Annual Report 2008 The Year in Review Letter of Submission

23 April 2009

Dear Minister

The Board of Trustees of the University of Western Sydney has pleasure submitting the Annual Report of the proceedings of the University of Western Sydney and its audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2008, for your presentation to the New South Wales Parliament. The report is submitted in accordance with the Annual Reports (Statutory Bodies) Act 1984. The Annual Report and Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with the Annual Reports (Statutory Bodies) Act 1984 and the Public Finance and Audit Act 1983. Yours sincerely,

John Phillips, AO Professor Janice Reid, AM Chancellor Vice-Chancellor

2 Contents

Chancellor’s Message ...... 4 Engagement...... 39 Vice-Chancellor’s review...... 5 Careers & Cooperative Education...... 41 Five Years – Key Statistics...... 7 University Art Collection...... 42 The Organisation ...... 8 Schools Engagement...... 43 Charter...... 8 The UWS Foundation...... 43 Board of Trustees...... 8 The Office of Development...... 44 Academic Senate...... 9 Whitlam Institute...... 44 Quality and Profile ...... 10 Alumni Relations Unit...... 45 Quality Management and Assurance ...... 10 UWS Innovation & Consulting...... 46 Marketing...... 11 Office of the Academic Registrar ...... 47 Complaints Management...... 13 Management and Resources...... 47 Protected Disclosures...... 13 Our Staff...... 48 Learning and Teaching...... 14 Financial Resources and Budget Outcomes...... 50 College of Arts ...... 14 UWS Entities ...... 51 College of Business ...... 15 Campus Development and Capital Works Programs . . . 52 College of Health & Science...... 16 Risk Management...... 54 Strategic and Policy Issues ...... 18 Changes in Acts or subordinate legislation/significant e-Learning...... 21 judicial decisions...... 55 Quality teaching...... 22 UWS Risk Management Framework...... 55 UWS International ...... 23 Privacy...... 56 Indigenous Students...... 24 Code of Conduct...... 56 Medical School...... 25 Freedom of Information – Statement & Summary of Affairs. 57 Equity and Diversity ...... 26 Our Students...... 58 Student Support Services...... 28 Appendices...... 59 Student Equity ...... 29 Appendix 1: Board of Trustees Members...... 59 Library ...... 30 Appendix 2: Board of Trustees Meetings ...... 60 Research Strategy ...... 31 Appendix 3: Committees and other bodies established Research...... 31 by the Board of Trustees...... 61 Competitive Funding – major grants...... 32 Appendix 4: Academic Senate Membership...... 62 Collaborative Research...... 34 Appendix 5: Principal Officers of the University...... 63 Research Training...... 35 Appendix 6: Consultancies...... 64 Awards and Recognition...... 36 Appendix 7: UWS Board of Trustees Report...... 65 Appointments...... 36 Equity Statistics ...... 66 Research Data...... 38 Student Enrolment Data...... 67 Office of University Engagement...... 39 UWS Governance Structure...... 72 UWS Management Structure...... 73

3 Chancellor’s Message

In my message last year, I observed that “2007 was a good year Governance has to do with the intricate web of relationships for the University of Western Sydney”. I am delighted to be able and responsibilities which ensure, or should ensure, the to say that the trend continued in 2008. It was, in many ways, pursuit of the objectives of the University in a prudent, a difficult year as we pursued an ambitious capital development fiscally sound, responsible and ethical manner. programme while continuing to strive for excellence in teaching and learning and for a high quality student experience. The Board of Trustees, the Academic Senate, the Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor, the senior members of More remains to be done on all these fronts but the University community and many others, all are part substantial further progress has been made. A tour of of the governance structure of the University. At the top our campuses provides ample evidence of the capital of the governance tree is the Board of Trustees. development programme, not just in teaching spaces but also in student amenities and, importantly, student The University of Western Sydney has been very fortunate living quarters. Equally, the University’s success in winning in the quality and commitment of the men and women competitive funding is an illustration of the progress in who have served on the Board of Trustees, including those teaching and learning and the quality of our research. elected by student and staff constituencies. It has been, and remains, an honour to act as their Chancellor and Chairman. More information on these developments is given in other sections of this Report. During 2008, as is usual, there were some changes in Board membership. I would particularly like to note the long and Many people have contributed to our successes, too many extraordinarily valuable contribution of Ms Gabrielle Kibble to acknowledge individually. On behalf of the Board of AO who had served as Deputy Chancellor for eight years and Trustees, I would like to commend the University staff, both had played a vital role in the development of the University’s academic and administrative, under the leadership of the campuses and in many other ways. We also lost the services Vice-Chancellor, for their commitment and persistence. of Ms Genevieve Kelly AM, elected by the academic staff, and Mr Gang Zheng, elected by post-graduate students. On behalf I would also like to express the Board’s appreciation and of the Board of Trustees, I offer all three our heartfelt thanks for thanks to those members of the broader community who their contributions and wish them well in their future activities. have served selflessly and without financial reward on the many boards and committees which help the University I would also like to welcome to the Board, as new members to carry out its many functions and responsibilities. in 2008, Ms Jan Brown, elected by general staff and Similarly, we are extremely grateful to those institutions Professor Carolyn Sappideen, elected by academic staff. and individuals who support our students though direct donations, provision of scholarships, participation in The year ahead will present many challenges. The state of partnership programmes and in many other ways. the broader economy, the confused lack of confidence in financial markets and the possible rise in unemployment Without the generosity of these people, in providing their time, will all have implications for the higher education sector. their experience, and their financial support, the University In this environment, Universities will also need to deal would be a much poorer and less effective institution. with the Government’s response to the Bradley and Cutler Reports. Nonetheless, I have confidence that the My final “Thanks!” goes to my colleagues on the University of Western Sydney will continue to pursue Board of Trustees. University governance has been excellence in all its activities and will continue to improve a topic of much debate in recent times, though the facilities available to our students and our staff. the debate is not always well informed. John Phillips Chancellor

4 Vice-Chancellor’s review

With a settled and integrated structure across its six power sources, climate change, water recycling, solar campuses, the University focused on its strategic priorities in power, green transport, and waste management. 2008, guided by its strategy - its ‘plan on a page’ - Making the Difference. The strategy framed all activities around four Some key achievements reflect the progress the University key areas; the quality of the student experience, targeted has made in the four areas of focus of its strategic plan. world-class engaged research, developing mutually beneficial partnerships with the community and building financial stability. Despite variable student demand for a university place across the sector, UWS has achieved its student load targets UWS is now widely seen and described as an institution set by the Commonwealth since the new Commonwealth “on the move”, and is experiencing a growing sense Government Scheme (CGS) commenced. In 2008, load of optimism and momentum, with myriad staff and planning included the use of CGS places in UWSCollege, institutional achievements throughout the year. The a wholly owned pathways college of UWS, to provide local programs and initiatives described in this report have students with the opportunity to come on to university. Student contributed to and reflect the growth of the University. retention is also a critical measure of student satisfaction and institutional performance. For UWS, retention data improved This year saw the official opening of the University’s School significantly between 2004-5 and 2006-7 and stabilised of Medicine building by the Acting Prime Minister and in 2007 and 8. This remains an area of focus for UWS. Minister for Education and Employment and Workplace Relations Julia Gillard. The award-winning facility embodies Measures of student satisfaction are important indicators of the the University’s commitment to excellence, not only in quality of the learning and campus experience in the eyes of the areas of medical education and research, but in other the student. These measures have improved for UWS. In terms health science programs. The planned extension to the of overall satisfaction, the Course Experience Questionnaire building of two large and modern theatres was completed (CEQ) results show that 65.5% of recent graduates (2008) in time for the beginning of the 2009 academic year. are satisfied with their course (up from 55% in 2003, 54% in 2004, 62% in 2005 and 2006, and consistent with 65.6% in The University celebrated the rich heritage of its Hawkesbury 2007). This rise in satisfaction is also being reflected in the campus with a special ceremony to commemorate the Postgraduate Research Experience Questionnaire (PREQ) 115th anniversary of the first graduates. Founded in 1891 results which show a significant increase in overall satisfaction as the Hawkesbury Agricultural College, for more than a from 71.8% in 2004 to 83.9 in 2008, an outcome which is century the campus has been a centre of excellence in now on par with the results for the higher education sector. education, catering to rural Australia and now the burgeoning northwest region of Sydney and beyond. Past and present Having implemented the Research Investment Strategy students and their families, together with staff and members in 2006, the University is in the process of undertaking a of the Hawkesbury community, attended the ceremony. tiered review of research development to refine research The campus is now home to multi-million dollar research priorities at UWS and to develop recommendations for facilities in the natural sciences and over 2300 students. those areas that warrant further targeted investment.

In keeping with the University’s commitment to working The results of recent Australian Research Council (ARC) funding with industry and our community to promote environmental allocation demonstrate that UWS has effectively implemented sustainability, the University’s Kingswood campus hosted a its strategy to increase significantly the University’s external Green Expo showcasing the latest sustainability initiatives research funding. The results for the ARC funding round in and research underway at the University, as well as TAFE, 2008 saw a total of $3.91M awarded to UWS researchers. schools and in the wider community. The Expo provided These results placed UWS 17th of 40 universities in the an opportunity for local community members and school sector for external research funding, maintaining our position students to interact with a wide range of ‘hands on’ in the top 20 from 2007 when it rose from 25th to 17th. exhibits in the areas of sustainable design, alternative

5 At UWS, community engagement is an important vehicle I would like to thank the University’s many friends in the for strengthening teaching, learning and research through Greater West and beyond whose continued support the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge with external and willingness to share knowledge and expertise have partners. The University’s approach to building and sustaining contributed so much towards the University’s development. community engagement is fully integrated with strategic objectives for strengthening teaching, learning and research. I would especially to like thank the Chancellor, Mr John Phillips, The University has always had many partnerships with the members of the University’s Board of Trustees and our key business, government and communities, but in the past these governance committees who generously contribute their time, were often small, one-off, and sometimes unsustainable. The expertise and leadership with enthusiasm and commitment. implementation of a systematic and coordinated agenda for community engagement has been the major priority in 2008. We would not continue to achieve so much without the dedication, hard work, resourcefulness and inspiration Community engagement initiatives at UWS now of the University’s academic and general staff. take a specific focus on four critical issues for Greater Western Sydney and the nation: During 2009 we will continue to build the University through our » educational attainment and literacy; strategy for Making the Difference 2009-2013. The commitment » business/industry development and sustainability; and creativity of our staff are at the heart of its ongoing success » cultural understanding and communication; » climate change education. Janice Reid A key priority identified in the strategy development process Vice-Chancellor and in the University’s response to the deficit of 2004 has been a major focus on three areas to build its financial sustainability: » income generation and developing a revenue management strategy; » cost containment; » securing campus asset income streams from the campus development project.

The University has concentrated on improving its operating result and on generating a level of surplus to support ongoing development of both core activities and infrastructure. While the focus continues to be on building a sustainable foundation there is still more work needed to balance ongoing operating requirements with releasing funding for investment in core activities and capital infrastructure.

6 Five Years – Key Statistics

Category 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 (p) % Change 2007 - 08 (p) Number of Students (includes UWSCollege in 2008) Total 36,419 35,347 35,061 35,340 35,205 -0.4% Female % 56.0% 55.8% 56.7% 57.4% 57.4% Commencing 13,450 15,090 14,054 14,188 15,257 7.5% Female % 56.1% 55.9% 56.8% 58.5% 57.3% Student Load Total 24,042 24,040 23,951 24,025 24,282 1.1% Undergraduate 20,146 20,612 20,711 20,246 20,130 -0.6% Postgraduate 3,543 3,048 2,865 3,418 3,625 6.0% Other* 353 379 375 362 527 45.7% * Other includes enabling, cross institutional and non award Student Load by Funding Source Commonwealth Supported Places 17,901 18,808 19,290 19,749 20,054 1.5% Commonwealth Research Training 396 363 337 299 308 3.0% Scheme Domestic fee-paying (award and non 1,580 1,506 1,440 1,436 1,303 -9.3% award) International fee-paying 4,164 3,363 2,884 2,539 2,616 3.0% Award Completions Total 8,938 8,661 8,033 8,180 n.a 1.8% Undergraduate 6,377 6,176 5,783 5,775 n.a -0.1% Postgraduate 2,561 2,485 2,250 2,405 n.a 6.9% Staff (full-time equivalent) Total 2,697 2,543 2,449 2,401 2,473 3.0% Academic 1,316 1,230 1,188 1,177 1,155 -1.9% Teaching only 409 346 334 330 335 1.5% Teaching and Research 758 709 699 699 650 -7.0% Research only 30 42 46 34 51 48.3% Other 120 134 109 114 118 3.3% General 1,381 1,313 1,261 1,223 1,317 7.7% Research only 9 19 17 19 12 -35.4% Other 1,371 1,294 1,244 1,205 1,305 8.3% 2008 includes estimated casual based on 2007 ARC Linkage Grants - Engaged Research UWS Success Rate 55% 63% 45% 23% 30% Sector Success Rate 51% 47% 36% 44% 45% ARC Discovery Grants UWS Success Rate 9% 33% 23% 19% 29% Sector Success Rate 20% 31% 25% 20% 21%

Total Operating Revenue ($'000) 317,456 363,200 405,936 421,162 Total Net Assets ($'000) 666,445 677,660 729,282 866,843

7 The Organisation

Charter Board of Trustees

The University of Western Sydney is established under The Board of Trustees is the governing authority of the the University of Western Sydney Act 1997. The University and acts for and on behalf of the University. Its key University operates in accordance with this Act and the functions are to develop broad policies and strategic plans with associated University of Western Sydney By-law 2005. respect to the University, manage the University’s resources and monitor the University’s performance. The members – The Act constitutes the University, and prescribes its functions official, appointed and elected – meet approximately six times and the authority of its governing body, the Board of Trustees. each year including a planning day. The Board is supported in The Act defines the core object of the University as follows: its work by a number of specialist standing committees and the University also has two important advisory councils, the “The object of the University is the promotion, within Indigenous Advisory Council and the UWS Regional Council. the limits of the University’s resources, of scholarship, research, free inquiry, the interaction of research and The statement of the Board of Trustees is contained in teaching, and academic excellence.” [s. 8(1)] Appendix 7 of this report.

The Act also requires the University to have The major issues to come before the Board this year included particular regard to the needs of Greater Western approval of an Indigenous Education Policy for the University, Sydney in the fulfillment of this object. changes to the academic governance arrangements for Senate and Senate committees, UWS’s response to the impact of Voluntary Student Unionism and the development of a new student representation model, uwsconnect activities and responsibility for bookshop services, the development of UWS College and its relocation to the Blacktown Campus, the major Federal Government review of higher education and research and greening UWS through environmental and sustainability strategies. Strategic planning activities by the Board focused on campus development and the associated capital works program as well as the University’s key strategic directions statement, Making the Difference.

The Board also re-elected the Chancellor, Mr John Phillips AO, for a further term of office and elected the Hon Kim Yeadon as a Deputy Chancellor.

In 2008 honorary awards of the University were conferred by the Board on:

Ms Gabrielle Kibble AO - Honorary Doctor of Letters Mr Harold Mitchell AO - Honorary Fellow Professor Jann Conroy - Emeritus Professor Professor John Daly - Emeritus Professor

8 Academic Senate

The Academic Senate is a standing committee of the Board The review of governance arrangements was complemented by of Trustees with delegated responsibility for academic policy a benchmarking project with Griffith University in 2008, when formulation and decision-making. The Senate is the peak structures, reporting lines, memberships and delegations were forum of the University for academic debate and discourse. compared with a view to increasing consideration of alternative models for the management of Senate business. In August As defined by the University Rules, the Senate’s the Senate sponsored a forum on ethical scholarship that responsibilities are: promoting and monitoring academic brought together academic staff and students of UWS, local quality, standards and values; advising on the development secondary students and high school teachers to explore legal, of, and performance against academic plans; monitoring policy, professional development and student perspectives academic collaborations and partnerships; advising the Board relating to academic honesty, plagiarism, and other academic and Vice-Chancellor as appropriate; deciding academic misconduct. A review of the Academic Misconduct Policy of the policy and approving related procedures; accrediting and University was conducted, Turnitin software was made available approving courses, programs and units and promoting the to academics throughout the University and training in use of quality and development of research in the University. text-matching software through the Library was provided.

