Education Portfolio Projects 2009

The Education Portfolio is funding a range of activities through its Initiatives and Commitments in 2009.  These include a number of projects related to the Monash Passport and eLearning, support for indigenous activities, as well as funding a number of business improvements.  The projects are listed in detail below.

Monash Passport Projects

Australian Science Olympiad

The annual Australian Science Olympiad program is a tangible way of enhancing students' interests in developments in science, opening them up to the future career opportunities they can provide.  It enables Year11 and 12 students to spend the next two weeks completing an entire first year university science course at Monash University, including lab work, lectures and exams in the students' chosen speciality of biology, chemistry or physics. 

For further details go to http://www.monash.edu.au/study/local/science-olympiad/

Communication and Language Enhancement for Academics and  Researchers (CLEAR)

CLEAR commenced in 2007 to support and promote effective communication skills and intercultural awareness among Monash academic staff.  CLEAR assists participants to improve spoken English clarity, interact effectively with colleagues and students, teach with greater skill and confidence and develop intercultural communication skills and strategies.

For further details contact Lorraine.Bennett@calt.monash.edu.au

Educate09

Educate 09 has now concluded.  Planning has commenced for 2010 and we welcome your comments about Educate 09 and suggestions for 2010 which can be emailed to Educate 09.

Education for Sustainability Framework

The Education for Sustainability Framework (ESF) has been prepared following the 2009 Senior Management Conference and 2009 Council Retreat, which reconfirmed the centrality of the integration of environmental sustainability into all aspects of University activities and operations.  The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) has assumed responsibility for the preparation of a University Plan to embed sustainability in education  at Monash.  The ESF provides a structure and mechanism for this to be achieved.The paper is now being circulated within the broader Monash University community (authcate access required) for comment which can be made at http://blogs.monash.edu.au/education-sustainability/ 

Monash University provides a large range of units and courses in the area of Education for Sustainability.  Approximately 300 units and 15 degree courses are available from seven faculties.  The full list is available for download here (.xls 63kb).

For further details contact Jeffrey.Bender@adm.monash.edu.au

Honours Project

The Honours Project aims to reform Honours at Monash and make the offering the best in Australia.

For further details go to http://www.odvce.monash.edu/projects/honours/honours-project.html

John Monash Science School

The JMSS is a Victorian Department of Education secondary school that specialises in science, mathematics and technology curriculum. The school is planned to open on the Clayton campus in 2010.  The co-location of the school is intended to realise potential advantages in curriculum and pedagogy development and increase interest in science and mathematics study and research, among other outcomes.

For further details go to http://www.adm.monash.edu.au/vp-admin/jmss/index.html

Peer Assisted Study Scheme (PASS)

This project commenced in 2007 under the umbrella of the University Retention Project. PASS uses 2nd and 3rd Year students to facilitate regularly scheduled supplemental study sessions for 1st Year students in targeted units. Attendance by 1st Year students is voluntary, open to all students enrolled in the target units.

For further details contact Adrian.Devey@adm.monash.edu.au

Sessional Development Project

The Sessional Development Project aims to develop an institutional framework for the training and support of sessional academic staff.

For further details go to http://www.odvce.monash.edu.au/projects/sessional/sessional-project.html

Staff Mobility Framework

This project comprises two programs: the Cross-Campus Staff Mobility Program (CCSMP) which focuses on supporting academic and professional staff to travel to other Monash campuses and the Travelling Fellowship for Professional Staff (TF) which supports the professional development of professional staff to undertake their roles.  The benefits are wide ranging and encapsulate University and personal benefits.  They include greater cross cultural awareness, improved curriculum design and delivery, improved team working relationships for cross campus delivery and increased skill development and positive profiling of the University.  It can also showcase Monash achievements internationally and assist staff to build professional relationships and networks.

For further details contact Andrea.Heyward@adm.monash.edu.au

Student Success Advisers

In 2008, the Transition Retention and Progression Taskforce discussed monitoring student engagement initiatives and connecting with first year students who are at risk of withdrawing from their units or discontinuing their course. It has been found that many students cease attending classes without discussing their reasons for non-attendance with staff who may be able to assist with transition issues. The Taskforce recommended that Monash University trial a peer-to-peer Student Success Advisor program in first semester 2009.  Three faculties have volunteered to participate in this program: Arts; Business and Economics; and Information Technology. These faculties will recruit Student Success Advisors (SSAs) who will contact at-risk students in Week 4 about their transition to university. Students will be deemed at risk if they fail to attend two or more tutorials in the first three weeks of semester and/or do not submit a first assignment.

