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Ancora Imparo (previously 'From the Vice-Chancellor's Desk')

23 February 2005

With the incorporation of Monash News into an improved and regularly updated online format, my regular monthly column will be incorporated into Monash Memo. I have also taken the opportunity to give the column a new name. I was somewhat embarrassed by the magisterial and omniscient tone of the previous title and am much more comfortable with using the motto of the university.

I am proud to say that one of the most exciting things about the position I am so privileged to hold is the ability to learn so much from so many. The idea of adopting our motto came when Sue Brown in Staff Development suggested this as the name for the new student 'leadership for change program', but as we wish these students not only to learn but also to push the boundaries of our thinking, I have adopted the name for this column instead. Unapologetically, I am still learning.

My highlight of the year so far has been the Senior Management Planning Conference and Council Retreat, where the Monash Directions document was debated and endorsed. This document extends the timeframe of the Strategic Framework 2004--2008 -- Excellence and Diversity and, while restating the statement of purpose and values of that document, extends the timeframe for the next 20 years or so to describe the type of university we wish to become.

Stephen Parker has led an extensive program of consultation which has resulted in a concise and tightly written document, Monash Directions 2025. Without recapitulating the accompanying annotations, let me just say that we commit to a future as a campus-based, research-intensive university. This is highly significant, as in the changing world of higher education there will be more differentiation and competition -- including from much less expensive, largely online, teaching-only institutions. There will be a decreasing number of high-quality, research-intensive, campus-based universities and, to be successful in this mode, we must become one of the best universities in the world.

Of course this does not mean we will not also have active programs for online and off-campus delivery where appropriate (which will be especially the case for graduate/postgraduate coursework and professional development programs) but it does mean an ongoing focus on research and campus-based, research-led undergraduate education.

Directions 2025 also speaks of our distinctiveness with the combination of a high-quality education and research focus combined with a multinodal international policy, making us unusual or even unique among the world's leading universities. We believe this provides particular opportunities for us.

The document contains much more. The conference addressed at length the implications of our commitment to Monash Directions, which include acquisition of more financial and physical resources and, most importantly, attracting, developing and retaining the best staff and students. I was delighted with the degree of commitment to a really exciting future for Monash. This support was endorsed at the subsequent Council Retreat and at a very positive Campus Planning Conference held at Gippsland the following week.

The Senior Management Planning Conference was also an opportunity for many to meet the PVC-elect for Monash South Africa, Professor Tyrone Pretorius. You will have read a brief bio of Tyrone elsewhere. Suffice it to say, we are delighted to attract someone of Tyrone's standing and ability to this important role.

I hope that all the Monash community has an enjoyable and rewarding year.

Feedback on this column would be appreciated -- what would you like to hear about?

Richard Larkins