In 2008 the Chair of Academic Senate conducted a review on Among the Senate highlights of 2008, significant academic the effectiveness of committee arrangements and delegations policy achievements were made by the Research Studies implemented after the 2006 restructure of the University. Committee, which revised higher degree rules and developed The Chair recommended revising the committee structure, the new MD research award for medicine. The Education delegations, terms of reference and membership profile for Committee of Senate concluded a major project that revised Senate and its Committees. This was endorsed by Senate assessment policy across the University and adopted and approved by the Board of Trustees. The new academic associated strategies such as Unit Learning Guides and governance arrangements emphasize the important role academic staff training programs to support it. An Academic of School Academic Committees in monitoring adherence Advising Policy was also developed which is expected to Senate-approved policies, in upholding academic to provide greater clarity and certainty to students, staff integrity and ensuring the quality of student experience. and administrators though the provision of individualised academic advice. The course Approvals and Articulations Committee approved a revised Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Natural Science, Master of Science, Master of Public Health and Master of Health Science. These course approvals are the culmination of significant curriculum development work in the College of Health and Science in 2008.

9 Quality and Profile

Quality Management and Assurance

Quality management is integral to everything we do at UWS. Benchmarking and Institutional Research It is embedded in our strategic and operational planning, During 2008, UWS continued to foster alliances with accreditation, reporting and review processes for learning Australian and overseas universities for benchmarking quality and teaching, research and engagement. We respond to processes and performance, with a focus on learning and feedback from students and staff on ways to improve services teaching leadership and models for the “green” university. and courses and we keep the University community informed Workshops were also run for groups of rectors from of those responses. We also seek to improve our processes Indonesia and Vietnam on quality management at UWS. through active involvement in Australian and international higher education forums and targeted partnerships. The inaugural UWS “Greening the Greater West Expo” was held in September 2008 and included contributions from We use a thorough system to track performance and provide UWS, TAFE, local schools, businesses and the general feedback, and we work with key stakeholders to review and community. It was attended by approximately 1000 people improve the results. We seek to ensure the quality of the and received considerable media coverage. In addition, 250 students’ total experience of the University, both their learning UWS students undertook pilot projects as part of the Green experience and broader campus experience. We also seek to University Initiative. These included a student-led research ensure our core activities of learning, research and engagement project on what UWS could do to address climate change; are working productively to achieve the University’s strategic a UWS students’ energy campaign on the Werrington South mission and directions with the direct support of enabling Campus; student research on what would encourage student services including the Library, information technology, behaviour change in areas like drinking bottled water; the financial management, student services and administration. creation of a Facebook site; a student residences pilot; a video on the UWS Green Initiative which was presented During 2008, the online tracking and reporting system for to the UWS Board of Trustees and a program on TVS. monitoring the University’s Making the Difference strategy was developed and implemented, as was an online system Tracking and Improving Quality to track activities and performance in the UWS community Following on the publication of the findings of the two-year engagement portfolio. The University Reviews policy and UWS-ACER “Learning Leaders” project, which focused on guidelines are developed and implemented and a three year identifying and developing academic leadership capabilities, schedule of reviews of the UWS schools has been agreed. a follow-up project to develop an online leadership learning system for higher education leaders commenced in 2008, Quality Audit Actions funded by the Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC). UWS submitted the Australian Universities Quality Agency (AUQA) cycle 1 progress report in July 2008 and the The University’s system for tracking and improving learning University’s commendations were included in AUQA’s good and teaching (TILT), has been commended by AUQA as practice database. Action on AUQA audit recommendations one of the most highly developed in Australia. The system continued. For example, the recommendation for further has been the subject of interest internationally and several benchmarking has been pursued via detailed benchmarking countries have sought assistance on implementing TILT projects with Griffith University and Charles Darwin in their higher education systems. The system integrates University within Australia and targeted universities in feedback from student and staff surveys and other data on Canada, South Africa, New Zealand and the USA. courses and units to provide targeted, timely, benchmarked, time-series performance information to colleges and schools. This assists them in diagnosing areas for improvement and setting evidence-based priorities for action.

10 Marketing

For example, the UWS Office of Planning and Quality produces 2008 was another busy and productive year for the Office annual course reports on current data each November for of Marketing, which plays a fundamental role in ensuring the colleges and schools. These bring together and report a range development of positive relationships with the various external of performance data for every course, including benchmarked stakeholders and communities of Greater Western Sydney. trends in demand, student load, student satisfaction, graduate destinations and measures of retention and progress. These Brand Initiatives reports have proven extremely useful in informing evaluation A range of highly innovative and strategic brand initiatives and improvement processes in the Colleges and Schools. including a comprehensive mid-year campaign led to our most successful mid year intake to date with a 75% increase The University has put in place a range of incentives to in applications. A series of highly engaging University and ensure that the key improvement messages in these community events were organised. At UWS Days both at tracking reports are acted upon promptly and wisely. Campbelltown and Penrith, 2700 Year 11 students from These include a range of university awards, the use hundreds of schools across the region participated in of posters to inform students about the actions being interactive workshops, seminars and experiments. Open taken and direct links to the key strategic directions and Day and Course Decision Day both drew record crowds, priority development projects in the following year. presenting the opportunity for prospective students to interact with current students and academics in a dynamic UWS conducts a range of surveys as part of its quality on-campus environment. Careers Advisors Day, held on system. In 2008 this included the successful management, our Campbelltown campus to showcase our new Medical delivery, analysis and reporting of some 300,000 surveys, School, was an extraordinary success with approximately including the Student Feedback on Units survey, the Course 150 attendees, one of our greatest turnouts to date. Experience Questionnaire for UWS graduates, the research student satisfaction survey and the UWS staff services survey. The Office also facilitated the signing of a three year agreement between UWS and the Department of Education to be Improving Student Outcomes the major sponsor of the Schools Spectacular concert. The UWS First Year Retention Survey indicated that just over The University’s association with this high profile event has 52% of UWS students are the first in their family to attend already gained it significant exposure and public kudos. university and almost 70% are from Greater Western Sydney. Many UWS students enter university after completing TAFE Prospective Student Services studies. While entry scores for many UWS courses are quite 2008 was also a productive year for our Prospective Student varied, graduate employment rates are strong, suggesting Services Team. From rural NSW to the Sydney Metropolitan that the University is fulfilling its mission of enhancing region the team met with thousands of Year 10 to Year participation rates in university education by local residents, 12 students at over 150 schools. The team attended 65 and ensuring that the quality of the education provided is high. careers markets and coordinated three hosted by UWS. These highly successful markets were held at the Penrith, UWS student satisfaction as measured on the national Course Bankstown and Parramatta campuses and attracted an Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) remained steady in 2008 at average of 6,000 to 7,000 prospective students each. 65.5% which is 10% higher than in 2004 (55.4%), as did the retention of first-year students (79% in 2007-8 compared with The Contact Service Centre’s diligent approach has lead 80% in 2006-07) which is still higher than in 2004-5 (76%). to outstanding Customer Service Benchmarking results both at state and national levels. For three consecutive quarters the Centre was ranked as the best performing call centre of any NSW university and among the top 10 call centres across all industry sectors. The centre responded to 110,000 calls and 22,000 emails, received 12,000 web contacts, distributed 15,000 information packs and obtained 23,000 new client records.

11 The Office supported the creation, design and integration Corporate Events of approximately 630 promotional works including Throughout 2008, the External Relations Unit managed brochures, fliers, posters, web sites, ads and banners. an extensive list of corporate events on behalf of the Vice- Chancellor. These events included Official Openings, Launches The introduction of a whole of university approach to and VIP Luncheons. The highlights of 2008 included: improving outcomes for Indigenous Australians saw notable improvements in student participation, retention and » National Apology to the Stolen Generation succession in which marketing played a part. The inaugural – Frogmore House Werrington KooriLife magazine dedicated to showcasing Indigenous » International Women’s Day Celebration achievements across UWS was published in September – Parramatta Auditorium with approximately 16,000 copies distributed throughout » World Youth Day Journey of the Cross – UWS Campbelltown Australia. Other initiatives are detailed later in this report. » Hosting Ramadan Iftar – the breaking of the fast for Muslim Communities Scholarships » UWS Hawkesbury ‘Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow’ – a In 2008 we introduced a number of initiatives to inject a range of events including Earth Care Fair, launch of new strategic focus into the UWS scholarship program. The degree, Science in the Suburbs, welcome to international Aspire: Future Leaders and the Most Outstanding Year 11 students and celebration of Hawkesbury campus heritage. Scholarship initiatives have caught the attention of high » Official opening of the new UWS School of Medicine school principals and teachers and have already attracted building by the Deputy Prime Minister some of the most able students from Greater Western » University awards – Vice-Chancellor’s Excellence Awards, Sydney. Much greater awareness of the University scholarship UWS Partnership Awards and Staff Recognition Awards program has led to significant increases in applications, partly enabled by a new on-line application system. Website The launch of a new website for UWS was a key In 2008, 50 Honours scholarships were awarded. There was a achievement for the Web Services Unit in 2008. This 29% increase in the number of Bachelor Honours applications involved a total redevelopment of the site architecture for the 2009 admission period, in large part attributable to as well as the design, or “look and feel”. Additionally, the introduction of the UWS Honours scholarship program. a new devolved management model was delivered The longer term objective of this program is to increase the with seven publishing points across the University. number of higher research degree candidates at UWS. A community of more than 150 staff members was In 2008, 253 undergraduate scholarships were available trained to maintain the website using a new content to students, a 79 per cent increase on the previous year. management system (CMS). The unit also launched In 2008 UWS awarded 97.5% of available scholarships, a the UWS Web Forum where the UWS CMS community significant improvement on the 70% awarded in 2007. meets a number of times annually to learn about developments in web technology and usability practices. In 2008, the achievements of the UWS scholarships program include: Office of Public Affairs Late in 2008 the Office of Marketing and Office of Media » 358 scholarship applications (221 applications in 2007) and Communications met to discuss the opportunities » 187 applications for Most Outstanding Year 11 Scholarships offered by an integration of marketing, media and » 124 Honours scholarship applications, communications. This led to the creation of the Office mostly from UWS students of Public Affairs. The new Office will deliver integrated » 3 NSW Brain Bee Challenge finalists marketing and communication services to the Colleges and awarded UWS Scholarships Schools ensuring a unified UWS image and message. » 50 Youth Science Forum participants awarded UWS Scholarships » 25 students offered membership into Aspire 12 Complaints Management Protected Disclosures

The University’s centralised Complaints Resolution Unit saw The University received two protected disclosures during 2008. its fourth year of operation in 2008. From its inception in 2004, the number of complaints managed centrally increased annually to a peak of 218 in 2007. Through analysis of complaints data, improvements have been made to critical policies and processes leading to a reduction of complaints to 139 in 2008. Although the number of complaints has reduced significantly, the complexity of matters now under management has increased. Even so, the NSW Ombudsman’s Office has dismissed all complaints which have been referred to it about UWS, indicating satisfaction with the University’s internal complaints handling policies and procedures.

Other universities have actively sought the advice of the UWS Complaints Resolution Unit on the development and implementation of complaints handling processes and systems. During 2008, the Complaints Resolution Unit hosted visits from the University of Wollongong, La Trobe University, the University of Western Australia and the University of New England and visited Macquarie University. Further, the Unit Manager presented at the 7th National Investigations Symposium organised by the Institute of Public Administration Australia, with the NSW Ombudsman’s Office and the Independent Commission Against Corruption. Presentations were also made at workshops for university complaints handlers organised by the NSW Ombudsman.

13 Learning and Teaching

College of Arts

The College of Arts continued to succeed strongly in research, Senior appointments were made to the Writing and Society once again securing significant research funding from the Research Group. Professor Gail Jones came from the Australian Research Council. At the end of 2008 the College University of Western Australia and Professor Nicholas Jose achieved ten ARC grants (discovery and linkage) to a value from the University of Adelaide. From September 2009 of $2.449m. Its achievements in this respect place it in the Professor Jose will spend a year at Harvard University as top group of arts, education, and social science faculties in Professor of Australian Studies there. The writers in this group Australia. Eight of these grants were received by three of our continued to win and to be shortlisted for prestigious prizes. research centres (Centre for Educational Research; Centre for Cultural Research; MARCS Auditory Laboratories). The College demonstrated a pleasing improvement in the results from the Student Feedback on Units. Levels of The College will build on this achievement with the assistance student satisfaction have been rising steadily in recent years of a new University-designated research centre, the Centre for and in 2008 reached the highest levels thus far recorded Citizenship and Public Policy, now the fifth such Centre in the by the College. For the first time all Schools in the College College. In July, Professor Anna Yeatman took up her position achieved a student satisfaction average of 4 or greater as Director of this new Centre. She came to UWS from the (on a scale of 1-5) for units taught. The College continued University of Alberta where she had held a Canada Research with its successful program “Learning through Community Chair (Tier 1) in the Department of Political Science. Professor Service”, which in 2008 attracted a significantly increased Yeatman has been joined in the Centre by Professor Tim number of students. The College has also significantly Rowse and Dr Magdalena Zolkos. Professor Katherine Gibson boosted resources available for the development of will take up an appointment during 2009. The new Centre will e-learning by appointing e-learning officers in each School. carry out research on themes that include collective action and practices of political engagement; capacity for ethical action; An external review of the University’s social science the development of publics and moral communities; public programs, offered mainly through the School of Social value creation; economy, environment and well-being; and Sciences, led to a major revision of course structures and subjective experience in relation to the political and the ethical. to the development of a number of innovative majors to be progressively introduced from 2010. A number of professorial The year also saw the introduction of a new major in Islamic appointments were also made in sociology (Professor Studies in the Bachelor of Arts, developed in collaboration Jack Barbalet), criminology and policing (Professor Steve with the University of Melbourne and with Griffith University. Tomsen and Professor Margaret Mitchell), and in Human This major is offered by all three universities with lectures Geography and Urban Studies (Professor Kevin Dunn). recorded and delivered electronically to each university. These three universities were selected by the Federal government to establish the National Centre of Excellence for Islamic Studies with an $8m grant. UWS will develop a research centre on the Study of Contemporary Muslim Societies and has appointed Professor Bryan Turner (previously Professor of Sociology at the University of Cambridge and at the Asia Institute, National University of Singapore) and Associate Professor Gabriele Marranci (previously at the University of Aberdeen). Professor Turner and Associate Professor Marranci will take up their appointments during 2009.

