LA TROBE UNIVERSITY Bulletin SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2002

GLOBALISATION in education, culture and science NEWS Bulletin IN THIS ISSUE Honorary Doctorate for

Globalisation Ð its impact on education, culture and science Ð MARIO VARGAS LLOSA is the key theme of this issue. La Trobe University Mario Vargas Llosa, left, receives Vice-Chancellor, Professor his Honorary Doctorate from Vice- Michael Osborne, looks at The Chancellor, Professor Michael impact of globalisation on the Osborne. role of universities, see centre pages, while celebrated Peruvian writer, Mario Vargas Llosa, a guest of the University during October, examined Culture and the new international order, page 7. Internationally acclaimed Australian-born poet, Peter Porter, visited to deliver the inaugural La Trobe University Ð Australian Book Review Annual Lecture on September 11. Titled The survival of poetry, a report appears on page 11. And this year’s lecture, by distinguished scientist, Professor , highlighted The real risk of GM foods Ð Global dominance of the market, page 4.

The real risk of GM Food 4 Fragile X and autism 5 People before blackboards 6 Culture and the new international order 7 Celebrated Peruvian writer and political the visit to Mildura highlighted the thinker, Mario Vargas Llosa, has been University’s commitment to expanding arts The impact of globalisation awarded an Honorary Doctorate by La Trobe and education in the Sunraysia district. on the role of universities 8-9 University in recognition of his Mario Vargas Llosa has been Visiting ‘distinguished contributions to literature, International education a key Professor in numerous universities, including unswerving support for democratic Cambridge, Columbia, Washington, Puerto to prosperity 10 institutions, and stimulating influence on Rico, Jerusalem and Georgetown, and Writer- academic activities at La Trobe University’. New LTU - ABR literary in-Residence of the Smithsonian Institution in lecture series 11 Vargas Llosa, who also ran for the Presidency Washington DC. of Peru in 1990, was presented with the He has won numerous prestigious literary Critical thinking on award at a special ceremony held on the awards including Spain’s Cervantes Prize ‘Frankenfears’ 12 University’s Mildura campus. in 1994, the Ritz Paris Hemingway Prize First Doctors of Social Work 13 Unlike many of his fellow Latin American in France in 1985, the Castiglione de ‘magical realist’ writers, Vargas Llosa’s Sicilia Prize in Italy in 1990, and a Florence posting for art historian 14 fiction has been described as ‘hyper realism’. National Book Critics Circle award in the Student company wins awards 15 Author of 13 novels, Mario Vargas Llosa United States In 1998. previously visited La Trobe in 1993 when A defender of democratic freedom and civil Ian Robinson in umpires’ Team he spoke at an international symposium liberties, as President of PEN International in of the Century 16 dealing with his work. 1977 he campaigned for the civil rights of Since then, the author has maintained a close writers and intellectuals in Latin America and the developing world. The La Trobe Bulletin is published by the Public Affairs interest in the academic activities of the Office, La Trobe University. University, supporting the work of Hispanic He left Peru after his unsuccessful bid for the Articles may be reproduced with acknowledgement. and Latin American scholars. presidency in 1990 as candidate for Fredemo Photographs can be supplied. His week’s visit to was sponsored (Democratic Front). He now lives in London Enquiries and submissions to the editor, Ernest Raetz, by the University. He delivered a free public and Madrid. Since the restoration of La Trobe University, . 3086 Australia lecture at the Mildura Arts Centre (see report, democracy in Peru, he pays regular visits to Tel (03) 9479 2315, Fax (03) 9479 1387 page 7) and spoke to about 300 people at an his homeland. Email: [email protected] Website: www.latrobe.edu.au/bulletin/ interview forum with La Trobe Professor of Spanish, Roy Boland, at Readings in Carlton. Design: Campus Graphics, (45738) See Culture and the new La Trobe University. Humanities and Social Sciences’ Associate Printed by Vaughan Printing Pty Ltd. Dean (Regions), Professor Alan Frost, says international order, page 7

2 LA TROBE UNIVERSITY BULLETIN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2002 NEWS

La Trobe in top nine for ARC Research Discovery grants La Trobe University researchers have ‘These include the study of the threat to Professor Smith says research into the been successful in securing 24 new ARC international security posed by disposal of biosolids from wastewater Discovery Research Grants worth a total HIV/AIDS, how Australians have treatment plants is being supported of $4.8 million over the next five years. responded to the social and political through a ARC Linkage grant. This ranks La Trobe among the top nine changes of the past two decades, the ‘Linkage - Infrastructure Equipment and universities in terms of the number of “Islamic threat” and its impact on the Facilities grants will support the grants received, and third in Victoria after politics of Central Asia, the British development of electronic access to Melbourne and Monash. colonization of New South Wales and the seminal documents at La Trobe and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), politics of friendship. participation of La Trobe researchers in Professor Fred Smith, says 14 of these ‘Research into muscle function, the the development of a National Electronic Discovery grants are in the Humanities impact of clearing of Australian native Preforming Arts database and access to and Social Sciences, testimony to the forests on log-dependent invertebrates, high performance computing.’ research strength of La Trobe University the response of mitochondria to stress and in this area. Projects receiving support advanced mathematics are examples of cover a broad spectrum of social and the nine new projects receiving support in historical issues. the Sciences and Mathematics.’ $3m ‘high-tech hub’ provides new prospects for regional businesses would provide rural and regional Victorians with the infrastructure needed to secure more investment and jobs for their communities, boosting the competitive capacity and confidence of country Victoria, he added. Chancellor of La Trobe University, Emeritus Professor Nancy Millis, said the Centre was the first State Government funded, University endorsed facility established in regional Victoria to contribute to regional economic development. It would also enhance La Trobe’s regional role across the State, helping the University to work closely with business, industry and the community. Tony Malligeorgos, Director of Marketing and Business Development for Ericsson

