It was apparent that different community groups care deeply about the campus, while at the same time confronting the region’ s low participation in university education. The campus intends to maintain the healthy dialogue.”
He said the next few months will see Monash working with UB to ensure a smooth transition, with minimal disruption to current teaching and research.
Currently enrolled students will remain Monash students, and will be able to complete their studies at the Gippsland campus, graduating with a Monash degree. n
Registrations Now Open!
This year’ s AIEC will focus on the key global, regional and local drivers that influence and shape international education.
Keynote Speakers include: Waleed Aly- broadcaster, author, academic, musician and one of Australia’ s most respected and versatile media talents; Annabel Crabb – journalist, accomplished author of Losing It: The Inside Story of the Labor Party in Opposition and recipient of the Walkley Award for best magazine feature writing for her Quarterly Essay entitled Stop at Noting: The Life and Adventures of Malcolm Turnbull; Jon Burns – Founder and CEO of The Ethiopian Skateboard Park Project and Dr Pratap Bhanu Mehta- President of the Centre for Policy Research, one of India’ s premier policy think tanks.
Education institutions are under increasing pressure to engage deeply at the international level while at the same time operating primarily as national agents within their domestic framework. Achieving balance and sustainability in this context is often a significant challenge. Global and local educational, economic, and socio-political forces continually intersect, creating competing priorities but also fostering creative tensions.
Register Now to attend AIEC National Convention Centre Canberra 8-11 October 2013.
Register before 21 June to receive the $ 200 Early Bird rate www. aiec. idp. com
www. campusreview. com. au May 2013 | 7