14 College of Business

The College of Business achieved some outstanding results An increase in research activity was rewarded by 154 per cent in 2008 with increases in student satisfaction, employment growth in funds granted over 2007. In 2008 the success rate outcomes, community engagement and research grants. This for internal grant applications also rose by 7% over the previous year also saw the implementation of the streamlined Bachelor year representing approximately $31,000 more in funding. of Business and Commerce (BBC). The strong increase in first preferences for the BBC for the 2009 academic year The College has increased the participation of international demonstrated the appeal of this re-launched program. We students in its academic programs to over 1000 students. also completed the Dean’s Unit restructure and commenced The College developed new partnership arrangements major changes to the College’s strategic planning framework. with Yuan Ze University in Taiwan, Beijing Foreign Studies University in China, INTI University College Malaysia and The College continued to lead in innovation consistent with the State Islamic University in Indonesia. The Centre for the Federal Government’s agenda through applied research, Industry and Innovation Studies (CinIS) has added the teaching and education driven by the community demand for Management of Innovation and Technology Centre (MITC) excellent professionals. For example, a Federal Government to its list of international partnerships. MITC, supported grant to establish the Parramatta Community Legal Clinic by UNESCO, will work with CinIS on the establishment means every UWS law graduate will have the opportunity to of e-learning case studies in Innovation Management. participate in work experience while delivering significant social benefit through the provision of free legal advice at the Clinic. The College’s effort in the application of on-line learning technology through SMExcellence and the engaged program The College’s increased involvement in the academic for final year students of the BBC provides leading edge community is manifest in our hosting of important conferences, outcomes for industry, community and College students. including Australasia’s premier marketing conference; the The College undertook a full review of the BBC programs Australia & New Zealand Marketing Academy Conference with a view to enhancing them and ensuring the learning 2008 (ANZMAC); the 13th Australasian Teaching Economics outcomes continue to meet industry requirements. Conference 2008; and the 64th Annual Australasian Law Teachers Association (ALTA) Conference 2009. Through the implementation of the Advanced Business Leadership stream in the BBC degree, the College is positioning It is also evident in the recognitions and awards received by itself as a business market leader. This stream recognises the College’s academics. Professor Graeme Newell won the and attracts a cohort of gifted and talented students. Among American Real Estate Society Distinguished Service Award our many student achievements, students from the School for 2008, becoming the first non-US academic to receive it of Management won the Australian Industrial Relations in 22 years; Professor Rod O’Donnell and Dr Lyn Armstrong mooting competition sponsored by the Industrial Relations were both awarded Australian Learning and Teaching Council Commission. The Law student Mooting Team won the citations for, respectively, Outstanding Contributions to Australian Law Students Association (ALSA) National Mooting Student Learning and Sustained Educational Leadership; competition in July 2008 . This competition involved 28 law Professor Raja Junankar was selected as one of the “best schools in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. The team and brightest brains” for the Prime Minister’s Summit went on to represent Australia at the Commonwealth Mooting on Australia’s future and Professor Michael Adams was Competition in Hong Kong in March 2009. Also of note is the appointed President of ALTA for 2008-09. Professor Bobby selection of first-class honours and University medal winner Banerjee was made Senior Editor of the journal Organization (2007), Leonie Young, by now-retired Justice Michael Kirby Studies and was appointed to the editorial board of the as his last judges-associate appointment to the High Court. Journal of Management Studies, both A* ranked journals.

15 College of Health & Science

The BBC’s capstone program is a highly regarded initiative The College of Health and Science is proud to be the source linking job-ready graduates with the business community. of many future professional employees in health, science and Over 200 industry partners worked with students in a technology in Greater Western Sydney. These include nurses diverse range of projects. These partners include local and other health professionals, engineering and construction and state government, AFL, ARL, Ronald McDonald managers, ICT specialists, design technologists, scientists House, Stockland, Powerhouse Discovery Centre, across a range of fundamental and applied fields, and, in future, Canteen, Riverside Theatres and Jones Lang LaSalle. medical professionals and science teachers. We look forward to collaborating with employers in our region to address workforce Engagement with the business community works! Recent needs through innovative, engaged research and teaching. employment data (2008) shows that approximately 75% of the College’s graduates have a full-time job in their area 2008 has been a year of growth and development in the of study within a year of graduating. The postgraduate College of Health and Science with a concentration on employment rate is close to 100% for those undertaking the learning and teaching outcomes and research focus. Master of Business Administration and Master of Applied Finance. An example of engagement with the community We have made a number of high level strategic appointments: to enhance student leaning outcomes is the Woolworths Professor Anthony Maeder, who has taken up the Chair of Agricultural Business Scholarship in partnership with the Royal Health Informatics; Professor Kenny Kwok, Australia’s top wind Agricultural Society of NSW and the College of Business. engineer, in the School of Engineering; Professor Rob Robergs This Scholarship program provides 30 young people is making a big difference to the Personal Development, Health from around Australia a residential course in economics, and Physical Education and Sports Science areas of Health finance, accounting, strategy, marketing and agribusiness. Science; Associate Professor Hannah Dahlen, whose expertise Academics from the College are instrumental in the design, is midwifery; and Dr. Bill Bellotti, who has taken up the Vincent delivery and management of this Scholarship program. Fairfax Chair in Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development.

The context and climate for tertiary business education The College was also fortunate in attracting four outstanding remains buoyant. Changes in government policy, including academics from UNSW who will form the core of a Solar Energy the introduction of the Excellence in Research for Australia Technologies Research Group at UWS. Co-led by Professor Framework (ERA), in an environment of economic uncertainty Janusz Nowotny and Dr Leigh Sheppard, and supported by are challenges that the College is well placed to meet. Associate Professor Tad Bak, and Dr Maria Nowotny, this group brings expertise in photo-sensitive oxide semiconductors, which can be used for harnessing solar energy for a range of applications, along with other skills, grants, equipment and Higher Definition Research students to UWS.

The University Research Centre in Complementary Medicine received funding from the NSW State Government for a joint UWS–University of Sydney Chair in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

The College more than doubled Advanced Science intakes in 2008, which, coupled with other advanced degrees in computer science, engineering and nursing will mean even more students in 2009. All students enrolled in the advanced degrees will be invited to participate in the Health, Science and Technology Leadership Program.

16 To ensure that we make a serious difference to Learning The College’s highly successful Youth Science Forum @ and Teaching and to assist in the implementation of our UWS in late January was targeted at high-achieving new degree programs, three Assistant Associate Deans science students who are unable to attend the National have been appointed, and a team of School-based Youth Science Forum at the Australian National Learning and Teaching Fellows will work in the Schools. University in Canberra. It will be an annual event.

In collaboration with the Whitlam Institute, the College The 2008 State Finals competition of the Australian sponsored a valuable seminar series on Energy Security Brain Bee Challenge (ABBC) was held at the School in 2008, at the Riverside Theatre, Parramatta. Five of Medicine on the Campbelltown campus in outstandin seminars discussed fossil fuels, nuclear power June, 2008. Created to inspire students to pursue and renewable energy, highlighting the important role that careers in biomedical science, it is Australia’s only the Whitlam Institute and the College can play in public neuroscience competition for high school students. policy by providing people in Greater Western Sydney with scientifically-based information on issues critical to our future For two consecutive years UWS and in particular the which demand informed community decision-making. College of Health & Science has hosted Science in the Suburbs at the Hawkesbury campus. It is a major Our research is on a very strong upward trajectory. To promote science event in partnership with the Australian Museum the research and consulting capabilities of the College, a and Sydney University. The objective was to excite a number of specialty brochures have been produced, including passion for science among Greater Western Sydney’s a Capability brochure which showcases the facilities available young people. The College hosted the Siemens Science both to the University and to the wider community. Experience in 2008 at the Campbelltown campus, with topics covering a wide range of areas, from the realities of A review in late 2008 provided an opportunity to consider operating a nuclear reactor to truth about sustainability. the way in which we group our research under research themes and identified future areas that are likely to succeed as As part of its strategy to build regional capacity in science, University Research Centres or Groups and Research Nodes. technology, engineering and mathematics, the College of Health and Science has partnered with the NSW Department of The broad areas of focus are: Education and Training (DET) in the Lachlan Macquarie College » Environment, Water and Energy initiative. The aim of this partnership is to benefit students and » Sustainable Health & Wellbeing teachers in eight public schools across the Parramatta area. » Nano ++ » Biomedical and Neuroscience » Multiscale Analysis & Imaging (in Engineering & ICT) » Urban Research » Evidence Based Learning & Teaching

17 Strategic and Policy Issues

Learning and Teaching Strategic Plan 2009-2011 It is expected that the networks and collaborations Consistent with its mission of Bringing Knowledge to Life, the created by the work of the Project Leaders, Teaching University of Western Sydney aims to create a superior and Fellows and LTAP Steering Committee will continue to engaged learning experience for its students. During 2009- grow beyond 2008 and that future Learning and Teaching 2011, we will implement a number of strategic initiatives to events will be instrumental in supporting that process. further that aim. These initiatives represent the consensus of views at UWS about what attracts and retains students Ethical Scholarship in a comprehensive, research-led, multi-campus university; The 2008 Ethical Scholarship Forum was held in early they are based on our own evidence and on best practice July at the University’s Parramatta Campus. The Forum in learning and teaching in Australia and internationally. presented ethical issues in the everyday lives of students They will guide the creation of annual plans by the Colleges and teachers. Forum presentations demonstrated how and Divisions of the University to be reviewed each year, academic integrity provided a foundation for life and work with progress measured against performance indicators. and promoted dialogue between students and teachers about learning and assessment. The Forum presented Many of the improvement actions in learning and teaching the UWS academic community with challenging issues, entail collaborative work between Colleges and with good practice, and initiatives for developing ethical Divisions, reflecting the belief at UWS that Bringing scholarship at the University of Western Sydney. Knowledge to Life is a whole of university responsibility. There were a number of highlights including a Keynote Learning and Teaching Action Plan (LTAP) presentation, “Academic honesty and academic freedom: a The establishment of a system of project grants for learning and legal perspective” by Professor Jim Jackson, Chair of Academic teaching improvements was one of the key elements of the LTAP Board and Professor of Law, Southern Cross University. on which the University embarked in 2005-06. A full time LTAP Project Officer position was established from mid-2006 through Associate Professor Anna Stewart from the School of to end-2008 to assist with the establishment, support and Criminology and Criminal Justice, Griffith University delivered monitoring of the LTAP Projects and their budgets in liaison with a presentation: “Understanding, preventing and managing the LTAP Steering Committee and the College Teaching Fellows. academic misconduct in higher education institutions: the Griffith trial” which was well received by all attendees. In 2008, the focus was on disseminating the outcomes of the 79 funded projects and on supporting further College Two panel presentations; “The Student Perspective” involving level projects. Funds were provided to the College of Health UWS Aspire students and James Ruse High School students; and Science and the College of Business to assist with the and “The Academic Perspective” involving UWS academic implementation of the new Assessment Policy. LTAP funds staff and local high school principals, provided varying also went towards the PASS (Peer Assisted Study Sessions) perspectives from the many different forum participants. program within each of the Colleges. During the Inaugural UWS Learning and Teaching Week, held in November 2008, one There were also presentations from Chancellor John quarter of the 44 events were presentations of LTAP projects. Phillips, University Librarian Liz Curach, and Pro Vice- Chancellor, Research, Professor Andrew Cheetham. By the end of 2008, it was expected that 66 of the Action Projects would be completed. A further 11 will conclude in Bradley Review 2009 and the remaining two will finish by March 2010, bringing UWS participated in consultations and provided extensive the grants program to a close. Final Reports outlining the feedback on the Final Report of the Review of Australian projects’ outcomes will be uploaded to the LTAP webpage Higher Education prepared by Professor Denise Bradley. for staff to view as they become available. The outcomes of the projects will also continue to be disseminated via other means, such as project presentations and publications.

18 VET (b) about the formal status of the unit in the In 2008 much progress was made in improving the curriculum, including credit points, unit level, connections between UWS and VET. Articulation policies and prerequisites for study, and mode of study; procedures have been established, as has a central contact (c) about the approved assessment requirements for the unit; point for VET providers at UWS. We have set up a system to establish, maintain and update articulation agreements Unit Outlines are to be developed in line with and promote partner initiatives with the VET sector and templates available on the Library website. standardised a procedure for communicating pathways or credit transfer to potential students. VET Pathways are now The Learning Guide: promoted through close liaison with the Office of Marketing. (a) supplements the Unit Outline and details the This work to improve and build VET relationships and create fundamental mutual obligations and responsibilities of numerous pathways across all Colleges and multiple disciplines the University and students, in relation to the unit; directly enhances UWS’ diverse student profile and increases (b) makes explicit the links between each assessment higher education participation rates. Prospective students can activity and the unit learning outcomes; now easily access information about all UWS Pathways and (c) provides information about each assessment task, know in advance exactly what credit they will receive at UWS. including due dates, instructions for submission, and details about the assessment criteria and standards; As 2008 came to an end, final testing of the new (d) gives a clear description of what is expected in order Pathways Credit e-form system was continuing with for students to achieve particular grades in the unit; a “live” date expected in early 2009. This initiative will (e) describes how content, assessment and position UWS as a leader in Pathways credit processes learning activities are linked. and is the culmination of many months of hard work and effort from a number of people in Admissions, IT, The scope, scale and content of Learning Guides may Student Systems and AVOKA (software company). vary widely and creatively for different units. In keeping with the definition in the policy, Learning Guides are UWS is poised to become a leader in the field of quality assessment-focused and aim to give students the optimum and efficiency in regard to VET relationships. Benefits are opportunity to achieve the learning outcomes. Staff are already flowing from our consistency of practice, equity of expected to actively engage with students regularly about process, efficiencies in academic workloads, pro-active VET the content of their Learning Guide. Sample Learning engagement and increased profile across the VET sector. Guides are available to staff on the website of the Office of Pro Vice-Chancellor, Learning and Teaching. Learning Guides A revised version of the Unit Outline and Learning Guides Policy Enrolments, graduations, graduate outcomes was approved and published in the Policy DDS, the University’s and evaluating performance online data base containing all University-wide policies, Enrolment targets were met in 2008 with a small over enrolment procedures and guidelines, to take effect from 1 January 2009. in Commonwealth-allocated student load of 2%. Commencing The policy aims to describe the basic framework of student- undergraduate enrolments increased between 2007 and 2008. focused documentation related to learning and assessment in units. The University’s approach is to describe the learning UWS continues to grow as a university of first choice and assessment requirements for each unit within two key for students, particularly those from Greater Western resources, namely, the Unit Outline and the Learning Guide. Sydney. UWS received the second highest number of first preferences in NSW this year. Demand was particularly strong The Unit Outline provides approved information: among school leavers, up by seven per cent on last year. (a) in summary form to a prospective student about what the Importantly, there’s also been an eight per cent increase in student would expect to learn from studying in the unit; first preferences from Greater Western Sydney applicants.

19 There were improvements (based on the Course Supporting learning Experience Questionnaire survey) in key indicators The Student Learning Unit (SLU) works with College staff to such as Good Teaching (up 0.7%), Generic Skills (up co-ordinate and facilitate the integration of PASS (Peer Assisted 1.1%), while overall satisfaction remained at 2007 levels. Study Sessions) into targeted units and provide training and The percentage of graduates in full time and part time support for peer facilitators. PASS is a student-centred learning employment remained stable between 2007 and 2008. program, conducted collaboratively between the SLU and a School or unit. Students who have successfully completed the Relevance to the workplace and to students unit, in which PASS is running, are trained as PASS facilitators Courses approvals highlights during the year were: to conduct study sessions for students currently enrolled in the unit. Students work together in these sessions to address • approval of new Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of both study strategies and understanding and consolidation Natural Science courses for introduction in Autumn 2009 of content. PASS runs in units that students have found • approval of a new Master of Science, Master of Health challenging in the past. In 2008, PASS ran in 26 units and 55 Science and a restructured Master of Public Health for 2009 facilitators were trained, monitored, supported and paid. • approval of a new suite of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) courses (Master, Postgraduate Academic writing mentors is a program for ‘at risk’ students and Graduate Diploma, Postgraduate and Graduate involving a partnership between the SLU and the School Certificate, Bachelor) for introduction in 2009 of Education – Learning through Community Services. • a major restructuring of the Master of Art Therapy High achieving senior UWS students are trained as basic and postgraduate counselling courses academic writing instructors by the SLU and paired with • fine tuning of the Key Programs of the students from units such as English identified as ‘at risk’. Bachelor of Business and Commerce • approval of further ‘Advanced’ degrees in Nursing and In 2008, Mathematical Reasoning was offered to new students Engineering, and the Bachelor of International Studies with enrolling in the Bachelor of Business course. Student enrolment scholarships attached, to attract high achieving HSC students into this unit was linked to the units Statistics for Business and • further development of the relationship with UWSCollege Introduction to Economic Methods. Those students who did and increased confidence in the quality of its programs not score 70% or more in an online Basic Maths Skills Test • approval of additional Diploma programs for UWSCollege to were enrolled in Mathematical Reasoning instead of Statistics prepare students for the counterpart UWS degree courses (in for Business and Introduction to Economic Methods. Science, ICT, Engineering, and Business and Commerce).

Articulation agreements Excellent progress has been made in expanding articulation pathway arrangements not just with the local VET sector but with overseas education providers. Many agreements have also been recommended to Academic Senate including a number with private colleges for the Bachelor of Business and Commerce (BBC), and revisions to the approved arrangements with TAFENSW and TAFENSW Open Training and Education Network, also for the BBC. Through the efforts of the Associate Deans (Development and International) arrangements for students to enter the BBC and other courses have been entered into with education providers in Canada, Malaysia and Indonesia, and most notably with the prestigious Beijing Foreign Studies University.