Mr Brumby and La Trobe Australia, said his company was working Chancellor, Professor Millis, at the with more than 3,000 organisations locally, launch of the Bendigo ICT Centre. and over 100,000 globally, to transfer creative ideas into commercial reality. Central Victoria’s new $3.2 million state-of- leading-edge technology equipment, supplied La Trobe University has appointed Ms the-art technology hub Ð operated by by Ericsson Australia. Ericsson has been Jennifer Jones as Manager of the Bendigo La Trobe University to provide world class working with La Trobe University to Centre. She has 30 years experience in the IT training, research and development Ð has establish the new Centre. industry, having worked in business been opened by Treasurer and Minister for Mr Brumby said Victoria was taking a development and management roles for IBM State and Regional Development, John leading role in turning smart ideas into good Australia and the Queensland Government. Brumby. The Bendigo Information, businesses, generating hundreds of new high- Communication & Technology (ICT) Centre, tech jobs for people throughout the State. The funded by a State Government Regional new centre would put Bendigo in the Infrastructure Development Grant, boasts forefront of ICT in regional Australia. It

LA TROBE UNIVERSITY BULLETIN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2002 3 PUBLIC LECTURES

THE ANNUAL NANCY MILLIS LECTURE THE REAL RISK OF GM FOOD Global dominance of the market

into genetic engineering and 16 years of research into GM foods. Humans ate DNA every day, she added. It was degraded in the gut and there had been no evidence of ‘foreign’ DNA invading the human genome. Some 30,000 crop field trials had been carried out, and 5.5 million farmers in 13 industrial and developing nations had already planted 60 species of GM crops. Fifty-two million hectares of GM crops were planted 2001. Professor Clarke said the environmental benefits of GM crops included no toxic residues in soil and less tillage and spraying of crops. This translated into economic benefits. Citing GM cotton crop figures for the year 2000, she said the benefits included cost savings of $72-91 a hectare for chemical pesticides and $60-80/ha for herbicides.

Professor Clarke, right, and Professor Millis An eminent plant cell biologist and before this year’s lecture. Laureate Professor of the , Professor Clarke is a former Chairman of CSIRO and Lieutenant- Those who own the intellectual property Modified crops and the changing face of . rights over genetically modified (GM) agriculture. plants and foods can dictate the terms of ‘This is an issue which we must focus on if Contributions by trade and dominate the global market we are to retain a position in agriculture, place. and indeed in the biotechnology industry Professor Millis This Ð rather than possible adverse health in general. We must own at least some of The Annual Nancy Millis lecture is held in effects of GM crops Ð was the critical our genes and germplasm.’ honour of Emeritus Professor Nancy Millis issue, said Professor Adrienne Clarke, Professor Clarke said the owners of AC, Chancellor of La Trobe University. A when she delivered the Annual Nancy intellectual property would ‘call the shots’, leading biological scientist, she has also Millis Lecture at La Trobe University setting the licence fee at what the market been a key figure in government policy recently. will stand. They would dictate where relating to water use, trade waste, sewage, Professor Clarke said genetically modified production would occur and which nations conservation and agriculture and gene plants and foods marketed to date have would have access to products and regulation. shown no risks to health beyond those of services. One of Professor Millis' most important conventional plant breeding. Around 300 On safety, she said there was no evidence contributions has been the regulatory million people world-wide had eaten GM that food from GM crops posed any more system for gene technology in Australia. foods for more than six years, with no risk than traditional foods. Safety She chaired the Genetic Manipulation reported adverse effects. depended on the quality of food handling Advisory Committee between 1985 and However, too often, Australia has sold off and manufacturing. 2000, leading to ‘The Gene Technology the rights to publicly-funded research at a Professor Clarke said there had been a Act’ 2000. very early stage to get paltry returns, she ‘base’ of more than 30 years of research See also Robyn Williams, page 12 said, in her lecture titled Genetically

4 LA TROBE UNIVERSITY BULLETIN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2002 RESEARCH

FRAGILE X New study may tell us more about autism

The National Institutes of Health in the USA have awarded La Trobe University scientists another major grant for research on Fragile X Syndrome, a common form of intellectual disability, and autism. The grant of $170,000 per year for five years, is a sequel to an earlier collaborative Institutes research grant to Dr Danuta Loesch, a Senior Research Fellow in La Trobe’s Department of Psychological Science, who leads the study. Dr Loesch says Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), relatively unknown and largely Photo courtesy of the National Fragile X Foundation, USA. undiagnosed, has a significant impact on society, and may be a key to understanding She says the cause of autism is unknown. It ‘What makes these revelations even more other neuro-developmental disorders such is also not known whether the same important is that the carriers of these as autism. genetic ‘make up’ predisposes children to small-size mutations are not uncommon in She will continue the research with two either autistic behaviours in fragile X the general population. A conservative main collaborators, Dr Richard Huggins of syndrome, or to non-fragile X autism. estimate of prevalence ranges from one in La Trobe’s Department of Statistics, and ‘Our new study will use cutting-edge 300 females to one in less than 800 males. Professor Randi Hagerman, from the methodologies to investigate these ‘The finding that a limited number of older University of California Medical School. problems. We expect it will reveal a great males carrying the premutation develop The new study adopts a multidisciplinary deal more about the nature and origin of tremor and other neurological changes is approach to behavioural and molecular autistic-like behaviours.’ of greatest concern. issues related to both FXS and autism. It Another major area of the new study is ‘The purpose of the new study is to has already attracted a number of other concerned with brain- behaviour effects of approach this problem in greater depth, collaborations amongst scientists from small fragile X mutations (‘premutation’). firstly, by establishing how common these La Trobe, University of Melbourne and ‘Our data has revealed that, although the clinical manifestations are in male Monash Medical Centre. FMR1 gene is active in carriers of these premutation carriers of different ages. FXS is caused by an unstable mutation in small mutations, the level of genetic ‘Secondly, we shall investigate the the X-linked (FMR1) gene. Large-sized information in the form of messenger RNA relationship of clinical and psychological (‘full’) mutations are usually associated (mRNA) is elevated,’ she says. changes in these carriers with molecular with ‘silencing’ the FMR1 gene, which ‘Messenger RNA is vital as it transmits changes, especially with the levels of stops the production of this gene’s protein genetic information from DNA to the FMR1mRNA. product essential for normal brain protein-making system. An increased Findings from the study, says Dr Loesch, development. amount of mRNA may lead these carriers are likely to change research and clinical Dr Loesch says a major topic of the new to experience some psychological and approaches to Fragile X, and provide study concerns autistic-like behaviours in learning problems. information to guide future treatment. individuals affected with the fragile X full ‘Indeed, parallel with these findings, we mutation. obtained, by applying powerful analysis of ‘Our earlier findings revealed many family data (developed by Drs Huggins similarities between these behaviours in and Loesch) the strongest evidence so far fragile X, and in non-fragile X individuals of the presence of such problems in diagnosed with autism.’ individuals carrying a fragile X premutation. LA TROBE UNIVERSITY BULLETIN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2002 5 TEACHER EDUCATION

