15 June 2005
15 June 2005
Monash University will lead two national Centres of Excellence that today received $24.5 million in funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC), with additional support from the Victorian Government.
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| Professor Barry Muddle. |
The $14.5 million ARC Centre of Excellence for Design in Light Metals aims to expand Australia's light metals industry by improving the design, secondary processing and durability of wrought light alloys of aluminium, magnesium and titanium. And the $10 million Centre of Excellence in Structural and Functional Microbial Genomics will investigate the genetic basis of infectious diseases that affect animals.
The university is a partner in a further three Centres of Excellence -- for Free Radical Chemistry and Biotechnology (led by the University of Melbourne), for Electromaterials Science (University of Wollongong) and in Coherent X-ray Science (University of Melbourne).
Vice-chancellor Professor Richard Larkins said it was pleasing Monash was leading two of the 11 ARC Centres of Excellence and was a partner in an additional three.
"These centres lie at the pinnacle of Australia's research effort, and for Monash to be playing a major role in almost half the centres is an outstanding tribute to the quality and depth of research at Monash across many fields."
Deputy vice-chancellor of research Professor Edwina Cornish said the ARC had recognised the university's strengths in materials engineering, X-ray science, microbial genomics and chemistry.
"These centres will help us build on our strengths and further contribute to the growth of Victoria and Australia in industry and research," Professor Cornish said.
The Centre for Design in Light Metals will be directed by Professor Barry Muddle, from Monash's Department of Materials Engineering, who today also received a Federation Fellowship. Professor Muddle said the centre, as well as improving the design and durability of light alloys, would also characterise and model the structure, properties and performance of these alloys.
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| Professor Ben Adler. |
"Victoria is the hub of advanced manufacturing industry in Australia, with unquestionably the largest concentration in advanced materials research nationally," Professor Muddle said. "The centre's primary goal is to improve the design of materials for use in aerospace, automotive, rail and marine transport; packaging and lightweight structures; and containers."
The Centre of Excellence in Structural and Functional Microbial Genomics aims to develop modern veterinary vaccines and antimicrobial agents.
Professor Ben Adler from Monash's Department of Microbiology, who is directing the centre, said the revolution in biological research brought about by genome sequencing, bioinformatics and proteomics had enormous potential to advance the knowledge of microbes, how they cause disease and the basis of immunity against them.
"The centre's research program will be directed at understanding the molecular basis of microbial pathogenesis (ability to cause disease) as well as the mechanisms involved in turning host and microbial genes on and off during the infection process," he said. "These are fundamental questions that will contribute to the development of vaccines and drug targets to control and treat microbial infections in animals. We also expect significant flow-on benefits for human biomedical sciences."
15 June 2005
Three leading international scientists have been awarded Federation Fellowships by the Australian Research Council to continue their research at Monash University. They are among 24 fellows announced today by federal science minister Dr Brendan Nelson.
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| Federation Fellow: Professor Alan Bond from the School of Chemistry. |
The fellows will take up positions in the university's schools of Chemistry, Biological Sciences and Materials Engineering.
Deputy vice-chancellor of research Professor Edwina Cornish said the fellows were an important boost to the university's research in green chemistry, plant genetics and materials engineering.
The Monash Federation Fellows are: plant geneticist Associate Professor John Bowman from the University of California, Davis, who will join the School of Biological Sciences; Professor Barry Muddle from Monash's Department of Materials Engineering whose expertise is in nanotechnology and light alloy engineering; and electrochemist Professor Alan Bond from Monash's School of Chemistry.
"We are delighted the international excellence of Alan's and Barry's work has been acknowledged and that a scientist the calibre of Professor Bowman will be joining us," Professor Cornish said.
Vice-chancellor Professor Richard Larkins said it was wonderful to have three more Federation Fellows at Monash.
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| Federation Fellow: Professor Barry Muddle from the Department of Materials Engineering. |
"Research stars such as the three recognised today, and Amanda Lynch who joined Monash University as a Federation Fellow in 2004, attract world-ranking teams of scientists and postgraduate students around them and will ensure continued success for Monash as it further strengthens its outstanding research," he said.