20 e-Learning

UWS Lectures Online vUWS Quality Standards Lectures Online is an automated system that captures There has been increasing uptake of e-Learning at UWS. a lecture exactly as delivered, including any visual aides There are now over 2,300 vUWS sites being accessed by such as PowerPoint presentations, and automatically more than 33,000 students with over 1,300 academics using publishes it to Virtual UWS (“vUWS”) the online e-learning these sites for teaching. Ninety percent of units have a vUWS environment of UWS. Students can download the data site. While many sites are well designed, there is wide variation moments after the lecture has been completed. By Semester in the quality of vUWS sites, so we are working to enhance 1, 2009, 40 theatres were expected to be equipped for the overall quality of UWS online learning environments. lecture capture as part of the Lectures Online project. The Teaching Development Unit has developed a vUWS ‘self During Spring Semester 2008 the University piloted the review framework’ which aims to assist designers in reviewing project with a number of UWS students and academics. and improving their sites in line with four basic standards. The pilot included 12 lecture theatres (2 per campus). This This is the first stage in the Developing Quality vUWS Sites smaller scale project allowed staff and students to provide project. The four basic standards have been developed with feedback on the system before the full implementation. reference to scholarly literature that identifies best practice learning design in online learning environments. They are: Students will be able to revisit recorded lectures whenever and wherever they like. All a student needs is a computer with an 1. Organisation and appearance. internet connection and a sound card or a device such as an 2. Consistency and compliance (legal and institutional). MP3 player or iPod. Students can also listen to lectures on 3. Appropriate use of vUWS tools. campus via any of the computers in the UWS computers labs. 4. Leamer resources and supports.

The ability to revisit lecture material in their own time These standards and their associated criteria have been enables a student to build on their learning from the designed to apply to the diverse ways in which vUWS lecture. It also lets students catch-up on lectures they sites are used and to enable all designers, regardless of may have missed due to illness or family commitments. their familiarity with vUWS, to review and improve their Other universities have noted the service’s effectiveness own sites. The self review framework can be applied amongst students with English as a second language. to all vUWS sites, including unit sites, hub sites and support sites. It is expected that all sites will be consistent The lecturer merely has to schedule the recording and deliver with these basic standards by the end of 2009. the lecture. The rest is automated with no impact on workload. The system automatically compresses, publishes and notifies In Autumn 2008, the basic standards were piloted with students of the availability of the recording on vUWS. academics across three different Schools in the three Colleges. Feedback from the pilot participants indicated that UWS Academic staff will be provided with comprehensive the self review process was brief and straightforward, and training and detailed information guides to support them as they could be applied to sites with differing levels of complexity, use the system. by designers with differing levels of familiarity with vUWS. It takes approximately 20 minutes to complete, depending on the complexity of the site and familiarity with vUWS.

The pilot project found that the majority of sites were consistent with the basic standards, or could become so with only minor modifications.

21 Quality teaching

Foundations of University Learning and Teaching Program Australian Learning and Teaching Council (formerly The aim of the Foundations of University Learning and Carrick Institute) Citations for Outstanding Teaching Program is to help staff develop professionalism Contributions to Student Learning, 2008: in their teaching. The key intended outcome is that staff will Associate Professor Pauline Ross change from thinking that discipline expertise is sufficient Dr Judith Thistleton-Martin for teaching at university to thinking that expertise in how Associate Professor Roy Tasker to teach is also necessary to perform their role effectively. Ms Mary Goldsmith Ms Lyn Armstrong Participation is mandatory for all new full-time Mrs Roslyn Gillies teaching staff, employed at the Associate Lecturer, Ms Lyn Stewart Lecturer, and Senior Lecturer levels where the Mr John Nicholls appointment is for 12 months or longer. Professor Rod O’Donnell Dr Claire Aitchison The program is well established as a successful induction Dr Susan Armstrong. for new UWS academic staff and continues to improve. 2008 Vice-Chancellor’s Excellence Awards Academic honours Excellence in Professional Service Over the last two years, UWS has achieved very good Ms Janelle Davis outcomes at the national level in recognition of the quality of teaching at UWS. In 2007 and 2008, all 13 Excellence in Teaching UWS nominations were successful in receiving an Winner - Dr Yenna Salamonson Australian Learning and Teaching Council citation for Highly Commended - Dr Guy Curtis ‘Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning’. College of Business Excellence Awards Excellence in Teaching - Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning One of the priority projects of the Learning and Teaching » Jennifer Ireland - School of Law Action Plan was the Review of UWS excellence awards to » Laurel Jackson - School of Marketing align with national Carrick (now ALTC) Awards. This work » John Juriansz - School of Law has been progressively undertaken between 2006 and 2008. There is now a progressive system of awards beginning College of Arts Excellence Awards at the College level, then moving to the Vice-Chancellor’s Excellence in Teaching - Outstanding Excellence award, and finally to the awards of the Australian Contributions to Student Learning Learning and Teaching Council. A key achievement is that » Helen Correia - School of Psychology the UWS internal awards use the same criteria as the ALTC, so that progression to external awards is relatively smooth. College of Health and Science Excellence Awards Excellence in Teaching - Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning » Team: Vince Wyatt, Jennie Nelson, Michael Dingley, Susan Coombe - School of Natural Sciences. » Yenna Salamonson - School of Nursing and Midwifery » Joanne Lind - School of Medicine » Michelle Bissett - School of Biomedical and Health Sciences » Charles Morris - School of Natural Sciences

22 UWS International

In 2008 the priority for UWS International was to refocus UWS developed a new relationship with the University of on establishing and continuing a small number of Economics HoChiMinh City (UEH). The program is substantially significant institutional relationships and on the growth funded by the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training. in numbers of international onshore students. Under this program 15 academics from UEH will undertake a preliminary program in Vietnam undertaking research Two significant institutional relationships that commenced in preparation programs and additional English language 2007 were extended and deepened during 2008. The first is studies. Ten of these students will enrol in a UWS Doctor of the relationship with Muhammadiyah, Indonesia. It is one of the Business Administration program. The students will spend half two large moderate Islamic religious and social organisations of the period of their candidature at UWS and half at UEH. in Indonesia which currently operates a large number of There is a joint program director and academic supervision. schools, universities, clinics, hospitals and other social welfare The first students will start at UWS in January 2010. services nationwide. Academic cooperation agreements signed between Muhammadiyah and UWS in late 2007 were New academic cooperation agreements have been made with the platform from which activities were expanded in 2008. Universidad El Salvador, Argentina; Wilfred Laurier University, Canada; Jiangsu provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese The School of Humanities and Languages hosted an academic Medicine, China; Notre Dame University, Lebanon; King workshop in August 2008 with Universitas Muhammadiyah Mongkut’s University of Technology, Thailand; University of Jogyakarta. Twenty academic staff from Universitas Florida; University of Economics HoChiMinh City, Vietnam. Muhammadiyah Jakarta commenced intensive English studies which will allow them to take up Indonesian government Compared with 2007, commencing international onshore scholarships for masters and doctoral studies at UWS in students increased by 5.7% with total international onshore 2009 in the areas of Public Health, Nursing and Medicine. student load increasing by 3.9%. Offshore student numbers decreased substantially in line with the commitment to close There was a significant extension of the relationship with the a number of offshore programs. For onshore total enrolments, State Islamic University of Indonesia (UIN). In March a senior China, India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Bangladesh are our top academic from UIN spent four months at UWS funded by source countries. There was a significant increase in enrolled an Endeavour Executive Award. New initiatives between UIN students from the Middle East, Nepal and Cambodia. Although and UWS resulted, including development of an articulation the total numbers are much smaller, there were also increases agreement that will allow students from UIN to do two years in enrolled students from Pakistan and the Philippines. of a bachelors degree in UIN and complete their studies in the Bachelor of Business and Commerce at UWS. In December 2008 a Joint UIN/UWS Youth Leadership Camp was held at UWS’ Hawkesbury campus. This was attended by 17 UIN and 12 UWS students. This camp provided the opportunity for development of greater cultural understanding and personal growth. It is anticipated that it will be held in Indonesia in 2009.

23 Indigenous Students

As a matter of Indigenous cultural protocol and out of Student Support and Academic Development recognition that its campuses occupy their traditional lands, Other areas of development in 2008 in Badanami were the the University of Western Sydney acknowledges the Darug, expansion of the services and academic programs that Gandangarra and Tharawal peoples and thanks them for their provide access and support to Indigenous students, including support of its work in Greater Western Sydney. UWS is acutely Indigenous Student Support and Access and Learning aware that being located within Greater Western Sydney, it Support. Badanami acquired a new student space with staff serves the largest single Indigenous community within Australia. offices for Student Support, on the Parramatta Campus, complementing its current student spaces on Bankstown, It has been a year of growth, optimism and expansion in the Penrith and Hawkesbury campuses. In addition, Badanami area of Indigenous education. It was a year of opportunity in established a support network of over 12 academics from building relationships with local Indigenous and non-Indigenous a range of Schools as Indigenous Student Advisors. communities within Greater Western Sydney and beyond. In 2008 The two Aboriginal Rural Education Programs With the introduction of a whole of university approach to (AREP), one in teacher education and the other in community improving outcomes for Indigenous Australians, a number welfare, were transferred from the College of Arts to be of new initiatives were developed to afford greater access managed by Badanami Centre. The community welfare to higher education at UWS. There have been notable course was suspended in 2008 although all enrolled students improvements in student participation, retention and succession will continue their studies and complete their degree. due to the enhancement of marketing, communications, Discussions began in 2008 to develop a successor course scholarship opportunities and student support mechanisms. to the community welfare course to be available by 2011.

Badanami Centre for Indigenous Education is a specialist unit The total number of Indigenous students enrolled at of the University under the leadership of the Dean, Indigenous UWS increased in 2008 from 280 to 293; this growth Education. Within the University, Badanami plays a pivotal was concentrated in undergraduate programs. role not only in liaising with the Indigenous community and delivering services to indigenous students but in partnering In line with the development and expansion of its support with colleges, schools, units and centres across the University services and academic programs Badanami Centre to meet Indigenous education objectives and targets. appointed a number of key academic staff, increasing its staff numbers from 12 in 2007 to 17 in 2008, with further A major area of development in 2008 was the development academic staff appointments to be made in early 2009. of and endorsement of the Indigenous Education Policy and an Indigenous Graduate Attribute. Badanami staff Elder in Residence collaborated with the Schools of Psychology, Law, Natural Badanami appointed its longest employed Indigenous staff Sciences and Nursing to plan and develop Indigenous core member as the Indigenous Elder in Residence. The Elder is content in their courses. Through Badanami’s application to engaged internally and externally with Indigenous communities the Diversity and Structural Adjustment Fund, UWS received and organisations, enhancing the University’s profile and $900,000 for the period 2008-2010. These funds will support course offerings to Indigenous people as well as creating Badanami staff to implement the Indigenous Graduate greater cross cultural awareness within the University. Attribute into UWS courses by developing Indigenous content that will be embedded into undergraduate courses. Indigenous Marketing and Outreach The development of a robust triennial Indigenous Marketing and Communications Plan presented a solid platform in which to showcase the innovative opportunities being offered across the University for Indigenous students.

24 Medical School

The Badanami Alternative Entry Program remains the AMC Visit and Accreditation single most effective tool for increasing Indigenous In 2008, following a visit from the Australian Medical Council, student participation at UWS. The program has allowed the Medical School’s program was formally accredited until Indigenous students who would not have historically had 2013. This outcome, the best possible for a new medical the opportunity to participate in higher education to enter school, is a firm vote of confidence in the progress of the a program of their choice based on a set of “minimal UWS School of Medicine. The accreditation team noted the and essential” criteria identified by each College. In collaborative nature of the School’s development involving 2008 the alternative entry program saw 76 applications the whole University, Sydney West and Sydney South West with a total intake of 109 Indigenous students. Area Health Services as well as Indigenous and community organisations. A number of issues consistent with internal The way we communicate and engage with our stakeholders review were identified for areas of further development. is constantly evolving and improving. The inaugural KooriLife magazine dedicated to showcasing Indigenous Students achievements across UWS was published in September. There continues to be very strong demand for the Approximately 16,000 copies were distributed throughout course. Almost 3000 applications were received by the Australia. KooriLife will be published twice yearly. September deadline to be considered for enrolment in 2009, representing about 30 applications for each place on offer. A new Indigenous web space was launched earlier in the year providing a single point of entry for education Buildings and employment opportunities at UWS. Not only is The main medical school building complex on the the website an essential vehicle for communication, it Campbelltown campus was opened by the Acting is an important learning tool for the many Indigenous Prime Minister Julia Gillard in November 2008. This was students completing their studies by block mode. an opportunity to thank the many stakeholders within Government, in the Greater Western Sydney community A number of strategies are being developed to support and the UWS family. Year 1 and 2 students are now using and encourage greater retention and HSC achievement the teaching spaces, including the anatomy laboratory amongst the Indigenous high school population of Greater and e-teaching lab, for practical teaching sessions in Western Sydney. The framework for an Indigenous Mentoring areas such as physiology, histology and histopathology. Program was developed for Years 10 to 12 in consultation with local Indigenous communities, high schools and UWS Two large lecture theatres will commence operation in staff. The primary objective is to establish a robust program January 2009 as a resource for the campus as a whole. that embraces both Indigenous/non-Indigenous mentors and students in a sustainable learning and self-development With the arrival of further scientific academic staff, environment by facilitating transition to higher education. a large amount of specialised research equipment has been installed in the research building. Indigenous Scholarships The expansion of Indigenous Scholarship opportunities Planning is complete and tenders are pending for construction proved to be effective in attracting and supporting Indigenous of an education and research centre for the important students. The University awarded ten (10) UWS Indigenous Blacktown/Mt Druitt Hospital clinical school at Blacktown. scholarships to the value of $5,000 per annum for up to five years. In addition the University administers a one-off Research lump sum payment of $2,000 for each eligible commencing Research capacity is steadily growing and a vibrant research Indigenous student, with 65 payments made in 2008. culture emerging. The first medical student to enrol in the new Bachelor of Medical Research degree will take a year off from the medical course to carry out her research in 2009. Several members of staff were successful in winning funding from the NH&MRC and ARC in the 2008

25 Equity and Diversity funding rounds, including a $2.2m project grant for a A new Equity and Diversity Plan 2008 – 2010 was team led by Professor Louisa Jorm in Population Health to developed for the whole of UWS. It articulates the build human capacity, skills and methods in using linked University’s commitment to making a difference to the lives health service data for research to inform improvements of students, staff and the broader community of Greater in health services for mothers, babies and children. Western Sydney by supporting equity and valuing the diversity of the community. The Plan aims to meet the Preparations for 2009 needs of individuals and communities through strategies In addition to the management of the Year 1 and 2 programs, that are relevant, innovative and continually improving. there was significant activity preparing for 2009 when our first cohort commences the predominantly clinical years The Equity and Diversity Unit provides specialist advice and of their training. For two-thirds of the year they will be support to all areas of the university on the implementation based at the Clinical Schools at Campbelltown/Camden of the Plan so that equity and diversity principles are and Blacktown/Mt Druitt Hospitals. For the reminding integrated throughout all university operations. third, they will be placed with General Practitioners and community agencies throughout Greater Western Sydney Women in the innovative Medicine-in-Context program. UWS was again recognised in 2008 as an Employer of Choice for Women by the Commonwealth Equal Opportunity Staffing for Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA). Only 99 The School continues to work through its forward plan of organizations across Australia in 2008 were able to satisfy appointments to senior clinical academic positions, now EOWA’s strict new criteria for the Award. The criteria includes that the basic science and initial clinical Chairs have been a pay equity gap of less than 17%, a minimum of six weeks filled. Excellent appointments have been made at Liverpool paid maternity leave and a requirement that at least 27% and Blacktown Hospitals, with more to come in 2009. of the organisations’ managers be women. UWS has an ongoing commitment to the advancement of women in the workplace and is honoured that its achievements in this area have been acknowledged by this prestigious Award.