People before blackboards La Trobe initiatives redefine teacher education

of this course and the Opposition has also suggested this type of training. ‘It is fortunate and unusual that we now have both sides of politics recognising the problem and offering solutions,’ says Dr Nicholas. La Trobe is the only university so far offering the graduate level course for technology education in Victoria. The University introduced the program Ð a two-year Graduate Diploma Ð in 2001. It is now taught on three campuses, at Melbourne (Bundoora), Albury-Wodonga and Bendigo and is also available at Shepparton and Mildura. The first cohort of about 50 will graduate at the end of this year. Other La Trobe initiatives are in adult education. One was the introduction five Universities are being pushed to redefine the years ago of a Graduate Diploma in nature of teacher education. Vocational Education and Training for teachers and trainers in adult learning, such While Australia, like most countries shortage is exacerbated by shortages in the as TAFE and industry training programs. around the world, faces a critical shortage USA, UK and Canada, countries from which of teachers, Dr Lorraine Ling says the Australia traditionally recruits teachers Students do part of the course at a TAFE teacher shortage in Victoria is starting to when its own numbers fall. institution and then articulate to La Trobe where they are given credit for their TAFE bite now Ð and should reach its peak in With high wages and attractive conditions, 2004 and 2005. subjects. A good example of cross-sector co- these countries are recruiting qualified operation, the La Trobe Institute for Dr Ling, an Associate Professor in La Trobe Australian teachers as well as those still in Education has also inaugurated co-operative University’s Institute for Education, says training programs. programs within the University to increase La Trobe is making a distinctive Dr Ling says Australian universities have teacher numbers. contribution in addressing this increasing been required to look at new ways to re- shortage. This year, the Institute introduced a double allocate facilities for teacher education that degree, Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of ‘Innovative teacher training courses from were diverted to training for other Science Education, with the Faculty of the Institute for Education, introduced up to professions several years ago. Science, Technology and Engineering. five years ago, are now cutting in, providing Universities are being pushed to redefine the additional specialised teachers. Next year, the Faculty of Humanities and nature of teacher education, Dr Nicholas Social Science will introduce a double ‘Other initiatives started more recently will adds: ‘We have to re-conceptionalise teacher degree, Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of result in more teachers in schools from training. It is a complex and intellectual Arts Education. 2003.’ challenge that can be solved only in universities’. ‘Both initiatives provide La Trobe graduates Dr Ling says the Australian Council of with a way into teaching,’ says Dr Nicholas. Deans of Education has been concerned for La Trobe’s Institute for Education began this some time about the impending teacher redefinition process several years ago and La Trobe is one of few universities to receive shortage: ‘Universities were not training came up with a number of new teacher funds for education programs under the enough people to fill the gap. Both Federal training programs. Federal Government’s Backing Australia’s and State governments, which previously Ability scheme. The scheme provides In consultation with the Victorian subsidies for extra places in targeted areas. appeared unaware of the situation, now Department of Education and Training, the recognise the problem’. Institute designed and implemented a Academic Programs Officer in the Institute And there is no shortage of people wanting Graduate Diploma in Technology Education for Education, Ms Marion Sargeant, says to become teachers. This year La Trobe had to re-train people with trade qualifications to La Trobe pre-service teacher education 914 applications for fewer than 50 graduate teach design and technology studies in courses are very popular and attract many primary teacher-training places. secondary schools, especially in VET in overseas students Ð including 18 Canadians this year. Dr Howard Nicholas, Head of the Institute VCE programs. for Education at La Trobe’s Melbourne The Victorian Government provides (Bundoora) campus, says Australia’s teacher scholarships for students in the second year

6 LA TROBE UNIVERSITY BULLETIN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2002 GLOBALISATION IN EDUCATION AND CULTURE