Dr Bowman's research will provide a better understanding of how plant architecture is genetically controlled. Leaves and other plant organs are derived from meristems, organised groups of self-renewing stem cells found at the tips of shoots and roots. The size, shape and polarity of plant organs are controlled by information derived from these meristems.
Professor Bowman will investigate the role of three genetic programs in patterning meristem-derived plant organs. His research will provide information on how to manipulate the growth and development of plant organs, with broad implications for agriculture and forestry.
Professor Muddle will research the early stages of nanostructure formation and the factors that control their stability. Nanostructures can range from simple inorganic structures such as colloidal gold particles to complex biological molecules such as arrays of bacterial cell surface proteins.
Professor Muddle's research will have applications ranging from advanced light alloys to quantum dots in semiconductor compounds.
Professor Bond will use electrochemistry (the study of interactions between electric and chemical phenomena) to improve emerging technologies in green chemistry, nanochemistry, photoelectrochemical catalysis and sensors. His research is expected to provide commercial opportunities in the area of scientific instrumentation by transforming experimentally generated or simulated data sets into instantly recognised images.
15 June 2005
Monash alumni and staff, including several alumni from the judiciary, clergy and politics, were among recipients of this year's Queen's Birthday Honours.
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| Her Honour Justice Marilyn Warren received the highest honour, the Companion in the Order of Australia. |
The highest honour, the Companion in the Order of Australia (AC), was awarded to three members of the Monash community.
The Chief Justice of the Victorian Supreme Court, Her Honour Justice Marilyn Warren, received an AC for service to the judiciary and to the legal profession. Ms Warren holds the degrees of BJuris 1973, LLB 1974, LLM 1983 and HonLLD 2004 from Monash.
The Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, His Eminence Cardinal George Pell, received an AC for service to the Catholic Church in Australia and internationally, raising debate on ethical and spiritual matters, education and social justice. Archbishop Pell holds a Master in Education (1982) from Monash.
An AC was awarded posthumously to former Tasmanian premier and Monash student Mr Jim Bacon for his service to the Tasmanian Parliament and the state of Tasmania.
Monash alumnus Mr Tim Costello was named an Officer in the Order of Australia (AO) for service to the community through contributions to social justice, health and welfare issues, and international development assistance, and to the Baptist Church. Mr Costello holds the Monash qualifications of BJuris 1976, LLB 1978, DipEd 1979.
Other Monash AO recipients included Professor Eric Albert Haan (BMedSc 1971, MB BS (Hons) 1972) for services to clinical genetics, The Honourable Justice Murray Bryon Kellam (BJuris/ LLB 1972) for service to the law, and Dr Iain James Ross (MBA 1993) for service to industrial relations.
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| Mr Tim Costello was named an Officer in the Order of Australia (AO). Photo: courtesy of World Vision Australia. |
Current Monash staff member Professor Russell Mein of the Faculty of Engineering was named a Member in the Order of Australia (AM) for service to science in the field of flood hydrology and urban water resources and for contributions to research, teaching and professional practice.
Other Monash AM recipients included Dr Alan Lindsey Bundy (MLib 1985) for service to librarianship and promotion of the role of libraries, Professor Robert Llewellyn Clancy (PhD 1973) for service to cartography and to medicine in the field of immunology, Dr Gerald Byrne Maynard (HonDInfo 2004) for service to the information technology industry and education, and Dr David Leon Woolley (HonLLD 1987) for service to literature and to music.
Monash recipients of the Medal in the Order of Australia (OAM) included Dr Ida B Brodrick (MPM 1989) for service to the community through the administration of public health programs, Dr Annemarie Jean Hunt (BEd 1981) for service to education and to the community, Ms Susan Rita Jennison (MA 1985) for service to the community through local museums and historical societies, Mr Irvine John Newton (BPharm 1970) for service to the pharmacy profession, Ms Nanette Margaret Oates (MEnvSc 1977) for service to environmental management, Ms Pauline Elsie Powell (PhC 1955) for service to the community of Rye, Mr Robert Fraser Stewart (BEc 1968) for service to the community, and Mr Neil Francis Werner (PhC 1956) for service to the performing arts.
The Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) was awarded to: Colonel John Andrew Dunn (BSc 1979, LLB 1982), for outstanding achievement as Command Legal Officer Headquarters in Australia Theatre, Director of Military Justice and Director of Army Legal Services; and Wing Commander David Howard Langlois (GradCertEng 1994) for outstanding achievement as Commanding Officer Tactical Fighter Logistics Management Unit, supporting Hornet aircraft operations.
The Public Service Medal (PSM) was awarded to Mr Brian John Tresidder (BA 1967) for outstanding service in public sector industrial relations.
The Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) was awarded to Mr John Richard Tindall (DipBus (ProdMgt) 1995).
15 June 2005
The University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, and Monash University have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish close collaboration and cooperation on teaching, learning, research and community development.
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| University of Newcastle vice-chancellor Professor Christopher Edwards with Monash senior deputy vice-chancellor Professor Stephen Parker. |
The two universities have also signed an agreement to establish collaboration and cooperation in health science, particularly in regenerative medicine, stem cell sciences, healthy ageing, neurosciences, paediatric psychiatric illnesses and developments in medical and health sciences education.
The University of Newcastle upon Tyne began as a School of Medicine and Surgery in 1834 and in Armstrong College, which was founded in the city in 1871 for teaching physical sciences. It has more than 17,000 students and, in the year ending July 2003, received A$137 million in research grants and contracts.
Senior deputy vice-chancellor Professor Stephen Parker, who exchanged agreements with University of Newcastle vice-chancellor Professor Christopher Edwards, said the MOU signalled Monash's second strategic partnership in the UK. The first was with King's College London.
"We expect to collaborate on several levels with the University of Newcastle," Professor Parker said. "In management terms, we will benchmark some processes and exchange information.
"Newcastle has improved its research performance markedly and will help us make preparations for a research quality exercise, with senior staff almost certainly coming to Australia in the near future. In February, Professors Ed Byrne, Merran Evans, Graham Webb and Alan Trounson visited Newcastle, following my exploratory visit last year, and they returned enthusiastic about the possibilities for collaboration."
The MOU supports:
15 June 2005
Monash researcher Ms Lauren Ely has received a high commendation in the 2005 Victorian Premier's Awards for Medical Research for her work on why the body rejects organ transplants.
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Ms Ely (pictured), who was awarded $8000 and a certificate last week, is studying immune system proteins that are able to identify foreign cells, thereby causing organ transplant rejection.
Working in the university's Protein Crystallography Unit, Ms Ely is investigating interactions between these proteins in an attempt to bring researchers closer to developing new therapies that may help prevent future organ transplant rejection.
The 25-year-old researcher is completing her PhD, working with Dr Jamie Rossjohn, from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Monash, and Professor James McCluskey, from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Melbourne.
Ms Ely said the Protein Crystallography Unit had been fundamental to her work.
"The unit houses state-of-the-art facilities for both protein structure determination and the study of protein interactions," she said.
"The facilities in both the unit and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology have been fundamental to my studies."
The Premier's Award for Medical Research is a joint initiative of the Victorian Government and the Australian Society for Medical Research. It recognises the contributions made by young researchers and is available on an annual basis to postgraduate researchers.
Ms Ely said the award was recognition by the Victorian Government of the contribution that postgraduate students make to medical research.
15 June 2005
Monash University and Gippsland Group Training have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will pave the way for Monash students and Victorian employers to work together on a large-scale cooperative education program.
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| Pro vice-chancellor Professor Brian Mackenzie and CEO of Gippsland Group Training/Apprenticeships Victoria Mr Kevin Kennedy sign the MOU. |
It is the first student workplace program jointly sponsored by a university and group training organisation in Australia.