Highlights of 2008 The programs and initiatives outlined in the UWS 2005 -2007 Ethnic Affairs Policy Statement continued to be implemented and developed in 2008. Among our significant achievements, UWS hosted a series of free public open forums for the Greater Western Sydney community. These forums have provided a venue for open public discussion of human rights, equity and diversity issues and have promoted a respect for, and understanding of, different cultures, histories and perspectives. The topics covered by the forums included Surviving Genocide – Personal Stories from the Warsaw Ghetto, Tibet and its People, The Treaty of Waitangi and Families in the West.

In collaboration with the Uruguayan Consultative Council of Sydney, UWS staged a photo exhibition of the history of the Uruguayan Community from the 1970’s when they arrived in Sydney to the present time. The exhibition visually displayed the contributions made by the Uruguayan community to Greater Western Sydney (GWS) and demonstrated the rich educational and cultural experiences within a multicultural

26 society and region such as GWS. The opening night at Key strategies for 2009 the Margot Hardy Gallery, UWS Bankstown Campus, 2009 has been designated the UWS Year of Respect and attracted GWS community members, UWS staff and Inclusion. A range of initiatives, educational events, activities students, the Ambassador of Uruguay and the Consuls and materials will be promoted as part of a coordinated General of Uruguay, Ecuador, Columbia and Cuba. university wide campaign. A new Ethnic Affairs Priority Statement for 2010 - 2014 will be developed, and the UWS The ‘Sudanese Youth in Transition DVD Project’ is an Equity and Diversity Plan will continue to be developed and example of how UWS projects contribute to the quality of monitored to ensure that equity and diversity principles life and opportunity in the diverse multicultural community underpin all university planning, policies and programs. of Greater Western Sydney. Staff and students have The University will continue to ensure that resources are created a DVD designed to assist young Sudanese people fairly distributed, that diverse linguistic, religious, racial and as they begin the journey from high school to vocational ethnic heritage communities are consulted about decisions training, higher education or employment in Australia. related to University program development and service delivery, that the rights and responsibilities of all people A Multi Faith Forum was hosted by the UWS Chaplaincy. are recognised, and that services are effectively targeted Representatives from the Abrahamic faiths formed an to meet the needs of members of diverse communities. interfaith panel which spoke on the topic of “My Faith our Australia”. Students and staff from a diverse range of Ethnic Affairs Priority Statement backgrounds attended, with the opportunity to interact UWS is based in and serves the multicultural community of and ask questions. Freda Whitlam, a prominent member Greater Western Sydney (GWS) which is one of the most of the local community gave the keynote speech. In a diverse in the world, with over 100 different nationalities university as diverse as UWS, dialogue like this is important represented. The University promotes and fosters a in promoting and maintaining respect and understanding. culture that values this diversity and actively demonstrates a commitment to the principles of multiculturalism A survey of the religious and spiritual diversity of staff and contained in the NSW Community Relations Commission students was undertaken in order to better understand and Principles of Multiculturalism Act 2000. the needs of the UWS community. A new Respect and Inclusion in Work and Learning Policy was developed This legislation and the NSW Annual Reports Acts require that as a basis from which to continuously build a diverse UWS adopt and implement an Ethnic Affairs Policy Statement and inclusive community environment which promotes and report on the implementation of the Statement and key educational, academic and cultural values. A review into ethnic affairs priorities for the future in the annual report. equity and diversity training was completed and a new on-line diversity training module was implemented.

27 Student Support Services

The aim of Student Support Services is to foster the success 2008 also saw a number of major changes to student of UWS students by providing them with opportunities to orientation and the introduction of market days on two build their skills and resources so they can have successful UWS campuses. This is an awareness raising event and independent lives. This is done through responsive that provides information to students on all of the individual and group programs, outreach and preventative services available to them while studying. The concept programs, staff training and the building of strategic will be rolled out to other campuses in 2009. partnerships with academic and other areas of the University to develop and implement student centred initiatives. The Disability Service has successfully completed a review of the Disability Notetaking Service which provides lecture Achievements and Key Activities and tutorial notes for students who for various reasons 2008 was a development and consolidation year for the are unable to take their own notes. The beginning of 2009 UWS Student Welfare Service. Since responsibility for the will see the implementation of a revised and streamlined Welfare Service transferred from the Student’s Association, note taking service. The review and resultant work on the its processes and systems have been adapted to UWS Disability Professional Systems Management (DiPSM) system requirements. Programs such as textbook and food vouchers, has paid off in a trouble free exam period for students emergency loans and student support have been maintained with a disability in spring 2008. Further enhancements to and expanded. A new team leader has been recruited and the DiPSM system are underway to ensure a continued new programs and resources are being developed such as effective and efficient service to students with a disability. new information brochures, financial workshops and an off- campus accommodation website to be implemented in 2009. The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Janice Reid, hosted an afternoon tea for Joseph Abi-Khattar to acknowledge The new Mental Health First Aid Training Program for UWS Joseph’s nomination for the 2008 National Disability Awards. staff offered through the Counselling Services has proven very Joseph successfully completed his undergraduate degree beneficial and a number of areas across the University have at UWS and is a currently enrolled Research Post graduate participated. These include UWS Security, UWS Conferences student. Joseph has publicly acknowledged the “enormous” and Residential Colleges, Complaints Unit, Student Centres, assistance he received from UWS Disability Services. Welfare Services and front line staff in the counselling and disability services area. The program will continue to be rolled out in 2009 as part of an integrated mental health strategy.

2008 saw the successful completion of the first two phases of the Students at Risk project. Funding has been received for the Students at Risk framework and strategy to be a piloted in two UWS courses. More details are provided under the heading Student Equity in this report.

Student Support Services was instrumental in a strategy to send a group of academic and professional staff to the First Year Experience (FYE) conference in Hobart in June 2008. This strategy was co-sponsored by the Director of Student Support, Pro Vice-Chancellor Learning and Teaching and the Pro Vice- Chancellor Engagement. The group has formed the core of the FYE group at UWS. As a result of this initiative Student Support Services and the College of Health and Science (CHS) have worked together to develop the CHS orientation and transition program for commencing students in 2009.

28 Student Equity

UWS maintains its commitment to fostering equity, Student Equity Performance inclusiveness and participation for all disadvantaged groups UWS continues to perform at or above the NSW in Greater Western Sydney and beyond. A number of and national indicators in most equity areas. projects, initiatives and programs have been developed to identify disadvantage experienced by students and The numbers of students from backgrounds of low socio- potential students, to encourage aspiration to university economic status (SES) have continued to increase, both in study and to provide the necessary support and information Access and Participation, whilst high Success and Retention to facilitate the transition, success and retention of rates have been maintained, in line with or above state and students from disadvantaged backgrounds at UWS. national rates. Preliminary data for the full year 2007 - 2008 shows that UWS has achieved significant increases in rates For the 2009 UWS Year of Respect and Inclusion a wide of Access (15.32% to 20.6%) and Participation (15.49% to range of initiatives are being developed and implemented 21%) for students from low SES backgrounds. UWS performs to promote and foster these values and behaviours. well above the sector averages of 15.92% and 15.02% respectively in these areas. This is partly because of changes The Students at Risk project, co-sponsored by the Pro in the census data variables measuring SES. As a result Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching) and the Director of of these changes UWS has already exceeded the Federal Student Support, has identified characteristics of students Government target of 20 per cent participation of students most at risk of early withdrawal, failure or poor progress and from low SES backgrounds in higher education by 2020. has developed a series of recommendations to address these areas of risk. A trial of some of the main recommendations, a Non-English Speaking Background student Access and First Year Advisor role and early identification and intervention Participation rates have also increased, and are almost strategies are being implemented in 2009. Other projects twice the national average. The Retention rate has remained to identify and address the needs of other at risk groups, stable for this cohort and is in line with the sector average. such as mature age students have been developed. The Access and Participation rate for Students with A Student Services orientation DVD has been Disabilities has dropped to slightly below national indicators. produced to enhance awareness of the role of Student There has been a slight improvement in the Success rate Support Services and to encourage the use of these to above state and national rates, but a slight reduction services, particularly by disadvantaged students. in the Retention rate to slightly below the sector. Compared to state and national indicators, UWS The continuation and expansion of outreach projects underperforms in relation to Regional and Remote such as Fast Forward also fosters greater aspiration students, but this is primarily because UWS’s main to tertiary study amongst students from low socio- drawing areas contain low numbers of these students. economic backgrounds and higher participation rates.

UWS has also participated strongly in equity, social inclusion and higher education debates in the higher education sector, including through extensive contributions to the Bradley Review and through contributions to the discussion on proposed changes to data collection relating to socio-economic status.

29 Library

2008 was a year of significant challenge as the library overwhelmingly positive, leading to expansion across two pursued its planning agenda in the three focus areas further libraries and implementation plans for all libraries of access, research support and service. Excellent by 2009. The laptop computers were borrowed 39,266 progress was achieved in all of these areas. times in 2008, with demand invariably exceeding supply.

Considerable effort was invested in planning for adequate “Information Central”, the Library’s virtual contact point physical infrastructure across all campuses, building on earlier for all incoming telephone calls, virtual reference and refurbishments to the Bankstown and Campbelltown libraries. email enquiries continued to be heavily utilised, leading to Regrettably, fiscal constraints continue to militate against the expanded hours of operation which reflect students’ needs consolidation of Penrith Ward and Allen libraries. However, for assistance beyond ‘standard operating hours’. The some minor remediation at each site commenced at the end service responded to 20,914 queries throughout the year. of the year. Similarly, work at Parramatta library will ensure additional seating capacity and some functional improvements Work on the UWS Research Repository continued, with for the greatly increased student cohort at that campus. 5,168 research outputs (including theses) now digitally available. Significant re-engineering of the Repository has Visits to the University’s libraries increased marginally, been required as an outcome of the current government’s while loans decreased slightly with 618,505 items lent. replacement of the Research Quality Framework (RQF) with The trends reflect the changing nature of academic the Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) initiative. libraries and scholarly publishing, including the successful adoption of electronic alternatives to print publications. Collections The Library’s website recorded over 135 million successful UWS library collections continue to expand in both hits, an increase of 12.1% over the previous year. depth and breadth. The adequacy of collections can, to some extent, be evaluated by utilisation of and by other Services continue to be transformed to be increasingly user libraries via document delivery services. In 2008 UWS focused and reflect the dramatic switch towards electronic requests from other libraries declined by a massive 46.1% resources and the University’s focus on e-learning. Searching (3,306 items requested), whilst UWS supplies to other and discovery of the Library’s vast array of subscribed electronic libraries increased by 3.0% (4,538 items supplied). resources was made easier through the implementation of an experimental search engine “Search Central” which facilitates During the year, 44,312 new print monograph volumes and simultaneous searching across a wide range of databases, full 19,912 electronic books were added to the collections. text journals, selected web resources and the library catalogue. Subscriptions were maintained to over 69,000 serial titles, 98% Ongoing enhancement to this tool will provide greater of which are available electronically. Of the total materials vote functionality including the incorporation of Web 2 features. of $8.7 million, 51.7% was spent on electronic materials.

A further significant development was collaborative work Notable acquisitions included The Economist Historical Archive, undertaken with the academic community in ensuring a library New York Times Historical Archive, Sydney Morning Herald presence within vUWS, the University’s e-learning platform. Archives 1955 – 1990 and the Music Online database. Where access to sites was granted, customised links to library resources and services were included in individual The strength of Australian currency, until August 2008, sites with reading lists enhanced to incorporate embedded greatly contributed to the Library’s purchasing power. links to subscribed e-resources. This critically important work Collection growth on the scale enjoyed over 2007–08 will be expanded in 2008, with a view to the development will not be replicated in the foreseeable future. of sustainable policies and procedures across Schools.

In response to student feedback indicating insufficient computer workstations in the libraries, the provision of loan laptops was trialled at three campuses. Response was

30 Research

Research Strategy

In 2008, UWS research continued on a strong income growth Excellence in Research Australia (ERA) trajectory as a result of our commitment and investment In February 2008, the Commonwealth Government announced to a strategy of selectivity and concentration. These the Excellence in Research Australia (ERA) initiative with the achievements were confirmed as the University consolidated Australian Research Council (ARC) assuming responsibility its position in the top 20 Australian universities in nationally for ERA in consultation with the National Health and Medical competitive Australian Research Council grant success. Research Council (NHMRC). The ERA initiative is aimed at evaluating excellence from a disciplinary perspective in all areas The University’s research performance measured against the of research, including pure and applied as well as industry 2004-2008 plan shows 18 of 20 Key Performance Indicators collaborations, within the Australian higher education sector. were achieved either on target or above target, confirming UWS ERA will not, however, evaluate multi-disciplinary research, has a recognisable presence in the national innovation system. which is increasingly a feature of UWS’s research strengths.

Mindful of the need to set the broad strategies and parameters UWS has participated in all aspects of the development for the next phase of its research development, UWS of the ERA, including a pilot evaluation of the IT systems commenced a review of research in 2008 to determine the and publications tracking through external bibliometric focus of potential new research and to identify current areas of providers, the transference of all research codes to the research that should be leveraged through further investment. new Australia and New Zealand Fields of Research (FOR) In July 2008, a three stage program of review was initiated: and responding to consultation and discussion papers.

1. University Research Centre Desk Audit In July 2008 draft ERA journal rankings were released and – completed 28 August 2008 UWS provided feedback and recommended changes to 2. Review of Research in the Colleges – 354 journals. Analysis of UWS journal publications across completed in November 2008 the period 2003-2007, against these Draft ERA Journal 3. Research Landscape Review Panel – February 2009 Rankings, showed that on average 28% of UWS authored publications were in A or A* ranked journals. Cluster 1 (Physical, The reports from the first two reviews will underpin the third Chemical and Earth Sciences) and Cluster 2 (Humanities and Research Landscape Review to be convened by the Vice- Creative Arts) review data will be submitted by 8 May 2009 Chancellor and will set out the strategic directions of UWS research and research funding for 2009-2013, including the disbursement of the Research Investment Fund, established by UWS in 2006 to intensively invest in building research capacity.

2008 was the third year of this 10 year, $50 million research investment program, which continued funding to six existing research centres and provided new funding for the establishment of the Urban Research Centre in 2006, the Centre for Educational Research in 2007 and the Centre for Citizenship and Public Policy in July 2008. In addition resources have been directed towards establishing a significant research presence in the new School of Medicine, resulting in the appointment of several high profile professors. The central principle for research development at UWS is focused support for development in specific areas of research strength, rather than across all fields and activities. As set out in the UWS Making the Difference 2007-2009 strategy document, the University wishes to focus research where UWS can be world class.