‘The argument in favour of "cultural identity" and against globalisation betrays a fixed, stagnant conception of culture, one that has no historical basis. How many cultures have remained unchanged, identical, throughout the ages?’ Vargas Llosa on culture and the new international order How will the growing interdependence that help us comprehend the world. And ‘The disappearance of borders, and the among nations – ‘in a world profoundly culture was ‘inextricably intertwined’ with prospect of an interdependent world, have unsettled by the advances of globalisation’ Ð economics and politics. become an incentive for new generations to affect cultural life? ‘The argument in favour of "cultural identity" try to learn and assimilate other cultures Ð Delivering a keynote public lecture at the and against globalisation betrays a fixed, which they will now be able to make their University in October, the prominent Latin stagnant conception of culture, one that has own if they so desire.’ American author and thinker, Mario Vargas no historical basis.’ How many cultures have He said cultures did not ‘require the Llosa, above, said there were ‘tenaciously remained unchanged, identical, throughout protection of bureaucrats or commissars’; held prejudices’opposed to globalisation. The the ages? they did not ‘need to be confined within bars, argument was that globalisation could mean ‘The notion of "cultural identity" is a or to be put in quarantine, in order to remain the ‘disappearance of all the cultures of the dangerous one because, from a social point of alive and robust. All this does is to turn them world under the steamroller of the powerful view, it represents an artificial construct of into folklore, and it makes them wither on the Anglo-Saxon culture’. doubtful conceptual depth. From a political vine. Cultures need to live in freedom, This vision was not the exclusive preserve of viewpoint, it poses a danger for the most exposed to continual give and take with other, political minorities of the extreme left, he precious of human conquests: liberty.’ different cultures, to become enriched and added. ‘It is a view shared by political sectors invigorated. In this way they can evolve and When the concept of identity ‘is not used in adapt to the constant flux of life. of the left, the centre and the right. Perhaps an exclusively individual sense and aspires, the most notorious example is that of France, instead, to represent a social conglomerate, it ‘In antiquity, Latin did not kill Greek,’ he where governments undertake periodic becomes reductionist and dehumanising. concluded. ‘On the contrary, the artistic campaigns in defence of French "cultural When individuals are examined on their own originality and intellectual profundity of identity".’ terms, and not as mere epigones of Hellenic culture left an indelible mark on However, he said this process was not the collectivity, then we find that individual Roman civilisation. It was through the product of globalisation, but rather of differences prevail over collective features’. Romans that the poetry of Homer, and the modernisation. Globalisation was the effect, philosophy of Plato and Aristotle, reached the In this regard, Vargas Llosa said, whole world.’ not the cause, of modernisation. While it was ‘globalisation should be welcomed, because true that modernisation caused many it expanded considerably the margin for The text of the lecture has been published by traditional ways of life to disappear, it also individual liberty’. Antipodas, Journal of Hispanic Studies. opened up opportunities. He defined ‘culture’ Copies are available from the Department of as the knowledge, beliefs, ideas and myths Spanish, Tel: 03 9479 2577.

LA TROBE UNIVERSITY BULLETIN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2002 7 GLOBALISATION

‘To the horror of many, higher education has been drawn into the basket of trade items that are negotiated under the General Agreement on Tariffs in Services (GATS).’ THE IMPACT OF GLOBALISATION ON THE ROLE OF UNIVERSITIES

The following is an edited text of divorced from developments in export activity no longer encompasses just speeches delivered recently by internationalisation. degrees and diplomas but it includes a La Trobe University Vice-Chancellor, Universities in recent years have expanded massive array of customized programs, Professor Michael Osborne, at their international activities enormously many taught in distance mode or offshore. Hangzhou in China and and it might seem reasonable to conclude Naturally, this kind of international activity Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. that such expansion has undermined the is much encouraged by governments, supposedly introverted ivory towers of which are unwilling or unable to provide For Australia, as for some other countries academia and endowed universities with full support for their greatly expanded which are major exporters of higher much wider horizons. But I should like to university sectors. As this export industry education services, it might reasonably be suggest that there is a danger that the has expanded and become a major source assumed that the impact of globalisation current emphasis on export of higher of income, higher education has lost its can only be favourable. education may well have the unfortunate exclusive claim to being a public good and has, in substantial manner, become a This is certainly true to the extent that the effect of leading to the entrenchment of a service; and, as such, to the horror of universities now depend to a considerable narrower functional view of university many, it has been drawn into the basket of degree on export earnings to ensure education. trade items that are negotiated under the survival. But, despite its advantages, Internationalisation in practice en- General Agreement on Tariffs in Services globalisation may bring with it a major compasses two distinctive approaches. (GATS). downside in contributing over time to a Firstly, there is internationalisation in the radical change in the role and nature of the sense of promoting academic links and This development holds out some university itself. For it seems likely to developing joint programs, encouraging advantages for the exporters in terms of accelerate a process, already evident and facilitating student and staff mobility, facilitation of business, notably in such domestically in student patterns of demand and so on. This is well understood, and has areas as issue of visas, recognition of and stimulated further by export of been practiced by universities in varying qualifications, transfer of money and the education, whereby the focus of university degrees for many years; and sundry capacity to operate competitively in other activity is narrowed and an essentially schemes now exist to encourage such countries. For countries who are recipients, vocational or professional orientation internationalisation. Secondly, there is as opposed to providers, the disadvantages supervenes. internationalisation in the sense of are potentially great, not the least in threatening to stunt the growth of local The arrest of this lurch into narrowly exporting higher education. This practice universities and education systems. But, functional programs and of the obsession is now very common in most countries more generally, there is a strong likelihood with teaching to the virtual exclusion of with well-established university sectors, that the inclusion of higher education as a other scholarly activities in universities and in some, including Australia, the service in the GATS basket will accelerate represents one of the great challenges of earnings from this kind of export activity the process, already apparent in the export the day for universities. form a basic, if not indispensable, source of income to supplement a declining public of education services, whereby universities It is in this context that I turn to the issue investment. concentrate more and more on the of globalisation and the prospect that it vocational and the professional and may well entrench utilitarian attitudes In Australia, for example, the higher whereby, contrary to UNESCO’s explicit towards higher education. Globalisation is education industry is amongst the top nine aspirations, higher education becomes a broad term, capable of numerous export earners and nearly 15 percent of the assimilated to a commodity. For the subtleties of definition, but in the student enrolment nationally comprises available data indicate that the university sector it clearly cannot be international students. In addition, such preponderance of programs offered