For further details contact Sam.Jacob@adm.monash.edu.au

Students as Staff

This project expand on the earlier Student Employment pilot project and its primary aim is to expand and further develop in students the awareness of and access to the benefits of work at Monash. The project will meet the need among Monash students to have access to flexible and where possible, credit-worthy or study-specific employment located at or close to their home campus. It will also highlighted the wealth of student employment opportunities that exist or can be explored by both academic / administrative units.

For further details contact Joanne.Tyler@adm.monash.edu.au

Vice-Chancellor's Teaching Showcase

The Showcase was established as an annual event in 2005 and since that time several hundred staff have collaborated each year to provide a special day of sharing and exchanging of innovative teaching strategies and approaches.

For further details go to http://www.monash.edu.au/teaching/vcshowcase/

Volunteering and Internship

Monash students have for decades been involved in activities to improve the human condition - at home and overseas.  Participation in volunteering and internship programs provide valuable career enhancing skills including leadership, negotiation, problem solving, communication, teamwork and contribute to making a direct, tangible difference to the quality of life of others. The project builds in the achievements of earlier projects including Work Integrated Learning, Monash Student Volunteering and Transition Scheme, Peer Assisted Study Scheme (PASS), and incorporates the objectives of new initiatives such as the Oxfam Internships Project, Monash Students as Staff, and Student Success Advisers. 

For further details contact Adrian.Devey@adm.monash.edu.au

Work Integrated Learning

This project will assist in the development of synergies and the identification and embedding of good practice in relation to the many instances of Work Integrated Learning at Monash, particularly in clinical disciplines.  In particular, this project will work with Oxfam to develop internship opportunities across Monash domestic and international campuses and courses.  

Forfurther details contact Joanne.Tyler@adm.monash.edu.au

Monash Passport Information Technology Initiatives

Audio Lectures Refurbishment

This project will determine a set of requirements and select and implement the next generation of technology for the audio lecture service.

For further details go to http://www.its.monash.edu.au/staff/projects/audio-lectures/index.html

Flexible Learning, Teaching and Collaboration Spaces

A task force has been established by the DVC (Education) to develop a strategy for future learning space design, upgrades and refurbishment.

For further details go to http://www.its.monash.edu.au/staff/projects/collaboration-spaces/index.html

Monash University Studies Online (Moodle)

The purpose of this project is to begin the implementation process for an open-source based Learning Management System (Moodle) production service.

For further details go to http://www.its.monash.edu.au/staff/projects/muso-moodle.html

myLearningSpace

This pilot project is investigating the development of an integrated learning environment, myLearningSpace, across four domains - fieldwork, wet laboratory, the classroom and the mobile environment.

For further details go to  http://www.its.monash.edu.au/staff/projects/mylearningspace.html

Monash Passport Indigenous Initiatives

Indigenous Career Development Position

Working within a framework of cultural safety and inclusive teaching practices the Indigenous Project Officers will work with other CALT staff to develop policies, practices and training which strengthen cultural awareness and acknowledgement of diverse knowledge systems across the university. They will also provide advice with respect to the particular requirements of Indigenous students at Monash by contributing to various university committees and other fora.

For further details contact Lorraine.Bennett@calt.monash.edu.au

Improving Indigenous Student Access

A suite of projects are being undertaken in 2009 by the Centre for Australian Indigenous Studies (CAIS).  These include an Indigenous summer science school for indigenous VCE students, programs to provide cultural support for Indigenous students in order to assist with retention and success, and marketing programs to raise awareness of Monash University programs within Indigenous communities in Victoria.

For further details contact Judith.Cooke@general.monash.edu.au

Other Projects

Centre for Medieval and Renaissanace Studies

2009 sees the commencement of the second phase in the development of the Monash Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies at the Monash University Prato Centre.  The major deliverables include: signing Memoranda of Understanding with Project partner institutions; completing the purchase of the Rubinstein Library from the Warburg Institute, University of London; developing a flagship distributed learning unit drawing on the collection of the State Archives of Prato - which includes the Datini Archive and other invaluable Medieval and Renaissance material.

For further details contact Cynthia.Troup@arts.monash.edu.au

Core Business Evaluations

The Core Business Evaluation Systems project is a continuation of the survey management and reporting infrastructure project which has been developed over the past 4 years at Monash University .

For further details go to  http://www.its.monash.edu.au/staff/projects/core-business-evaluation.html