31 Competitive Funding – major grants

Australian Research Council Culture in Transition During 2008 the Australian Research Council awarded Associate Professor Brett Neilson from the School of UWS researchers $4,665,856, continuing the University’s Humanities and Languages, Professor Ien Ang, Dr Ned position in the top 20 of ARC achievement. UWS was Rossiter, Professor Meaghan Morris from the Centre for successful in winning ARC Discovery, Linkage, and Cultural Research, Professor Ranabir Samaddar from Indigenous Researcher Development. 21 grants were Mahanirban Calcutta Research Group, Professor Hui Wang awarded to UWS researchers, including funding to support from Tsinghua University and Professor Sandro Mezzadra four Australian Postgraduate Research Awards (Industry). from University of Bologna are collaborating to investigate how economic and cultural processes interact to change UWS researchers’ overall success rate in ARC Discovery Australia’s position in Asia. Focusing on the experiences is 22.4%, a top 10 result, and continues the University’s of workers in the creative and cultural sectors of three achievement at or above the national average (20.4%). cities (Beijing, Kolkata, Sydney), the research will advance The University’s strength in relevant engaged research understandings of changing forms of governance and continues with an overall success rate in ARC Linkage of migration in the region. Funding awarded $369,000. 50% and a top 20 position in terms of funds granted. This success would not be possible without the University’s Making Speech Three Dimensional research partners who contributed $1.26M to these Professor Denis Burnham and Dr Takaaki Kuratate from collaborative projects. Much of this success has grown MARCS Auditory Laboratories, Professor Catherine from the competitive internal grant schemes that UWS McBride Chang from Chinese University of Hong Kong operates to promote national and international excellence. and Dr Karen Mattock from Lancaster University will explore speech with a study titled ‘Making speech three Some of these new ARC projects now dimensional: Adding tone to consonant and vowel based underway are detailed below: speech perception and language acquisition research, quantification and theory’. Funding awarded $355,000. Retirement Transition Professor Beryl Hesketh and Dr Barbara Griffin from the College Achieving Urban Vitality: skills & employment of Health and Science will investigate retirement transition development in shrinking cities and adjustment with four year funding. Population-level data Associate Professor Cristina Martinez-Fernandez from on 2,000 participants from the large-scale 45 and Up Study the Urban Research Centre, Dr Sylvie Fol from University Cohort will be supplemented with in-depth information on of Sorbonne, Professor Elizabeth Deakin from University actual and subjective adjustment trajectories using innovative of California, Professor Dr Thorsten Wiechmann from graphic ratings and validated psychological scales. Results Brandenburg Technical University, Dr Ivonne Audirac from will inform interventions designed to promote successful Florida State University and Professor Hiroshi Yahagi from ageing in the context of increased life expectancy and evolving Osaka City University form an international team that will economic and social conditions. Funding awarded $240,500. investigate and prepare a typology of shrinking cities within a global context, an analysis of skills and employment programs Staying at School and policies for re-generation. Funding awarded $326,000. Professor Margaret Vickers and Dr Katrina Barker from the School of Education, in collaboration with Associate Professor Intervention for Premenstrual Syndrome Robert Perry and Prof Susan Dockett from Charles Stuart Professor Jane Ussher, Dr Janette Perz from the School University and Mr Michael Hyam from the NSW Department of of Psychology and Dr Edith Weisberg from the Sydney Education and Training, will investigate staying on at school, Centre for Reproductive Health will evaluate the relative exploring strategies for increasing high school completion rates efficacy and mechanisms of a couple based intervention in low retention regions of NSW. Funding awarded $401,000. for Premenstrual Syndrome through a randomised control trial using mixed methods. Funding Awarded $420,000.

32 Improvement to E Trading Systems New Treatments for Dementia Dr Dongmo Zhang and Professor Yan Zhang from the Professor Nikolaus Sucher from the Centre for School of Computing and Mathematics, Professor Norman Complementary Medicine will investigate the protective Foo from the University of New South Wales and Professor effects of naturally occurring plant compounds on nerve Michael Thielscher from Dresden University of Technology cells, possibly leading to new treatments for neurological are collaborating on a three year program of research titled diseases like dementia. Funding awarded $284,250. ‘Logical Foundation and Implementation Technology for Automated Negotiation’. Funding Awarded $225,000. Health Capacity Professor Louisa Jorm from the School of Medicine was Advancement of Computer Aided Systems successful in obtaining a NHMRC Capacity Building grant of Professor Yan Zhang from the School of Computing and $2,261,542. The program will build human capacity, skills and Mathematics was awarded ARC Discovery funding for a methods in using linked health service data for research to project titled ‘Model Update with Localisation, Constraints inform improvements in health services for mothers, babies and and Abstraction’. This project will seek to provide a new children. It brings together experienced chief investigators from methodology and technology for advanced computer aided NSW and WA, and eminent national and international mentors. system modification, which will significantly enhance the correctness and effectiveness of complex hardware and software development. Funding Awarded $225,000.

National Health and Medical Research Council Funding In 2008 UWS was successful for the first time in receiving National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) funding, of $3,598,042 for four grants supporting large scale work in Nursing, Public Health and Complementary Medicine:

Wound Care Professor Rhonda Griffiths, Ms Ritin Fernandez from the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Dr Jeffrey Rowland from the University of Queensland, Associate Professor Mary- Louise McLaws from the University of NSW and Mr Geoffrey Sussman from Monash University will study the effectiveness of tap water to cleanse acute and chronic wounds, potentially revolutionising wound care. Funding Awarded $583,250.

Aboriginal Health Professor Louisa Jorm, Ms Sanja Lujic from the School of Medicine, Professor Sandra Eades, Dr Mary Haines from The Sax Institute, Professor Alastair Leyland from the Medical Research Council and Dr Timothy Churches from the NSW Department of Health were successful in obtaining funding for a project to address the inequalities in Aboriginal health, comparing hospital care for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians and exploring health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and asthma. Funding awarded $469,000.

33 Collaborative Research

International Collaboration Some of the large projects underway with UWS has continued to reach out with internationally partners are detailed below: focused research and has increased the amount of funding it generates from international sources. Product to Repel Termites Examples of internationally collaborative projects include: Associate Professor Robert Spooner-Hart and Dr Albert Basta from the Centre for Plant and Food Sciences Hot Science Global Citizens are collaborating with research partner BioProspect Dr Fiona Cameron, Professor Robert Hodge and Associate Limited to investigate a new oil-based product to Professor Brett Neilson from the Centre for Cultural repel termites. Funding Awarded $1,147,000. Research are collaborating with Dr Juan Salazar from the School of Communication Arts and Professor Jann Health Benefits of Mushrooms Conroy from the Centre for Plant and Food Science to Associate Professor Yip Cho, Associate Professor Gerald explore the role of museums in supporting climate change Pang, Dr Sundar R Koyyalamudi and Dr Sang-Chul Jeong interventions, through an Australian Research Council from the School of Natural Sciences and the Centre for (ARC) Linkage Project. To do this study, the team has Plant and Food Science (PAFS), are collaborating with the partnered with the Powerhouse Museum, Museum Victoria, Australian Mushroom Growers Association (AMGA) to explore Australian Museum, Questacon, Liberty Science Centre the health benefits of eating mushrooms. This project is (USA), University of Melbourne, and University of Leicester being funded by Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL) using the (UK). Funding Awarded includes $570,000 from the ARC mushroom levy and voluntary contributions from AMGA and plus $175,500 partner cash and $626,439 in kind. the University of Western Sydney with matched funding from the Australian Government. Funding awarded $951,500. Attunement to Language Professor Catherine Best from the MARCS Laboratories Employment Strategies in Western Sydney heads a team that is investigating how infants become Professor Phillip O’Neill, Professor Peter Phibbs and Associate native speaker-listeners of the adult language around them Professor Cristina Martinez-Fernandez from the Urban with particular focus on exploring the disorders that affect Research Centre, and Mr Eric Sidoti from the Whitlam Institute children’s ability to develop easily understood speech, a primary are collaborating with partner investigators Professor Bob cause of reading deficits in children. By investigating normal Fagan from Macquarie University, and Mr Graham Larcombe phonological development the team will be provided with and Mr Mark Cole from Strategic Economics to explore insights into developmental reading disabilities. The research the development of employment strategies in Sydney’s will explore second language learning, which is of increasing north-west and west-central regions through a one year importance to our bilingual, multicultural society. Funding has project funded by Western Sydney Regional Organisation been set at US$154,267 and is funded through the United of Councils Ltd (WSROC). In addition, Dr Louise Crabtree, States Government’s National Institutes of Health (NIH). Ms Kate Johnston and Ms Maria Piquer-Rodriguez from the Urban Research Centre are providing key research Local Collaboration services to the project. Funding awarded $199,996. Through strategic intent UWS has developed a series of research strengths that compete effectively in the national arena. These are often linked multidisciplinary activities with a strong applied focus. Much of this research has a collaborative problem solving approach and is conducted with a wide range of research partners.

In 2008 UWS had 350 partner organisations funding research projects at UWS; these comprise 194 business and industry partners, 141 government partners and 15 university partners.

34 Research Training

Higher degree research candidates are supported at UWS Research Training Highlights for the duration of their candidature through enrichment In 2008 UWS Doctoral Candidates in the Creative Arts activities which contribute to their success and consequently, have created significant impact in the music world. to UWS’s research reputation. There were 405 attendances Supervised by notable composer academics Drs Bruce at workshops covering confirmation of candidature, Crossman and Diana Blom, Ms Jean Bunton and Ms research methodology, examination and writing. Clare Maclean had their compositions - which form part of their DCA studies - performed by professional During 2008, the University launched the online Postgraduate orchestras in Hong Kong and New Zealand respectively. Essentials program (modified from the University of Melbourne program by the Teaching Development Unit, the Student This encouragement of the dissemination of discrete Learning Unit and the Office of Research Services), aimed research outputs from research studies is reflected in the at improving higher degree research candidate transition rising number of UWS HDR candidates who are publishing to research education. This moderated interactive program during their candidature, up from 10% in 2002 to 30% proved to be popular with new candidates and has been in the most recent audited publication data (2007). enhanced with an ethics module. Further development will be undertaken to provide modules addressing the final year of candidature and preparation of thesis for examination. 2008 saw the inaugural research candidate writing retreat, a three day intensive residential program which was oversubscribed. We plan to expand this program in 2009.

In April, the results of the 2007 UWS Research Candidate Satisfaction Survey (RSSS) confirmed that there had been an improvement in virtually all areas of candidates’ experience since the RSSS-2005. The University is committed to objective evaluation of its services and supports for research candidates and will resurvey candidates in 2009 with a view to ensuring continuous improvement in processes, access to facilities and supervision.

The University’s Higher Degree Research (HDR) Completions to Load ratio of 0.30 is one of the highest in the sector, ensuring that the majority of UWS research candidates complete their program of research within the maximum allowable and funded time.

35 Awards and Recognition Appointments

Associate Professor Ian Anderson was the recipient of a UWS secured the following prominent NSW Young Tall Poppy Science Award (October 2008). Dr senior researchers during 2008. Anderson is a key researcher within the Centre for Plant and Food Science and part of an international team working on the Professor Bryan Turner commenced in February as Director Hawkesbury Forest Experiment, a major new research facility of the UWS unit of the National Centre for Excellence in to monitor the impact of climate change on native forests. Islamic Studies Australia. From 2009 he will also hold a number of other positions: Professor of Social and Political Professor Beverley Raphael was acknowledged by the NSW Thought at UWS and the Alona Evans Distinguished Visiting Minister for Health for her work in the field of disaster mental Professor of Sociology at Wellesley College, Boston. health for raising awareness and providing an evidence base to support enhancing the capacity to respond to Professor Soon Lee commenced in March as Chair of a disaster or major event affecting NSW residents. The Pathology. His research is in cancer pathology, particularly University was awarded additional funding of $402,702 for in relation to translational work in gastrointestinal, breast, the Science of Mental Health and Adversity Unit at UWS. pancreatic-biliary, head and neck and prostate cancers. Professor Lee is currently Editor-in-Chief of the journal Dr Leigh Sheppard, from the newly established Solar Pathology (SCI impact factor of 1.77 in 2007) and is a member Technology Energy Research Group was short- of the editorial board of the Journal of Clinical Pathology. listed for the Eureka Prize for Young Leaders in Environmental Science (September 2008). Professor Jack Barbalet joined the School of Social Sciences in March as Foundation Professor of Sociology. He was formerly Professor of Sociology at the University of Leicester and Australian National University. His research focus includes the sociology of emotions, sociological theory, and economic sociology.

Professor Stephen Tomsen joined the School of Social Sciences as Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice in April. He was formerly Assistant Dean of Research Training in Education and Arts at the University of Newcastle. Professor Tomsen has particular expertise in relation to violent crime; crime, gender and sexuality; cultural criminology and access to justice and legal services.

Professor Margaret Mitchell commenced with the School of Social Sciences as Professor in Criminology in April. She was formerly Director of the Sellenger Centre for Research in Law Justice and Policing at Edith Cowan University, Western Australia. Professor Mitchell’s research is in the area of investigations practice and intelligence.

Professor Andrew Korda was appointed in June as Chair of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in the School of Medicine. Dr Korda is an accredited subspecialist in urogynaecology, pelvic floor disorders and reconstructive pelvic surgery. Dr Korda is a senior specialist in gynaecology at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital where he is Chairman of the Pelvic Floor Unit.

36 Professor Anthony Maeder joined the School of Professor Louise Young commenced with the School of Computing and Mathematics in June as a Professor of Marketing in August from the University of Technology. She is Health Informatics from the University of Queensland. His a member of ten publication editorial boards which include a research specialisation is digital image processing and number of Tier 1 publications, and is internationally recognised human vision, including medical imaging applications. in the field of marketing. Professor Young is currently focusing her research on the evolution and management of business Professor Robert Robergs joined the School of Biomedical relationships and networks. In 2007, Professor Young received and Health Sciences in June 2008 as the Professor in Human a Carrick Citation for her accomplishments in education. Movement and Health. His research includes studying central cardiovascular responses to incremental exercise, Professor Kenny Kwok commenced with the School of hydration and renal physiology and altitude physiology. Engineering in November. Prior to his appointment, he was the Director of CLP Power Wind/Wave Tunnel Facility, Professor Nicholas Jose commenced in July as Chair in at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Writing with the Writing and Society Research Group. He His research interests include wind effects on building and is a novelist, essayist and playwright whose thirteen books structures, wind tunnel modelling, structural dynamics, include the novels Paper Nautilus and Avenue of Eternal vibration control and environmental fluid mechanics. Peace which was shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Award. He resumed his academic career as Professor of Creative In August UWS attracted four outstanding academics Writing at Adelaide University in 2005. In 2009 he will be a from the University of NSW who now form the core of a Visiting Professor of Australian Studies at Harvard University. Solar Energy Technologies Research Group at UWS. Dr Leigh Sheppard and Professor Janusz Nowotny will lead Professor Stephen Teo commenced in July with the School of the group supported by Associate Professor Tad Bak and Management. His previous appointment was with University Dr Maria Nowotny. The group’s research areas include of Technology, Sydney. He received an Australian Learning materials science/chemistry, photo-electrochemistry, solid and Teaching Council (formerly Carrick) Citation in 2007 state chemistry and surface chemistry. Their work involves for sustained contributions through the design of research- the development of materials with tailored surface chemistry led, practise-based curriculum and assessment to provide for the photocatalytic production of hydrogen by ‘water business graduates with work ready competencies in human splitting’ and the photocatalytic purification of grey water. resource management. He researches the impact and effectiveness of the changing roles, status and influence of Associate Professor Hannah Dahlen commenced human resource professionals in strategic management. with the School of Nursing and Midwifery in August to develop a program of research in midwifery that focuses Professor Anna Yeatman took up the appointment as Professor on families in Greater Western Sydney and to provide and Foundation Director of the Centre for Citizenship and Public leadership in the related postgraduate programs. Policy at the University of Western Sydney in mid-2008. She was formerly Professor and Canada Research Chair (Social Theory Associate Professor Gerald Muench commenced with the and Policy), University of Alberta, Canada. Her current research School of Medicine in April in the role of Associate Professor falls into two focal areas: (1) the idea of the state in relation to of Pharmacology. He came to UWS from James Cook contemporary debates concerning human rights, nationalism University. His major research focus is on Alzheimer’s disease and cosmopolitanism; (2) an ecology of the human subject. with a special emphasis on carbonyl stress in age-related and neurodegenerative processes, and brain inflammation Professor Ronald Ratti commenced with the School as a major progression factor in Alzheimer’s disease. of Economics and Finance in July 2008, joining UWS from the University of Missouri. His main areas of research interest are macroeconomics, monetary economics and international financial economics.