Students of the faculties of Arts, Art and Design, Business and Economics, Information Technology, Science and Engineering at the Gippsland campus will be eligible to participate in the program.
A pilot project involving current students, as well as the first official intake into the program, will start in February 2006. Students selected will receive workplace training, more than six months paid employment and academic credit.
Professor Brian Mackenzie, pro vice-chancellor of the Gippsland campus, said he believed the program would meet the needs of employers, students and careers teachers.
"Our hope is to grow this program so that half of all incoming students can participate in future years," he said.
Recent market research conducted for the Gippsland campus indicated the number of young people in the region was expected to drastically decline after 2011. At the same time, many job shortages could become acute.
Offering an extensive work placement program is expected to help Gippsland campus students make more of an impact in the workforce, build better relations with local employers and help attract and keep students in the region, Professor Mackenzie said.
"We fully anticipate this will make our graduates even more sought-after in the workplace," he said. "We also expect it will help employers build relationships with excellent employees who they may wish to retain after the work placement has completed."
15 June 2005
Computer science and art and design will combine when Monash's Centre for Electronic Media Art (CEMA) opens a branch at the Caulfield campus later this year.
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| From left: Professor Ron Weber and Professor John Redmond. |
The Caulfield branch, to be housed in the Art and Design faculty building, will be the second arm of CEMA. The first was opened in the Faculty of Information Technology's School of Computer Science and Software Engineering at Clayton in 1999.
Information Technology dean Professor Ron Weber and Art and Design dean Professor John Redmond announced the Caulfield initiative last week.
The Caulfield branch is part of a long-term plan to establish CEMA as an internationally recognised centre for theory and research in generative electronic art. It will operate as one entity across the two faculties and will be managed by academic staff from both faculties.
Research students and staff will have access to IT facilities at Clayton such as an experimental production laboratory with facilities to produce electronic media artworks in the areas of computer music, interactive multimedia, computer animation and interactive sound.
This will complement the Department of Multimedia and Digital Arts' purpose-built digital media studios at Caulfield, which have facilities for producing digital imaging, web design, interactive media, animation, virtual spaces and digital video.
Professor Weber said researchers from the IT and Art and Design faculties would bring together new and complementary perspectives on technology and art.
"Over the last decade, IT has had a dramatic impact on the way creative ideas are realised, produced and delivered," Professor Weber said.
"The Caulfield centre will lead to the development of new cross-disciplinary research and education programs that utilise cutting-edge IT research driven by advanced creative goals."
Professor Redmond said society's rapid uptake of technology had opened up exciting new possibilities for artists, designers and IT professionals to collaborate.
"This new initiative will offer research opportunities that will allow our academic staff to devise and explore next-generation applications in creative domains," he said.
CEMA is the principal sponsor of 'Third Iteration', the third international conference on generative systems in the electronic arts, which will be held in Melbourne from 30 November to 2 December. For information, visit the conference website at www.csse.monash.edu.au/~iterate/TI/index.html.
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| Members of the CEMA team, from left: Mr Troy Innocent, deputy head, research, Department of Multimedia and Digital Arts; Dr Alan Dorin, senior lecturer, School of Computer Science and Software Engineering; Professor Ron Weber; Dr Jon McCormack, senior lecturer, School of Computer Science and Software Engineering; Professor John Redmond; and Associate Professor Arthur De Bono, head, Department of Multimedia and Digital Arts and Department of Design. |
15 June 2005
Associate Professor Shaun Jackson, from the Australian Centre for Blood Diseases at Monash, has been awarded the Amgen Medical Research Award for his work on a new treatment for coronary heart disease and stroke.
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Dr Jackson (pictured), who received the award in Sydney last week, led his team in the development of a new class of drugs, called PI 3-kinase inhibitors.
These appear to be more effective than aspirin at preventing disease-causing blood clots and have fewer side effects.
His research, which was published in the journal Nature Medicine, may prove to be vitally important in treating heart attack and stroke in patients by stopping formation of the problem-causing blood clots without causing excessive bleeding.