8 LA TROBE UNIVERSITY BULLETIN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2002 EDUCATION AND CULTURE

internationally are of a vocational and/or regarded as inappropriately expensive, the professional nature, notably in such fields prospects of investment to maintain a Network for as business, management, health, ICT and presence in pure scholarship seem the like Ð and the GATS negotiations can remarkably remote. Innovation only entrench this practical orientation for So, to put the issue paradoxically, I am higher education services. suggesting that in contemplating the role The First General Assembly of the This is entirely understandable. But of universities, a greater commitment is Global University Network for coupled on the one hand with the demanded to the supposedly irrelevant Innovation: Asia and the Pacific (GGUNI-AP) was held in late increasing predilection of domestic before they become the unequivocally September in Hangzhou, China. students for such practically useful moribund; or, less dramatically, that the programs and on the other hand with the promotion of the practically useful must Delegates came from 11 nations propensity of governments to embrace not become an excuse to supplant throughout the region, as well as from Europe and the United Nations. funding schemes for universities which traditional fields of scholarship Ð as is reflect student patterns of enrolment, it is happening, for example, in the case of La Trobe University Vice-Chancellor, reasonable to ask what the prospects are languages in English speaking countries. Professor Michael Osborne, third from left, was the Australian for universities to maintain a broader role I conclude with two related questions: Do representative. as diversified centres for scholarship. This we still believe in universities that is an uncomfortable question. For, whereas The opening speaker was China’s transcend an entirely training role and, if Vice-Minister for Education and many observers would doubtless be so, can such a model survive the practical Chairman of the Chinese National surprised, even shocked, to learn that orientation that is likely to flow from Commission for UNESCO, Dr Zhang universities can no longer sustain their current governmental attitudes and the Xinsheng, fifth from the right. customary broad role, few have any notion globalisation of higher education? With The Hangzhou assembly was of the enormous cost in terms of regard to the latter, it is important to followed by a UNESCO conference in infrastructure support that is needed for recognise that globalisation has the Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. such a role. capacity surreptitiously but relentlessly to An edited text of Professor Osborne’s Probably still fewer can produce any accelerate an already nascent speeches to both these bodies is constructive ideas as to how such an aspect transformation of universities to an featured on these pages. can continue to be funded. Indeed in many essentially functional role with the countries, Australia included, the consequence of decay, and probable death, learning to mere training enterprises government, despite sporadic protestations for many fields of study. purveying commodities. in favour of a knowledge-based society, Some would doubtless rejoice at such an appears to espouse the view that higher Globalisation cannot be avoided or outcome, and some might even expect ignored; but it can be massively beneficial education, even in its most functional La Trobe to do so, given its significant form, represents a cost, and it spends much provided that it is not permitted to become international profile, but I should like to the instrument for the impoverishment of time and effort in attempting to devise express the hope that all will resist such a schemes to reduce that cost. In such a universities and thereby of the societies stance as likely to transform universities that they serve. context, where a decreasing contribution to over time from multi-faceted centres of an increasingly training-oriented sector is

LA TROBE UNIVERSITY BULLETIN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2002 9 GLOBALISATION IN EDUCATION AND CULTURE

International education A key to economic prosperity

At least twenty per cent of Australian Professor Osborne said the target could students need to include an international be achieved with help from the Federal component of study in their university Government – which has been asked by degrees within the next two decades. the AVCC to support selected students Opening the biennial University from all Australian universities to Mobility in Asia and the Pacific (UMAP) undertake international study – and Conference in Canberra recently, with the success of programs such as La Trobe University Vice-Chancellor, UMAP, which has a membership of 29 Professor Michael Osborne, said this countries. ambitious target was part of the He said benefits for students included Australian Vice-Chancellor’s Committee opportunities for ‘ambassadorial’ roles, (AVCC) comprehensive blueprint for and the internationalisation of academic Vice-Chancellor Professor Michael Osborne speaks reform of the higher education sector. qualifications, helping them to become with a group of La Trobe University more competitive in an increasingly exchange students. ‘In terms of internationalising student experience Australia has an acute globalised job market. imbalance,’ Professor Osborne said. ‘We ‘For these programs to expand, the La Trobe University this year, through receive the third highest proportion of resource base of universities will need to its International Network of international students in the OECD but be increased to cover the costs of Universities (INU) scheme, very few Australian students are supporting students’ travel and living inaugurated an extra 13 scholarships studying in overseas countries. expenses.’ for students to live and study overseas, with credit towards their ‘A better balance is essential to an degrees.(See La Trobe students go international approach to education that global in the July issue of the Bulletin will reap benefits for Australia’s for a full report.) students.’

Benefits of advanced studies at La Trobe

Professor Efrain Kristal’s visits to Romy Sutherland, an Australian writing. I have finished several scholarly La Trobe University tend to have enduring postgraduate student of Spanish Literature, articles and the first draft of my introduction effects on his life. who later became his wife. to The Cambridge Companion to the Latin One result of his latest stay at La Trobe as a Another effect of his most recent visit, from American Novel’, he said. In addition to Distinguished Visiting Fellow in the July to mid-September, will be The research and writing, he also gave three University’s Institute for Advanced Study Cambridge Companion to the Latin lectures: on the political novels of Mario will be articles Ð and perhaps a book Ð on a American Novel, scheduled to appear at the Vargas Llosa at the Institute for Advanced comparison of themes in Australian, US, and end of next year. Study, on colonial Latin American literature South American literature. at the Institute for Latin American Studies, Professor Kristal, who was born in Lima but and on his most recent book on Jorge Luis ‘As I become more familiar with Australian went with his family to the USA at the age of Borges at the University of Melbourne, as literature, I am noticing that some of its 11, is editing and writing the introduction to well as informal lectures to undergraduates. themes are common to those of other new the volume for Cambridge University Press. world literature,’ says Professor Kristal who Living and working on campus enabled him Professor Kristal holds a PhD in Spanish chairs the Department of Comparative to liaise personally with one of the 17 Literature from . He Literature at the University of California, experts on South American literature from studied philosophy at the Ecole Normale Los Angeles (UCLA). around the world contributing to the book’s Superieure in Paris, and was a fellow of the von Humboldt Foundation in Berlin. He has The first time he was at La Trobe, nine years chapters, Professor Roy Boland, Head of La Trobe’s Spanish Program . written numerous articles on Latin American ago, to participate in a seminar on the literature, philosophy and the arts, and the famous South American novelist and ‘The ambience at the Institute for Advanced comparative study of North and South political thinker, Mario Vargas Llosa, he met Study is very conducive to research and American literature.