37 Research Data

UWS HERDC External Research Income

$20,000,000 $18,000,000 $16,000,000 $14,000,000 $12,000,000 $10,000,000 $8,000,000 $6,000,000 $4,000,000 $2,000,000 $0 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

UWS HERDC Declared External Research Income by Category [2001 - 2007]

8,000,000

7,000,000

6,000,000

5,000,000

4,000,000

3,000,000

2,000,000

1,000,000

0 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 ACRG $4,717,000 $4,572,000 $4,271,907 $4,440,006 5,311,742 $5,913,099 7,145,095 OPS $3,967,000 $3,844,000 $4,664,777 $3,257,907 4,216,515 $3,661,684 7,228,739 IOF $1,291,000 $2,251,000 $1,881,078 $2,136,939 2,108,464 $2,402,465 2,887,182 CRC 341,780 $683,202 866,147

38 Engagement

Office of University Engagement

Throughout 2008, the Office of University Engagement quiz show, and Young Scientist Awards. (See the Schools (OUE) continued to build internal capacity for engagement Engagement section for more information and outcomes.) with the Greater Western Sydney (GWS) community and to facilitate the further implementation of the Engagement Climate Change/Sustainability. UWS,TAFE and school Plan 2007-2010. This involved the ongoing improvement students teamed up in the Y-Green program to reduce of existing, proven programs and the implementation of household energy consumption in GWS by conducting a few new partnership projects reflecting the University’s sustainability tests which also help residents save on energy strategic themes for engagement, which are: bills. A partnership launched with Macarthur Regional » Improving educational attainment across GWS. Enhance Organisation of Councils (MACROC) involves UWS staff and literacy (language, finance, science, culture), improve students as advisors and trainers for businesses seeking to children’s futures (tutoring/mentoring, research), build reduce their carbon footprint while also improving their financial Indigenous education, focus on science and maths bottom line. UWS researchers, students and business leaders » Economic development. Target small and medium participated in the UWS Nanotechnology Network to exchange enterprises, focus on financial literacy and sustainability, innovative ideas, promote learning, and discuss research ideas. build strategic partnerships with business sectors » Climate change/sustainability. Strengthen literacy and The Regional Environmental Information Network brought skills of the public and business sectors, strengthen scientists, community organisations and environmental environmental education services in GWS educators together to share information and discuss recent » Intercultural understanding. Promote cultural harmony research and projects. Partnering with the UWS Greening and dialogue in GWS, develop graduates as global Task Force, the Office of University Engagement (OUE) hosted citizens, focus on Indigenous graduate attributes. school students on the Penrith campus for environmental learning activities. OUE has launched a research study The Engagement Plan is moving UWS community engagement to assess the capabilities and services of environmental forward from a history of many small projects scattered education sites and organisations in GWS. The findings across the university toward a much sharper focus on a will be used to design collaborative capacity-building set of significant, multi-year initiatives that provide research partnerships across GWS in 2009 with a goal of increasing and learning opportunities for UWS staff and students while their visibility and impact through greater collaboration. also addressing community-identified needs. Engagement initiatives are based on mutually beneficial partnership Economic Development. OUE partnered with the College relationships. Activities and strategies are jointly planned and of Business in its goal of building SMExcellence, a free implemented. By concentrating our engagement agenda online training program for small businesses with a goal in these four thematic areas, the University is better able of increasing their viability and success. The first module to monitor quality and impact from both an internal and a on Financial Literacy was developed by more than 400 community perspective. The following are highlights: UWS students from Business, Communication Arts and Computer Science. The students worked with businesses and Educational Attainment. The Schools Engagement Strategic associations to determine need, wrote the training modules Plan (Building Better Relationships with Schools 2008- and designed and developed the software platform. 10) and Schools Action Plan 2008 were officially launched mid-year 2008 and a new Schools Engagement Manager The OUE helped to facilitate a funding partnership for position was filled. This plan is guided by an external SMExcellence with NSW Department of State and Regional reference group and is intended to build mutually beneficial Development for a research study on small business relationships with schools in GWS. Many schools-related training needs which will be reflected in the SMExcellence programs were already underway, and the partnership website. A partnership with NSW Chambers of Commerce between the OUE and the Schools Engagement Manager will help the training program reach a statewide audience. was productive and successful. Examples of collaborative The OUE also provided staff support and training to assist school-related projects include Fast Forward, Brain Bee, in the launch of new engaged units across all College of MyScience, Science in the Suburbs, Histrionics school Business programs for third year students and continues

39 to advise on improvement and assessment of outcomes. Other Initiatives Two jointly authored research publications were crafted The OUE facilitates the selection of UWS Partnership and presented by the OUE and the College at 2008 Awards which in 2008 attracted 22 nominations for Australian University Community Engagement Alliance. outstanding partnerships which support the University’s commitment to community engagement. Intercultural Understanding. UWS involvement in the many cultures of GWS grows every year. Through a wide variety Community engagement continues to be incorporated of curricular units across disciplines, many UWS students into the work of our students, significantly enhancing their and staff are working with cultural communities to promote learning and career opportunities. Working closely with UWS literacy (language, financial, civic). A good example is a Colleges and the Offices of Development and Marketing, the Learning through Community Service module that worked OUE has collaboratively facilitated an integrated approach with Sudanese youth to create a DVD to help their peers to engagement with strong links to engaged learning and learn about how to apply for a job, get around GWS, and do teaching. Engaged learning was introduced into several better in school. Other students provide literacy tutoring for existing or new units in each College. Engagement is also entering students from other language backgrounds. Others beginning to attract external funding in cash or in kind for designed projects that raised funds to provide books and other research, evaluation and training activities. Relationships learning materials for Indigenous or immigrant communities. with NSW state government agencies, schools governance bodies, and significant community-based organisations and The University has an extensive partnership with the Australian foundations create a promising foundation for the future. In Literacy and Numeracy Foundation (ALNF) which will expand 2009, we will build on these relationships and especially focus in 2009 to include opportunities for UWS students to spend on improving relationships with local government across GWS. time in remote Indigenous communities as mentors and tutors. ALNF gave an award to UWS in 2008 in recognition Finally, during 2008 the PVC Engagement partnered with the of the strength of our partnership work. The OUE also UWS Office of Planning and Quality to design a set of key continues to facilitate and encourage the Muslim Harmony performance indicators for engagement, and to build a cutting- Project which engages students, staff and community in edge model for online data collection about UWS-community strategies to promote successful learning experiences for partnership activities. These will be launched in 2009. students and strong university-community relationships. In 2008, planning began for significant multicultural activities in 2009 including a public lecture series and new engagement activities for UWS international students.

40 Careers and Cooperative Education

Events and programs during the year focused on career Student Wesley Kington’s Winter Vacation Project with the development learning for students and partnerships with State Library of NSW won the Microsoft Information Technology organisations. category of the 2008 National Multicultural Marketing Awards. Wesley filmed short promotional videos in 60 different languages 2008 careers expos gave students the opportunity to promote the MyLanguage internet portal on YouTube. to connect with employers in their field. In addition to the annual UWS Business Careers Expo, EdFest and Eight students undertook International Internships over the Engineering Careers Expo, an Information Technology (IT) 2008/2009 summer vacation. Six students gained international Careers Expo was held in September 2008, to cater for business experience in India, while two students honed employers still seeking to employ IT graduates in 2009. their international journalism skills in South East Asia.

Employers advertised more than 500 employment Demonstrating its commitment to work-integrated learning, opportunities to over 28,000 registered students and recent UWS Careers & Cooperative Education was one of the graduates via UWS CareerHub in 2008. These included primary organisers of the World Association for Cooperative graduate positions, casual/part time jobs, internships/ Education Asia Pacific Conference in 2008. The conference cadetships, vacation work and placements for a range of attracted approximately 350 delegates from around the business, government and community organisations. globe, and showcased a variety of learning and teaching experiences which integrate theory with professional practice. To help prepare students for future employment, the new Careers on Campus Week program gave students access to career information and job skills workshops on their campus throughout the year. This program was complemented by job interview workshops to assist students applying for Careers & Cooperative Education placements.

Students continued to reap the benefits of degree-relevant work experience, with 177 students successfully completing an internship, vacation project or research project in 2008. This included many students who contributed to the SMExcellence project, hosted by the UWS College of Business, to develop an online platform to enhance the business management skills of small to medium sized organisations.

41 University Art Collection

In May, the third UWS Acquisitive Sculpture Award and Juliana Nkrumah. Ways of Seeing featured the paintings of Exhibition was launched on the Campbelltown Campus Dean Gosling and print media/sculpture of Pia Larsen; both exhibiting the works of twenty four finalists selected from around artists presented talks in the gallery to the general public. Australia. The UWS $20,000 prize was won by the Melbourne- The exhibition, Dreaming Tracks, explored the Aboriginal based artist, Michael Sibel for his sculpture, Carousel. The concept of the Dreaming via the University’s own art collection $20,000 Landcom prize was won by the Tasmanian-based and the final exhibition,The Spectacle Project, digital works artist, Marcus Tatton for Digital Litter. An educational resource by David Cubby, examined the history of optics through kit was produced for the exhibition and distributed to high both text and image via short films and photographs. schools within the region. Three of the finalists, Louisa Dawson, Clara Hali and Cassandra Hard Lawrie presented artist talks Twelve artworks were donated to the art collection in to local high school students in conjunction with a walk and 2008, which included two sculptures, Twittering by Akira talk around the exhibition with the University’s art curator. Kamada and Transit of Venus by Tim Wetherell, a painting by Liddy Nelson Nakamarra, Seed (Ngurlu) Dreaming and From January to April the Margot Hardy Gallery on the two etchings by Francisco Goya, Ensayos and Braismo. Bankstown Campus was refurbished. In May the Campus There was a major donation of artworks by Arthur McIntyre, Art Project (CAP) was launched, which enables students which included three paintings: Untitled ( East West Series); in local primary, secondary schools and community Life Death, Decor, Kiss of Death; and Lucy in the Sky with groups to showcase their artwork in exhibitions within this Diamonds; two drawings on paper, Another Life Drawing gallery. This project involved UWS students who helped (Triptych) and Untitled and two collages on paper, Hernia create and market the CAP Resource Kit to local schools. Parade and Phallusy of a Dead Screen Goddess. The inaugural CAP exhibition featured artwork by sixty students from Years 1 to 6 from Chester Hill North Public Works purchased in 2008 for the art collection included two School and was opened by Mr James Coleborne, School etchings by Maryanne Mungatopi, Bima and Purukuparli, Director, Fairfield, South Western Sydney Region. a painting by Purlta Maryanne Downs, Mana and Yuka (Trees and Grass) in the Jilji (Sandhills), a bark painting Other exhibitions under the auspices of this project by Helen Ganalmirruwuy, Ngarra Body Paint Design, two included Urban Decay featuring artworks by 45 Year 10 paintings by Sally Gabori, Dingkarri and Dbirdibi Country students from Elizabeth Macarthur High School, Narellan and a photograph by Robyn Stacey, Mr Macleay’s and Breaking the Rules featuring works by 63 Year 9 Fruit and Flora. A photographic portrait of the Vice- students from Mt Carmel High School, St Andrews. The Chancellor by Anne Zalhalka was also commissioned. Uruguayan Consultative Council of Sydney also displayed their photographic exhibition, History of the Uruguayan Immigration to Sydney, which documented the community’s arrival in Sydney in the 1970s, up to the present day. The 2008 exhibition program ended with the AFFORD Fantastic Art Exhibition, a celebration of International Day of People with a Disability opened by the Mayor of Liverpool, Wendy Waller. This was a collaborative project with the Australian Foundation for Disability, UWS and the NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Homecare. It was a registered event in the NSW Government’s Don’t DIS my ABILITY campaign.

The UWS Art Gallery on Werrington North Campus featured four exhibitions in 2008. She’s So Sweet, photographic works by Sydney based artist Barbara Doran, was part of UWS-wide International Women’s Day celebrations and was opened by the Women of the West Award Winner 2007,

42 Schools Engagement The UWS Foundation

UWS implemented Building Better Relationships with Schools With the desire to make a difference and a passion for 2008-10, a strategic plan developed in consultation with providing opportunity, the UWS Foundation is Bringing the school sector in Greater Western Sydney. The whole- Knowledge to Life. Through sustained partnerships of-institution plan is a vehicle for sustainable University/ between the University, the community and the world of school partnerships and programs that address common business, the UWS Foundation supports educational and educational goals, increase learning opportunities for regional development by raising funds to support important students and make a difference in the level of educational projects such as scholarships, prizes, research, teaching attainment and higher education participation. positions, academic programs and teaching facilities.

UWS now has a coordinated and direct relationship with nearly The UWS Foundation was established in 1991 and is 400 schools, an increase of about 130 from 2007. Nearly led by a group of people who are passionate about the 39,000 school students participated in UWS-run or hosted University, its students, staff and community. The UWS activities. There was contact or involvement with hundreds of Foundation Board volunteer their time to act in the best teachers, school staff and sector administrators. More than interest of the University’s fundraising program through 800 UWS students were involved in schools engagement engagement, advocacy, planning and leadership. activities, as were 26 Schools or programs of the University. The UWS Foundation operates under the highest Qualitatively, evaluation of programs and activities was very level of governance in the philanthropic environment. positive. Many of the collaborative programs introduced to It is a fully licensed foundation with the authority support the strategic plan will be continued or expanded to accept tax deductible donations. in 2009. Implementation was strongly supported in the school community and benefited from the ongoing advice Through new and well established partnerships, the and contributions of an active Schools Reference Group UWS Foundation strives to overcome the increasing comprising senior administrators and school principals from pressures faced by Universities to find sources of non- the public, Catholic systemic and independent sub-sectors. government funding. With community and industry support, the University of Western Sydney will continue Major foci of the schools agenda included engaging school to provide the highest standard of learning opportunities students and teachers in Science, Technology, Mathematics to the Greater Western Sydney Region and beyond. and Engineering learning activities to build interest and capacity; initiatives to challenge and engage Gifted and Talented students; programs to increase the motivation, confidence and skills of disadvantaged or disengaged students with academic potential; and outreach services to Indigenous students leading toward a mentoring program that will begin in 2009. From these activities and relationships, new research partnership opportunities emerged for UWS academic staff. Mechanisms for closer research collaboration and better dissemination of research outcomes in the sector are being developed.

43 The Office of Development Whitlam Institute

As the administrative arm of the UWS Foundation, the The Whitlam Institute and Whitlam Reading Room - home Office of Development is required to build a culture of to the Whitlam Prime Ministerial Collection gifted to UWS by philanthropic giving to higher education and implement Mr Whitlam - was established by the University of Western a strategic approach to fundraising in consultation Sydney in 2000 and is housed on the Parramatta Campus. with the Colleges and the UWS community. The Whitlam Institute exists for all Australians who care about what matters in a fair Australia. The Institute considers the The Office of Development has the core responsibility of historical legacy of Gough Whitlam’s years in public life in ensuring that UWS has a continuous and growing source the context of contemporary public discourse and policy. of philanthropic funds for scholarships and specific projects The Institute’s spirit is best captured in Mr Whitlam’s as identified by the Board of Trustees and the Executive. own words when signing the Deed of Gift: Through the increase of scholarship funds the University can tangibly demonstrate its commitment to ensuring a “The greatest contribution that I hope to bestow is inspiration. diverse student profile and increased higher education That the work and causes championed in my parliamentary participation rates of people from Greater Western Sydney. career and the statesman service that followed, will provide the basis for ongoing research and advocacy from this university Revenue into the contemporary challenges that confront and can Total revenue as at December 2008 $4,214,216. improve the quality of life for all Australians...”[December 2003]

The Whitlam Institute works as an advocate, educator, policy influencer and research institute. The Institute is home to the collected papers donated by the Hon EG Whitlam AC QC which inspire our programs. The collection provides on- line access to papers held both at the Institute and in the National Archives. The Institute maintains an active public education program and works with the Colleges and Schools of UWS to bring knowledge to life in the community. The Whitlam Institute is established as a separate entity within the University of Western Sydney. Responsibility of the Whitlam Institute Trust resides with the Board of Directors. The Board is politically bipartisan and consists of leaders in academia, business and government organisations. The Board participates in the strategic development of the Institute. The current Chair is Geoffrey Roberson. The UWS Vice-Chancellor, Professor Janice Reid, sits on the Board; her role marks the importance the University attaches to the Whitlam Institute.

The Whitlam Institute’s small secretariat led by Director Eric Sidoti is committed to the highest quality in all its activity whether that might be its policy and research work, outreach activity, public information programs or events.