"Aspirin is the most widely used anti-clotting drug, however it is only effective at preventing fatal heart attack and stroke for about one in four patients," Dr Jackson said.
"There is a major need for safer and more effective anti-clotting drugs. The 'holy grail' in the field is a drug that prevents disease-causing clots while not increasing the risk of bleeding."
He said the award was wonderful recognition of his team's work and was evidence of the support for scientific research in Australia.
"This is a fantastic award and I feel very honoured to have won it," Dr Jackson said.
"I commend Amgen on providing the award and in doing so, recognising the important work scientists do."
The director of scientific affairs at Amgen Australia, Ms Kathleen O'Shea, said Amgen was delighted to be able to recognise Dr Jackson with this award.
"Amgen is committed to bringing the benefits of science to patients," she said.
"We can all be proud of the world-leading contributions made by Dr Jackson that clearly have the potential to improve health outcomes for patients throughout the world."
15 June 2005
The Monash Science Centre has won a World Environment Day prize for excellence in sustainable design.
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The City of Monash awarded the centre the Sustainable Renovation/New Building Award for sustainable development in an urban environment earlier this month.
The centre, which opened at the Clayton campus in 2002, aims to bring the community and scientists together to enrich science understanding.
"We were delighted to receive recognition of the practical application of sustainable architectural and environmentally sensitive design values that make the building both visually appealing and environmentally responsible," Professor Vickers-Rich said.
The World Environment Day ceremony, held at the Monash Civic Centre, is an annual event that aims to promote good urban design and increase awareness of the benefits of community action and sustainable practices.
The judges said the Monash Science Centre was an outstanding example of building design that incorporated design fundamentals such as optimal orientation (to maximise natural daylight, ventilation and sunlight), thermal chimneys, a careful choice of sustainable materials and other innovative environmental measures.
The award included $750 from co-sponsor Visy Recycling.
15 June 2005
The Engineering faculty's Maintenance Technology Institute has received an excellence award for research into improving the safety and reliability of Australian coal mining equipment.
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| Back row, from left: Institute senior research fellow Dr Brian Kerezsi; institute senior research fellow Mr Henry Bartosiewicz; head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering Professor John Sheridan; and institute director Mr John Rucinski. Front row, from left: Institute principal research fellow Mr Gerard Chitty; Engineering faculty dean Professor Tam Sridhar; and institute principal research fellow Dr Daya Dayawansa (absent is institute project member Professor John Price). |
The award was given by the Australian Coal Association Research Program. The institute, in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, has conducted nine projects under the coal association's program.
Faculty dean Professor Tam Sridhar said the excellence award recognised the institute's valuable research and development for the Australian coal industry.
The institute's director, Mr John Rucinski, joined Professor Sridhar in congratulating the project team of Dr Daya Dayawansa, Mr Gerard Chitty, Dr Brian Kerezsi, Mr Henry Bartosiewicz and Professor John Price for their excellent research and development and productive relationships with industry partners.
Department head Professor John Sheridan said the institute had achieved significant gains for the coal industry, particularly in improving the safety, reliability, life extension and productivity of mining plant and equipment.
"In this particular project, the institute's research team improved the safety and reliability of very large and complex equipment including coal mining draglines, shovels, haul trucks, bulk handling equipment, ship loaders, and processing plants," Professor Sheridan said.
"The knowledge gained through the institute's research is being applied to the development of next-generation plant and equipment designs."
Mr Rucinski said the institute's work was widely recognised and accepted nationally and internationally.
"Our research model offers great potential for Monash to achieve unprecedented relevance to Australian heavy industry and to greatly contribute to its international competitiveness," he said.
The Australian Coal Association Research Program awards, part of the National Competitive Grant Scheme, are made every two years.
15 June 2005
A new memorial scholarship honouring a Monash education researcher has been given at the annual Education faculty student awards.
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| Jeff Northfield Award, from left: Inaugural recipient Mrs Jill Flack; Education faculty acting dean Professor John Loughran; and Jeff Northfield’s wife, Mrs Joan Northfield. |
The inaugural Jeff Northfield Memorial Award for Excellence in Teacher Research was presented to Ms Jill Flack at the ceremony on 1 June.