10 LA TROBE UNIVERSITY BULLETIN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2002 PUBLIC LECTURES

Peter Porter launches La Trobe is chief sponsor NEW LITERARY of ABR LECTURE SERIES La Trobe University has become the major sponsor of the Australian Book Review (ABR), one of the nations leading magazines of literary review and comment. La Trobe University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Michael Osborne, said the partnership was in the interest of La Trobe students and staff, as well as furthering the University’s commitment to the humanities and social sciences in Australia. La Trobe’s links with ABR go back many years. The University previously sponsored the magazine’s key essay. Associate Professor in Politics, Robert Manne, is chairperson of ABR and Reader in History, John Hirst, is a member of the Editorial Board. Peter Porter, centre, with ABR’s Peter Rose, left, and La Trobe’s Robert Manne after the lecture. Robert Manne said Australia needed a high-quality, questioning magazine Sweet dreams, my Master. political reality, will help us cope with life in aimed at scholars, students and serious its normal as well as its extreme states’. readers: ‘This strengthened partnership Dreams may lie. But dream, He said literature, ‘an art that finds its will contribute in significant ways to the for when you wake you die. apotheosis in poetry’, made the world intellectual health of Australia.’ manageable. ABR editor, Peter Rose, said the - From The Rake’s Progress by Stravinsky and Auden. It helped keep us sane in the face of La Trobe sponsorship would ensure that Apocalypse and in the fight against ‘the ABR continued to publish significant Poetry is the world’s most ‘unquenchable ever-fixed mark, the certainty of doom’. He essays on literary and cultural issues by commentator’, according to internationally likened poetry to ‘that “internal exile” leading writers. acclaimed, Australian-born poet, Peter Porter. spoken of by citizens of tyrannical regimes’. ‘The recent profusion of essays, ‘It does us the signal service of miniaturising However, he said modern taste preferred anthologies of essays and high-profile our pain while intensifying our feelings,’ he literary talks to concern themselves with said, delivering the inaugural La Trobe lecture series is surely one of the most ‘more up-to-the-minute matters, such as style heartening features of political and University /Australian Book Review (ABR) wars, celebrity tables, and power games. Annual Lecture. cultural life in Australia. For many ‘I haven’t mentioned the new formalism, years, ABR’s role in this renaissance has Winner of the Queen's Medal for Poetry and language poetry, rap, the nationalist grid, been considerable. one of the world's finest poets writing in lap-dancing with theory, and post- English, Porter launched the series with a colonialism. ‘Fittingly, the first essayist this year was lecture on The Survival of Poetry. La Trobe’s Professor Richard ‘The latest dogmatists in the universities, Freadman, Director of the Unit for Resident in London since 1951, Porter has however, are guilty of a specially modern Studies in Biography and published more than twenty volumes of kind of “treason of the clerks” in abandoning Autobiography, who provided an poems, translations and collaborations the canon of seriousness in favour of with artists. detective stories and science fiction.’ incisive essay on Susan Varga and life- He is a regular contributor to ABR, of which writing.’ La Trobe University is now chief sponsor. The full text of the lecture appears in The lecture, held on September 11, dealt the October issue of the ABR. For with the function of poetry and inspiration in an unsettled, secular twenty-first century. subscriptions, telephone 03 9429 6700 or email [email protected]. ‘I will not employ the word "terrorism" tonight,’ Porter told his audience, ‘but outline how poetry, however desperate the

LA TROBE UNIVERSITY BULLETIN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2002 11 NEWS

Address ‘Frankenfears’ GE solutions need critical thinking

Since then, the world has been hoping for been solved by genetic engineering. ‘We a biological solution to these problems. Yet are living in an age of uncertainty, when when the solution arrived, in the form of nothing can absolutely be proved safe or genetic engineering, the opposition Ð based useful.’ on ‘Frankenfears’ about the transplantation A changing world demanded a critical of genes Ð was overwhelming. view, he added. ‘And I am inspired by the To deal with these fears, he told graduates leadership of people like Nancy Millis, the at a recent degree conferring ceremony on Chancellor of this University, who, with the Melbourne (Bundoora) campus, the others, has looked very sternly at the problem had to be divided into two changes involved in genetic sciences in categories Ð the science and the politics. this country. I’m sure she would not let ‘The science is on a level with mobile anything even a slightly bit whiffy get past phones. I’ve never seen a reason for the front door. Forty years ago, said ABC science anyone sensible to have a mobile phone. ‘But it is for the citizens to make up their broadcaster Robyn Williams, Rachel On the other hand, it seems to me there is minds, not simply to look to the elite, the Carson wrote the book Silent Spring, a fairly good case for genetically modified experts. I hope your background in science dealing with the impact of chemical plants and crops, and maybe even animals and humanities will enable you to be as pollution caused by pesticides and in certain circumstances,’ he said, citing a critical as people like Nancy Millis and herbicides current problem with potato virus in other people from this university have Victoria as an example that might have proved to be.’

Interstate travel for abortion compromises care

A new La Trobe University study has from Tasmania to Victoria, and from the and Society said the situation highlights confirmed that many Australian women Australian Capital Territory to New the consequences of the difficulties of travel interstate to obtain pregnancy South Wales. access to pregnancy termination. terminations. Women who travel interstate for this Ensuring equitable access to this health The study of Medicare records examined procedure bear the costs of travel and time service remains a public health issue that access to abortion services in the 16 years to compensate for the inadequacy or must be understood at a national level in to the year 2000. It was published in the shortcomings of local services. They are order to be managed through State-level October 2002 issue of the Australian and also not ensured of continuity of care and mechanisms, the researchers said. New Zealand Journal of Public Health. other social support. It found major interstate movements are Researchers from La Trobe University’s from Queensland to New South Wales, Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health

traditions of the mainly Shiite Moslem ‘For example, some families are not Helping Iraqis community in relation to the provision of comfortable for girls above primary medical and social services. grades to attend co-educational classes, or feel at home The project team, from the University’s for women to travel to classes by public Institute for Education, comprises Dr transport or attend mixed-gender classes.’ La Trobe University is helping 500 Lynda Yates, Dr Michèle de Courcy and Most came originally from Iraq, but some Arabic-speaking Iraqi families in the Dr Howard Nicholas. Team leader, Dr had lived for long periods in Iran before Shepparton district, identifying Yates, said the community was closely arriving in Australia. educational, cultural, religious and other knit and keen to preserve its values. Dr Yates said while there had been many factors that influence how they learn 'It has been quite a challenge for studies in larger population centres into English and settle in to the area. Shepparton to welcome a group of this how new arrivals coped with learning As well as assisting English language kind, as some of their cultural and English and other aspects of settlement, teachers, the project will provide religious traditions are very different from this was one of the first examining information on the effects of cultural those of the majority of the population,’ problems across generations in a rural Dr Yates said. area.

