5 December 2016

VC Forum tomorrow

I hope you can join me for the final VC’s Forum for 2016, 12.30 pm to 1.30 pm tomorrow in the Elizabeth Jolley Lecture Theatre. Lunch will be available from 12.10 pm along with some traditional end-of-year treats.

I will provide a brief overview of Curtin’s progress during 2016, discuss current challenges, and launch Curtin’s 2017-2020 Strategic Plan.

I will be very happy to take questions at the forum on the new Strategic Plan or on any other topics or issues. You are also welcome to tune into the live webcast on the day and ask any questions via the chat feature.

Success in National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) grants

I am pleased to announce Curtin’s recent success in the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) grants.  The University received almost $2 million in funding including a Project Grant and Career Development Fellowship.

I congratulate the successful candidates and everyone involved in achieving such a wonderful outcome. The researchers and projects are listed below. The full results can be found on the NHMRC website.

NHMRC Project Grant (for funding commencing in 2017)

• Associate Professor Rebecca McKetin and Dr Peter Higgs, Faculty of Health Sciences:

Project Title: The N-ICE trial: A randomised controlled trial of the safety and efficacy of N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) as a pharmacotherapy for methamphetamine (“ice”) dependence.

Institutions: Curtin University, Deakin University, Monash University, Burnet Institute, University of Wollongong, Calvary Mater Newcastle Hospital

NHMRC Career Development Fellowship (for funding commencing in 2017)

• Dr Ryusuke Takechi, Faculty of Health Sciences:

Project Title: Restoration of diabetes associated cognitive deficits through the modulation of cerebrovascular integrity.  

We also acknowledge and congratulate our Curtin researchers who have been involved in successful NHMRC grants in collaboration with lead researchers from other institutions.

Curtin University to open Dubai campus

One of the topics I will cover at the Forum is Curtin’s plans to establish a campus in the Dubai International Academic City, to commence in late 2017. The campus will expand upon our current international footprint, offering Curtin programs to students from significant markets in the Middle East, the Indian Sub-Continent, Africa and Central Asia.

Our courses at Dubai will include a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs/streams of study in Business, Science and Engineering, and Humanities.  Establishing a campus in the region will also provide an opportunity for Curtin to develop collaborative research centres with key industry and international university partners in areas of strategic interest.

The University will appoint a resident Pro Vice-Chancellor to head the campus, and retain control over all academic matters, including academic staff selection, the provision of course materials, enrolment and entry standards, assessments and examinations, teaching standards, and academic governance structures.

Curtin Dubai will be the third overseas campus for the University, following the establishment of Curtin Sarawak in 2002 and Curtin Singapore in 2008.

Curtin researcher appointed ARC Executive Director

Congratulations to Associate Professor Therese Jefferson who has been appointed to the role of Australian Research Council (ARC) Executive Director for Social, Behavioural and Economic Sciences. This is an outstanding achievement and her expertise and knowledge will no doubt be a great asset to the Research Council. If you would like to read more about this achievement, please see Curtin’s media release.

Australian Awards for University Teaching 2016

The Australian Awards for University Teaching for 2016 were held last week and Curtin was the only University to win four of the 30 awards allocated. Congratulations to the following award recipients on their success:

2016 Awards for Teaching Excellence

• Mrs Michelle Quail (Early Career)
• Professor Dawn Bennett (Humanities and the Arts)

2016 Awards for Programs that Enhance Learning

• Noongar Dandjoo (Educational Partnerships and Collaborations with other organisations)
• Physiotherapy National Simulation Program (Educational Partnerships and Collaborations with other organisations).

These awards demonstrate Curtin’s innovative approach and progressive education programs which enhance the student learning experience.

(L-R) Dawn Bennett, Michelle Quail, Penny Moss, Tony Wright, Sally Goldrick, Michelle Johnston and Julianne Reid.

Vietnamese health delegation visits Curtin

Last week we hosted a Ministry of Health delegation from Vietnam as part of a plan to reform the country’s health education system.

We were joined by 10 government officials and leading university academics who were given a tour of the Medical School and a briefing on our Medicine and Nursing programs.

Myself, Professor Michael Berndt (Pro-Vice-Chancellor Health Sciences) and Professor Seth Kunin (Deputy Vice-Chancellor – International) with the visiting Vietnamese health delegation.

Curtin students awarded New Colombo Plan Scholarships

Well done to two Curtin students who were awarded scholarships for the New Colombo Plan Scholarship Program for 2017. This is an initiative of the Australian Government that aims to lift knowledge of the Indo-Pacific in Australia through long-term overseas study and internships and is awarded to those who demonstrate academic excellence. Georgia Ivers and Jesse Tuckek were among 100 successful recipients. On behalf of Curtin I wish them both the best of luck with their future studies.

Jesse Tuckek and Georgia Ivers with Minster for Foreign Affairs, Julie Bishop.

2016 Australian University Games

The results from the Australian University Games, which were held here in Perth earlier in the year, have been announced. Curtin has placed 9^th out of 42 universities in the overall standings and 12^th in the per capita final standings.

This is a great achievement for our student athletes and for Curtin. Well done to all the competitors and those involved in the Games. For more information, please visit unisport.com.au.

Curtin staff rally to help others

It was touching to see how many areas of the University came together recently to support the ‘Share the Dignity’ drive to provide women in crisis with a bag filled with toiletries and other small essentials.  Over 140 bags were donated, and many staff also donated items to go with the bags.

I am aware many areas of the University support various charities, and I commend those involved in this and other similar initiatives.

The donated bags prior to delivery.