It did not matter that Communication was crazily
housed within the School of Engineering and Science
at that time! After meeting the Head, Professor Robin
Alfredson, and experiencing his compassionate and
committed guidance and mentoring of his diverse
staff of scientists, engineers and Communication
faculty, it seemed no liability, and the respect for Robin
from Communication lecturers was palpable. The
PVC, Professor Bob Bignall, was equally endearing.
Any concern that I could not speak or read Bahasa
Malaysia was soothed by Harry’s assurances that
MUM would handle this!
Visions and change
Harry Ballis had a strong vision for Communication
at MUM and, prior to appointment, I questioned him
about the potential for autonomous course offerings
and for Honours and postgraduate programs. His
advice, frankly, was only dimly encouraging as
autonomy for Communication was not envisaged
at that time. Instead, he encouraged broad aims to
recruit staff and stimulate research, and to market
the program more effectively against the steep
competition in KL, and to address a number of
issues of academic compliance. We formulated three
key objectives: to introduce a method of grades
moderation; to enable every Communication lecturer
to travel to the Monash campuses in Australia; and to
strive to increase enrolments from (around) 67 to
100 students in the three years. Many other ideas
and plans were discussed. Secretly(!), I hatched a
goal to establish a Communication Honours
program for MUM.
▲ Lunch with the MUM librarians.
◀ Scholarships & Prizes 2003 (Left to Right) Sudheesh Bhasi,
Sasi Balasingham, Yeoh Seng Guan, Anne Marie Matthews,
Wong Li Li, Richard Larkins, Tee May Yee, Harry Ballis,
Allison Craven, Kerry Ann Augustin, Sharon Bong,
Natalie Leow, Andrew Ng.
13
The Communication program at that time consisted
of a structured, single degree that allowed students,
by choice, to articulate to Monash Gippsland for one
or two semesters of their studies. Curriculum was
wholly contained in the Distance Education course
books that were a mainstay product of Gippsland
campus, and the basis of the studies delivered onsite
by MUM lecturers. The degree included first-year
units in Communication Studies, Media Studies
and Journalism, followed by upper level units in
Communication theory and policy, Public Relations,
(creative) Writing, and Screen (film) Studies. The
novelty ‘electives’ were two first-year units in Music
(created by Monash’s ethnomusicologist, Professor
Margaret Kartomi) that were tutored at MUM by the
renowned concert pianist, Loo Bang Hean. Students
dutifully registered for each and every unit, along with
the compulsory (LAN) units. There were no choices or
graduate pathways on offer.