12 LA TROBE UNIVERSITY BULLETIN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2002 NEWS

Australia’s first Doctors of Social Work Australia’s first two recipients of a new practice-related Doctor of Social Work (DSW) degree Ð as opposed to a traditional PhD Ð graduated at a ceremony on the University’s Bundoora campus during September. They are Dr Nora Ruzzene and Dr David Nilsson, the first candidates to gain these professional doctorates from the University’s Faculty of Health Sciences. Director of Postgraduate Programs in the School of Social Work and Social Policy, Ms Margarita Frederico, said it was the first time in Australia that the degree of Doctor of Social Work (DSW) had been awarded. The new degrees follow the introduction, three years ago, of a number of other professional doctorates in the Faculty of Health Sciences, in fields including occupational therapy, nursing, public health and physiotherapy. Ms Frederico, a senior lecturer and Deputy Head of School, said the doctorates Dr Ruzzene, left, and Dr Nilsson, after their graduation. comprised a thesis and course-work that involved advanced studies in social work degree, a Bachelor of Arts, at the Dr Ruzzene’s thesis was also closely theory and social policy and focused on the University of Wellington. related to her work. The co-ordinator of a development of practice. After coming to Australia he completed a multi-cultural counselling and welfare ‘They enhance the quality of practice in an Bachelor of Social Work, a Master of team at the Moreland Community Health increasingly difficult social work Social Work and a Doctorate of Social Service, her thesis was on community environment. It is important to have work, all from La Trobe University. health services in Melbourne’s northern practitioners with more depth working in suburbs. She graduated initially from the this field,’ Ms Frederico said. ‘I deliberately chose to do a Doctorate in Phillip Institute, but completed both her Social Work rather than a Doctor of Master’s degree and Doctorate at La Trobe Dr Nilsson, Manager (Patient and Family Philosophy degree because it is practice University. Services) at the Alfred Hospital, is in related,’ Dr Nilsson said. His thesis charge of the hospital’s social work examines the consequences of health care department. He is originally from New practice in social work. Zealand where he completed his first

American Landscape Painting. The lecture Patrick honours Dr Joseph Brown’s generosity and Qld literary award McCaughey to commitment to Australian art. for Robert Manne Dr McCaughey is a former Director of the give Joseph National Gallery of Victoria. He is now La Trobe Associate Professor of Politics Brown lecture Visiting Professor of Australian Studies at Robert Manne, has won the Queensland Harvard University, Director of Wadsworth Premier’s Literary Award for the best work advancing public debate. La Trobe University’s second Joseph Brown Atheneum, Hartford in Connecticut, and Lecture will be presented by Dr Patrick Director of the Yale Centre for British Art. The book, In denial: the Stolen McCaughey on Tuesday, 26 November 2002 Further details from Rhonda Noble, Curator Generations and the Right was written to at 7pm at the John Scott Meeting House, of Art, tel: 03 9479 2111. correct perceptions that the removal of Bundoora Campus. Aboriginal children had been exaggerated. The title of the free public lecture is Retreat and Engagement in Modern Australian and

LA TROBE UNIVERSITY BULLETIN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2002 13 NEWS

FLORENCE ART POST A first for Australia

La Trobe University art historian, Dr Alana music, medicine, religion and significant O’Brien, is spending three years in people. Florence delving into the heart and soul of ‘Our task is to translate relevant sections of Renaissance art, politics, religion and letters and compile a database that will be commerce. an invaluable tool for researchers and art She went to Florence in early September, historians,’ Dr O’Brien said. one of only four experts in Renaissance art Her undergraduate and postgraduate chosen from around the world each year to studies, all completed at La Trobe carry out a fascinating but painstaking University, have equipped her well for the task. task. With three colleagues from Russia, Spain Much of her PhD research took place in and England, her task Ð officially called Florence. It delved into the life of a Dr O’Brien in front of a copy of a fresco of the Annunciation the Medici Archives Project Ð involves Florentine saint, San Filippo Benizi, a friar by Pontormo in the Cappella Capponi in the Church of examining millions of letters sent to and of the Servite order and the cult that grew Santa Felicita, Florence. from the Medici Court from the 16th to up around him in the church of SS 18th centuries. Annunziata between 1475 and 1671. She One reason why people visited the church Housed in the Florentine State Archives, perfected her Italian while researching in was devotion to an image of the virgin that the letters, to and from many parts of the Florence. since the 14th century has been attributed miraculous powers. The image is still then known world, cover a wide variety of In the second and third year of the there. subjects. fellowship, she will be given time to Dr O’Brien is the first Australian to have undertake personal research. Her project La Trobe University established a Centre been awarded a fellowship for the Medici will be to examine the 16th century at the Melbourne (Bundoora) campus in Archives Project since its inception a patronage of the SS Annunziata church August to house the Italian Australian decade ago. founded by the Servite friars in 1250. Institute that aims to encourage and support study and research into all areas of She and her three research colleagues will Her interest is in the relationships between the Italian presence in Australia. join eight others, primarily from America those using the church for various and Italy, cataloguing the letters under purposes and the Medici family that such subject headings as works of art, dominated Florentine art, trade and politics tapestries, textiles, costumes, festivities, for three centuries.

NEW COURSE LAUNCHED WITH BEST WESTERN HOTEL CHAIN

La Trobe University has joined forces The course – to engage professionals and The program will feature training in with Best Western, one of the world’s managers in life-long learning – was accommodation and food services largest hotel chains, and Westpac, to recently launched by the Head of the management, along with profit-focused develop the La Trobe University ‘Best School of Tourism and Hospitality, financial management. Western Australia Professional Professor Peter Murphy, and the Further modules will be developed to Certificate Program’. Director of the Beechworth Campus, Ian assist transition to other La Trobe The venue for the program will be the Burke, at the Best Western National programs. The first intake expected in International Hotel School at La Trobe’s Congress. February 2003. Beechworth campus.