The award is dedicated to the memory of Education faculty researcher Professor Jeff Northfield, who died in May last year.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Education faculty acting dean Professor John Loughran said Professor Northfield was passionate about teaching and teaching research.
"From the time Jeff arrived in the faculty in 1975, both his research and practice were framed by a commitment to the fundamental significance of teacher knowledge, and more specifically the knowledge generated by teacher research for the improvement of classroom learning," Professor Loughran said.
Ms Flack, who taught at Monash's Peninsula campus and worked as a school teacher, played a key role in establishing the first Project for Enhancing Effective Learning (PEEL) group of primary teachers from schools around Warragul in rural Victoria.
Teachers who participate in PEEL undertake research and discuss classroom approaches that stimulate and support independent student learning.
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| Margaret Clark Award, from left: Award recipient Ms Hongming Ma; Margaret Clark’s daughter, Ms Heather Clark; Education faculty acting dean Professor John Loughran; and Margaret Clark’s husband, Mr Malcolm Clark. |
A second memorial prize -- the Margaret Clark Award -- was presented to Ms Hongming Ma. It is awarded annually to an outstanding Master of Education student in the maths and science field.
Ms Ma, who obtained her Master of Education (Mathematics and Science Education) last year, is now investigating the culture of mathematics and science education for her PhD.
Ms Margaret Clark, who completed her Master of Education (Research) at Monash in 1991, passed away from cancer in early 1992. The award was established in her name by her husband Mr Malcolm Clark, and it was presented by her daughter Ms Heather Clark.
As well as the two memorial awards, 15 university and industry-based scholarships for excellence were awarded to Education students at the Clayton campus ceremony.
15 June 2005
Art Education Victoria's annual conference was hosted by the Faculty of Art and Design last week, enabling staff to liaise with industry professionals and display the facilities and opportunities available to prospective students.
Essentially Art, Thinking Art/Art Thinking -- a mix of exhibitions, meetings and interactive workshops -- brought together more than 150 delegates from across Victoria.
Associate Professor Bernard Hoffert, who liaised with Art Education Victoria to bring the conference to Monash, said it was a great success.
"We gained the opportunity to mix with teachers, show them our facilities and the nature of our courses and find out what the teachers thought future students of Art and Design might require in terms of courses and facilities," Dr Hoffert said.
"It is because of this that such conferences are so beneficial; they enable us to liaise with our industry's main professional organisation."
Art Education Victoria, a non-profit organisation, was established to advance art education and assist and develop art educators by providing forums, sponsorship and support.
The Faculty of Art and Design has established an ongoing relationship with Art Education Victoria not only to provide support for staff, who participated in the conference, but also to communicate the academic prospects and opportunities of their courses to students.
The Faculty of Art and Design will offer several workshops to Art Education Victoria later in the year for teachers to gain knowledge of specialist art techniques.
15 June 2005
Agents' Awareness Week was held at Monash South Africa last week as part of a strategic effort to develop and build relationships with key international student recruitment agents.
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| From left: Dr Dorish Chitson, director of the Overseas Education Centre in Mauritius, with Monash South Africa marketing manager Mr Andre Lubbe and Dr Pang Ngah Shin Chitson of OVEC during Agents' Awareness Week. |
Seven agents from Ghana, Zambia, Pakistan, Malawi and Mauritius as well as two representatives from Monash University Malaysia -- senior marketing manager Ms Stephanie Hah and regional manager Ms Claudine Ngoh -- participated in the three-day program.
The agents were taken on a campus tour and shown the facilities in the areas surrounding the campus. They also met and had discussions with all Monash South Africa schools and departments as well as with groups of international and local students.
Monash South Africa marketing manager Mr Andre Lubbe said the program was a great success.
"At the end of the week, we had very positive feedback from the agents, and indications are that there is definitely potential to grow the numbers of international students at Monash South Africa," Mr Lubbe said.