6 October 2008
Senior educators have unveiled a new education blueprint for Monash University.
The Monash Passport is a bold new program that builds on the existing strengths of the teaching and learning program at Australia's largest and most internationally-focused University, and creates some exciting new initiatives.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) Professor Adam Shoemaker said the University was committed to providing every student with an outstanding educational experience and a strong international perspective.
"The message for students is simple: at Monash University the world is your campus," Professor Shoemaker said.
"The approach, ideas and values contained in our new Monash Passport will flow through our lecture halls, tutorials rooms and research facilities and inform everything we do."
The hallmarks of the Monash Passport are embedded opportunities for students to:
- Choose interests and professional aspirations including the career-driven double degree program from day one
- Enhance their university experience through involvement with two new selective-entry secondary schools being built on the Monash Clayton and Berwick campuses in partnership with the Victorian Government, to give the best and brightest publicly-funded access to the finest of pre-tertiary education
- Act by taking part in an array of volunteer and community programs, building leadership and employment skills, and giving back to their community
- Investigate by taking up a research project as part of a degree and being part of an enhanced Honours program
- Explore by taking advantage of study links with 115 partner universities in 25 countries. Generous grants are being made available to help support students who study overseas.
Professor Shoemaker said the University aimed to boost the number of students taking up its Honours programs by up to 1000 within two years.
"At Monash, we have a strong commitment to high achievement in undergraduate research and we are fostering what we hope will be Australia's premier Honours program. We aim to enrol up to five per cent of our students in that program in the next 24 months," Professor Shoemaker said.
An additional 50 scholarships have been created as part of the enhanced Honours program, plus improved mentoring and a wider range of research options.
Tomorrow Monash University will sign a memorandum of understanding with the aid and development organisation Oxfam to build stronger curriculum, internship and voluntary placement links.
"Like Oxfam, Monash has always had a strong commitment to social justice," Professor Shoemaker said.
"Now we will be giving additional emphasis to opportunities for voluntary and pro-bono work for all of our students.
"Our formal partnership with Oxfam is the first major step in our strategy to work closely with key Australian and international non-government organisations."
Professor Shoemaker said the University offered the most generous suite of scholarships of any Australian university, creating equity-based opportunities as well as rewarding excellence.
The Monash Passport was announced as part of Educate08, a celebration of teaching and learning excellence at the University from 2-10 October, and the Monash Education Expo on 8 October, an event for potential students interested in undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
- The Monash-Oxfam Partnership will be officially launched by Mrs Jan de Kretser, wife of the Victorian Governor, at 2.30 pm on Tuesday 7 October at Monash University's Caulfield campus, Level 1 Building H, 900 Dandenong Rd Caulfield East.
For more information or to arrange an interview with Professor Shoemaker contact Martin Curtis, Media and Communications telephone +61 3 9903 4837 or mobile +61 409 401482. | 