14 LA TROBE UNIVERSITY BULLETIN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2002 NEWS

La Trobe student company wins awards

A company formed by ten La Trobe University students won the major award, and another important prize, at the annual Victorian Young Achievement Australia Trade Fair. The company, Imagyan, received the highest accolade of the fair, the Best Overall Company as well as first place in the Best Merchandising category. The accolades were for their work in conceiving, designing, manufacturing and marketing the No Fail Cocktail comprising a cocktail glass and a transparent wrapping. With the wrapping around the glass, listed ingredients are poured to the marked height, hence a fail-safe cocktail. The La Trobe team, from the Faculties of Humanities and Social Sciences and Law and Management, beat 61 other entries from academic and secondary institutions at a fair held at the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre. Smiles all round: from left, Mr Antinopolous, Mr Yiu, Ms Yen Ta and Mr Skoufis. The creation of Imagyan, which is sponsored by La Trobe University, 3M Australia co-ordinator, Professor Robin secretary), Yen Ta (finance director), Nick Automotive and Rio Tinto, is part of Jeffrey, said winning the awards was a Antinopolous (human resources), Vy Hoang activities in the subject Learning and Doing. worthwhile exercise in real-world (IT director) Kathy Heba (manufacturing While the University had participated in the commercial activity. director), Alex O’Flaherty (assistant Young Achievement event for the past five Students involved are Toby Yiu (managing manufacturing), Peter Fiasco (marketing) years, this was the first year that the two director) George Skoufis (corporate affairs and Trudy Leigh (sales director). faculties involved had accredited the director), Nathan Graham (company subject. La Trobe’s Young Achievement Study to improve travellers’ rights

A report following an investigation by a Focusing on City Link drivers and public ombudsman to investigate complaints student team from La Trobe University has transport passengers who intended to do about services and ticket inspectors, a right brought into sharp focus the rights Ð and the right thing but encountered difficulties commuters lost when the system was lack of rights – of users of Melbourne’s in doing so, it offered a series of privatised. public transport system and the City Link recommendations aimed at making the Another group of students from the tollway. operation of the two systems fairer. Clinical Legal Education program Four students Ð Kirrily Graydon, Scott The exercise formed part of the students’ produced a report on the juvenile justice La Rocca, Ivan Hristovski and Sabrina subject Clinical Legal Education. They system in Victoria. Morlacci Ð supervised by Faculty of Law spoke to individual users, groups and and Legal Studies lecturer, Ms Liz Curran, associations of users, and others associated wrote the report while on placement at the with the systems, including operators. West Heidelberg Community Legal The report was sent to the Premier, the Service. Minister for Public Transport, relevant The report evaluated the systems’ fairness, government departments, as well as the discussed problems facing disadvantaged Opposition and various non-government groups and the rights and legal defences of organisations. users. It also analysed the powers of Following several reports, the Victorian transport officials and accountability government has decided, among other measures used to prevent their abuse. measures, to introduce a transport

LA TROBE UNIVERSITY BULLETIN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2002 15 NEWS Ian Robinson in Umpires’

Team of the Century

Students in La Trobe University’s academic accolades. He is also a life him his kick, and he scored the winning Department of Computer Science and member of the AFL and a Member of the goal’. Computer Engineering have high regard for AFL Hall of Fame, as well as being Deputy Dr Robinson learned later that officials had their dedicated and friendly Associate Dean of the Faculty of Science, Technology disconnected the siren from the public sound Professor, Dr Ian Robinson. and Engineering. system seconds before, in preparation for the Few realise he has another claim for their Dr Robinson still recalls the sensation of post match speeches. Neither players nor admiration, as one of the four greatest field being on the MCG before 116,000 fans for umpires on the field heard it. umpires in the last 100 years of VFL and the start of the 1973 Grand Final between He also umpired the match between AFL football. Richmond and Carlton. Hawthorn and Geelong after which police His position as one of the greatest umpires is ‘When you hold the ball aloft and hear the charged Leigh Matthews with striking official. In mid August the Australian roar of the crowd at the start of a grand final, Neville Bruns of Geelong. Football League Umpires Association you feel as if your whole body is rising off ‘The incident happened behind my back, so named four field, four boundary and four the ground,’ he said. I was not even called as a witness during the goal umpires as its umpiring ‘Team of the ‘The ultimate triumph for a football team is subsequent court case,’ said Ian. Century’. to win the Grand Final. The umpire feels his Dr Robinson had charge of 353 VFL/AFL triumph as the game starts, by being selected Below: Dr Robinson, today. Top of page: in the games, including nine grand finals, between to control the most important match of the heat of battle on the playing field in the mid 70s. 1971 and 1987. The other three greatest field season,’ he said. umpires were Jack Elder (1906-22), Rowan Dr Robinson’s moment of elation in 1973 Sawers (1977-97) and Bryan Sheehan was short lived. Within minutes of his (1986-). bouncing the ball, Richmond’s Laurie Dr Robinson had been a VFL umpire for Fowler had thumped Carlton’s John four years when he came to La Trobe Nicholls with hip and shoulder, knocking University in 1975, joining the then him out cold. Department of Applied Mathematics as a When Nicholls regained consciousness lecturer in computer science after gaining several minutes later, Ian awarded him a free his PhD and teaching at the University of kick with a 15 metre penalty, and Nicholls Melbourne. kicked the first goal of a fiery game that took In 1977 he was one of the pioneering staff of all of Ian’s skill to control. the newly created Department of Computer That was one of many memorable incidents. Science at Melbourne (Bundoora) campus. Another was the 1980 night Grand Final His academic and umpiring careers went in when in the final seconds, with Collingwood tandem until he retired as an umpire in 1987. less than a goal in front, the siren sounded. Inclusion in the Umpires’ Team of the ‘But I did not hear it and Kerry Good of Century is the latest of many football and North Melbourne marked the ball. I awarded

16 LA TROBE UNIVERSITY BULLETIN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2002