The Whitlam Institute is pursuing a particular interest in Australian democracy in the 21st Century. This includes an exciting project working with young people to Imagine a New Democracy as well detailed policy work on the impact of government contracts on non government organisations. The Institute worked with the UWS College of Health and

44 Alumni Relations Unit

Science to present a five-part series of public forums on Following the appointment of a new Alumni Relations team Energy Security: The Real Story. The series has been consisting of a Manager and Coordinator in late 2008, podcast and packaged in a DVD for wider dissemination. significant progress has been achieved in re-establishing an effective and active alumni function for the benefit of UWS The Whitlam Prime Ministerial Collection continued to expand graduates and to encourage alumni support of the University. with many new items being donated by Mr Whitlam and others. The commitment to digitising the Collection has been The UWS alumni database has been reprocessed and maintained allowing all Australians access to the material online. updated, greatly increasing the number of alumni now contactable by UWS. A number of successful functions Leading the Institute’s outreach activities was the very have recently been supported by the Alumni Relations successful 2008 What Matters? student essay writing Unit, including the 2008 Law Alumni Occasional Address competition. This year’s competition attracted a record (a formal dinner for over 120 persons at the Sydney Hilton, number of some 850 entries and high level support with with Chester Porter, QC, delivering the address), and the Hugh Mackay as its Patron and a wonderful judging panel UWS Golden Key Chapter New Members inauguration. that included famed children’s author Emily Rodda. A cocktail function to be attended by over 150 alumni The highlight of the year may well have been Gough Whitlam’s has been arranged in conjunction with the UWS Hong 92nd birthday celebrations. The anniversary lunch on 11 Kong 2009 Graduation Ceremony, and UWS alumni July at the Museum of Contemporary Art was addressed dinners have been scheduled in Beijing, in conjunction by Senator John Faulkner. His anecdotes and reflections with the Australia China Alumni Association, and in on the Whitlam Government’s enduring achievements Singapore. AEI Indonesia, where UWS is a member of charmed the audience of more than 300. Former Prime the Ozmate Alumni Network, has announced that UWS Ministers, current and past ministers, business leaders Graduate Fikri Bachmid is a Finalist in the 2008 Australian and luminaries from the media and the arts mingled with Alumni Awards in the Business Leadership category. ‘Gough’s citizens’, the many ordinary folk who turned out in respect for the man and to support the Whitlam Institute. The Alumni Unit is currently implementing several electronic communication strategies. The unit has established Facebook pages for alumni chapters in Australia, Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Indonesia and Taiwan, and has retained a specialist intern to assist in updating and rebuilding the UWS alumni website. An IT systems consultant is also currently advising the Alumni Unit on integrated Web and database functions that will allow external updates to primary contact information, joining an alumni chapter, alumni event registration, access to alumni benefits, links to social networking sites, UWS Alumni Relations Unit staff contacts and links that will eventually allow direct donations to specific alumni projects.

A new A4 magazine-style electronic and hard copy graduate publication with emphasis on UWS achievements, research, prominent graduates and alumni networking will also keep alumni informed of life and events at UWS and contribute to the enhancement of the UWS brand.

45 UWS Innovation and Consulting

In late 2007, the University formed a new, externally focused The services that I&C provides include: commercially oriented unit, UWS Innovation & Consulting (I&C). Concurrently, the former Business Development Unit » Identification of new opportunities to undertake was dissolved. The activities of I&C are designed to contribute paid consulting and applied research. to the University’s increased focus on engagement. It was » Suitable documentation of, and protection for, an formed in recognition of the commercial opportunities academic’s Intellectual Property (IP) that may be that are available to UWS by leveraging the knowledge, suitable for patent and other forms of protection skill and expertise of the University’s staff and by working of academics’ IP rights and privileges. with its academic and commercial partners and clients. » Preparation of highly professional, commercial proposals for consulting and applied research projects. Such work The I&C unit began operations in early 2008. It achieved its full is usually undertaken in a collaborative basis providing the complement of staff in late September 2008. I&C is not inward involved academic to enhance their commercial skills. looking or compliance driven. Its approach is commercially » Management of all aspects of the University’s administration grounded and well equipped to deal with the wide range, large of consulting, applied research and IP projects, including scale and complexity of the myriad of external opportunities to ensuring that all such projects are structured and conducted generate incremental income that are available to the University. in accordance with the UWS Policy on external work.

In July 2008, I&C issued a new, comprehensive set of guidelines In 2008, income from consulting and contracting activities for the conduct of external work by UWS staff and consistent increased by 32% to $1,299,165, compared with $984,484 with the new External Work Policy. To date, this policy has in 2007. Intellectual property income increased by 117% successfully introduced a new attitude and orientation to to $269,676, compared with $124,059 in 2007. external work by UWS academics and has placed such work in a more professional, manageable and rewarding context.

UWS I&C is staffed by a team of qualified and experienced executives who have had successful careers in both the commercial world and in tertiary education.

I&C has established a strong service ethic. The unit focuses on assisting its two main client groups of UWS academics and external client organisations.

46 Management and Resources

Office of the Academic Registrar

In 2008 student administration services were provided to Student centres over 37,000 applicants, more than 15,000 commencing A new telephone management system implemented in students and almost 20,000 continuing students. student centres increased the effective management of Approximately 143,000 examination sittings were organised telephone support services for student administration across six campuses. More than 7,800 students graduated across the six campuses. Planning and design work for in 34 ceremonies held on the Parramatta campus. refurbishments to student centres in 2008 will be realised, with the first new centre to open at Campbelltown in April With the success of self-service on-line enrolment, student 2009. The new designs provide students with extended demand for other on-line services has grown and new hours of access to computers and work spaces as well services have been developed. Students are now able to view as easy access to the services provided by the centre. their current fee statements online and proceed to payment without waiting for mailed invoices. On-line applications direct to UWS can be made for bachelors honours courses, cross-institutional study and individual unit non-award study, allowing rapid processing of applications and offers.

Student requests to waive unit or campus enrolment restrictions and applications for advanced standing from approved articulation agreements are streamlined as e-forms with on- line application and systems-driven routing for approval, decision recording and notification of the result to the student.

UWS is participating in a project to move the system for the approval of courses and units into an online system enabling the on-line publication of this data for public access. The Course Approvals and Publications System (CAPS) is a project jointly funded by UWS, Monash University and the University of Canberra that will enhance the efficacy of the Callista Student Management System.

A project to implement the Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement (AHEGS) has commenced. The AHEGS will provide graduating students with a hard copy and on- line record of their studies at UWS, as well as information about the Australian higher education system, the University and the student’s achievements, such as scholarships and UWS awards. The implementation of AHEGS in universities is partly funded by the Australian Government.

47 Our Staff

There were 2138.9 full-time equivalent staff in ongoing which will interface directly with Alesco: the Learning and fixed term positions as at 31st March 2008. Management System (LMS) and the Performance Development Management System (PDMS). The following figures do not include casuals and are a snapshot of data as at 31st March each year: During 2008 an online Recruitment Management System was implemented with a new job board for candidates. 2005 2006 2007 2008 Candidates can now register interest in working for UWS, search current jobs by criteria such as location or area Academic 920.78 875.74 871.51 881.28 of interest and subscribe to tailored email job alerts. To (Levels A – E) maximise the gains of the online business processes, General (Levels 1128.76 1084.48 1026.67 1119.02 training programs provided for managers and staff were 1 – 9) redeveloped to place greater emphasis on how to make a Senior (Above 77 84.4 117.7 138.6 better selection rather than on the recruitment process itself. Academic Level E The human resources (HR) recruiters have also been given or General Level 9) specialised training to provide hiring managers with more comprehensive and targeted advice. The new system has Office of Human Resources a powerful reporting capability and provides recruitment The Organisational structure we have adopted activity analysis that will inform better advertising decisions incorporates a two-fold emphasis: and continue to enhance the UWS brand. An online orientation program for new staff has been developed and 1. Engagement with the business to ensure people will be launched in February 2009. These innovations have capability alignment to UWS strategic planning; and been funded by a Department of Employment, Education and Workplace Relations grant. A number of universities 2. Transactional service capability to ensure high have already visited UWS to learn from our experiences. quality provisioning of core needs to underpin the effective operation of the business. Occupational Health and Safety The focus for Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) during Underlying all of this is a risk management emphasis 2008 has been to continue to increase OHS awareness and furthering a culture of employee engagement; across the UWS community. OHS online training continued promoting ourselves as an ‘Employer of Choice’ and to add to the level of knowledge and awareness of OHS- systematically benchmarking and developing best related issues in 2008 with the introduction of a new practice through our ‘2015: Our People’ projects. module, Hazardous Substances and Dangerous Goods. Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS) The injury management portfolio continues to achieve Enhancements continue to be applied to our HRIS to deliver significant progress in terms of rehabilitation for injured high quality services. During 2008 testing began on a major workers, staff care arrangements and cost. upgrade to Alesco, our human resources management software system, with an expected production upgrade early There were no prosecutions of UWS for breaches in 2009. The Alesco Budgets and Commitments module under OHS legislation during 2008. was also implemented in 2008; this module allows forecast salary expenditure to be extracted from Alesco and interface A new Employee Assistance Provider (EAP) was chosen at the to Oracle Financials business management software for use start of 2008. The new provider is Access Programs Australia. A in preparing budgets and forecasting salary expenditure. significant communication effort was undertaken to inform staff of this change. Usage of the EAP program during 2008 was Work also commenced a new e-Recruitment platform for double expected levels based on historical usage. This is likely UWS which will interface directly with Alesco and enhance to have been the result of higher staff awareness of the service. the experience of both the candidate and the hiring managers. Two other significant projects commenced

48 The following statistical data provide an overview of accident Higher Education Workplace Relations injury performance during 2008 against previous years. Requirements (HEWRRs) The Federal Government removed the HEWRRs from Comparative Incident / Accident and Claims at UWS legislation in the first sitting of Parliament in 2008. The University is in the process of making the necessary 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 adjustments with the removal of the HEWRRs. Incidents/Accidents 349 364 215 347 391 Indigenous Employment and Engagement Claims 78 72 53 60 64 Significant success was achieved in the area of Indigenous Frequency Rate 10.21 10.33 6.53 8.83 9.07 employment and engagement within the first year of Incident Rate 1.51 1.31 .65 .66 .75 operation of the Director of Indigenous Employment and Engagement (reporting to the Director, Office of Human Average Lost Time (hrs) 12.97 10.79 12.87 15.12 11.22 Resources). There were 14 trainees recruited and with ongoing support provided to both trainees and their hiring Academic Promotions managers, there has been an unprecedented 100% retention The 2008 round of academic promotions attracted 49 with three trainees to commence undergraduate studies applications. The applications were considered by the in 2009. The Indigenous Employment and Engagement Academic Promotions Committees established under Board was also established resulting in significant the provisions of the Academic Promotions Policies engagement with the wider community. A successful with a total of 28 applicants gaining promotion. tender was won to provide training to the Department of Defence (ACT) and further tenders will be entered into. Level Application Successful Total Male Female Total Male Female B 6 3 3 5 3 2 C 21 9 12 14 5 9 D 14 9 5 5 3 2 E 8 6 2 4 2 2 Total 49 27 22 28 13 15

49 Financial Resources and Budget Outcomes

The University ended 2008 with a consolidated operating Overall expenditure (excluding deferred superannuation) surplus of $37.2 million as compared to $29.6 million in was $3.1 million below budget as a result of expenditure 2007. The result was $1.6 million or 4% below budget. savings in the support areas of the University.

Total revenue from continuing operations (excluding deferred The University’s financial position has remained stable superannuation) increased by $46.1 million (10.9%) to $468.5 with Net Assets (assets less liabilities) increasing by $17.7 million in 2008. Australian Government financial assistance million to $884.6 million. The current ratio, which is a increased $34.4 million (11.5%) to $333.3 million including measure of financial liquidity, has declined from 1.46 at the $15.8 million capital funding under the Better Universities end of 2007 to 1.10. The decline is due to the decrease Renewal Funding. International Student fees increased ($12 million) in the value of current investments and the $6.3 million ($5.2%) to $48.7 million and other course fees transfer of the Westmead property ($17 million) to non- increased $3.1 million (26.8%) million to $14.8 million. current assets, as it has been taken off the market.

Revenues (excluding deferred superannuation) were $4.7 UWS continues to operate in a tight financial environment. million below budget. The decrease was mainly due to Commonwealth operating grant indexation is expected reduced investment returns and delayed property sales to remain insufficient to cover salary and other costs as a consequence of the global economic climate. arising from the continuing demand for more high quality teaching and research outcomes. Also there is the Operating expenditure (excluding deferred superannuation) constant financial, as well as teaching and administrative, rose from $392.9 million in 2007 to $431.3 million, an increase challenges of operating on six campuses supporting the of $38.4 million or 9.8%. Employee related expenses, Greater Western Sydney region and its growing population. principally salaries, increased by a $17.8 million (7%) to $271.3 It is therefore imperative costs are contained as much million and the University incurred $7.4 million in investment as possible and that self generated income sources be losses. Other expenses rose by $14.2 million to $112.1 further developed to supplement government funding. million. This included increases in service fees ($7.5 million), travel ($1.0 million) and scholarship payments ($0.9 million).

50 UWS Entities uwsconnect Ltd UWS Conferences and Residential Colleges Limited uwsconnect is responsible for providing food and beverage, The main objective of UWS Conferences and Residential retail (including bookshop), sporting and campus life facilities Colleges Limited is to ensure the efficient and effective and services across the six UWS campuses. The facilities operation of residential facilities of all campuses of the and services are utilised by the UWS community, including University of Western Sydney in a manner conducive students, staff and alumni, and by residents of Greater Western to academic and social development of the residential Sydney. As a key provider of student services uwsconnect students. It also manages conference, motel and venue receives some ongoing financial support from the University. hire activities across all campuses of the University.

CADRE design Pty Ltd and CADRE design Unit Trust The principal activities of the entity during the period were to The principal objectives of CADRE are to design and develop provide student residential accommodation in support of the online interactive educational content and tools for university, University of Western Sydney covering Bankstown, Blacktown, college and school markets and to develop eLearning content Campbelltown, Hawkesbury and Penrith campuses. and software for the corporate and government sectors. Whitlam Institute The principal activities of the company during the period were Details of the Whitlam Institute’s activities are provided the development of online and CD-ROM products for major in the ‘Engagement’ section of this report. US education publishers, the development of educational multimedia for the Le@rning Federation used in schools in The University of Western Sydney Foundation Ltd and Trust Australia and New Zealand and eLearning development for government and commercial clients in Australia. The University of Western Sydney Foundation Limited, the charitable entity of UWS, endeavours to connect In 2008, CADRE also commenced development of our students, teachers and researchers with the eLearning resources for UWS courses in the areas resources required to achieve excellence. In partnership of science and languages. Its roles included both with the local community and the business world, the assisting academics in the design stage as well as UWS Foundation delivers educational opportunities by developing specific teaching tools for the courses. fundraising for scholarships, prizes, research, academic programs, teaching facilities and other special projects. In addition, CADRE, in conjunction with SimSkill Pty Ltd, developed its first “off the shelf’ eLearning The Foundation’s objective is to raise funds in support of software product range during 2008 comprising the University and the effective management control of all SimSkill Projects (project management training) and Trust funds held within the Foundation Trust account. The SimSkill Security (office security training) with a further company’s primary activity throughout 2008 was to manage leadership training product under development. the UWS Foundation Trust and act as the Trustee of the Trust.

UWSCollege Pty Ltd Further details of the University of Western Sydney UWSCollege Pty Ltd is a not-for-profit company, wholly Foundation Ltd and Trust activities are provided owned by the University of Western Sydney. The College in the ‘Engagement’ section of this report. was created to provide academic pathways to the University, complemented by English language and other professional Education and Training Community Television Ltd programs for Australian and international students. (ETC TV ltd) and Television Sydney Ltd (TVS Ltd) Created in 2006, the College has its antecedents in English The university has 75% of the membership of ETC TV language and Foundation studies programs offered by Ltd resulting in control by virtue of accounting standard various University schools and entities since the 1980s. AASB 127 (Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements). As ETC Ltd is the sole member of the TVS Ltd, the University also assumed control of this entity.

51 Campus Development and Capital Works Programs

TVS Ltd is a not-for-profit company formed in 2003. The Campus Development channel was officially launched in February 2006 and is The campus development program involves: licensed to broadcast under the provisions of the Broadcasting 1. strategic planning for the network of campuses in Services Act 1992 which governs community television. the context of regional and metropolitan growth TVS receives no government funding. However it accepts 2. campus planning through the creation of master commercial sponsorships and is allowed to run up to plans to guide the development of each campus seven minutes per hour of paid sponsorship airtime. 3. development of campus land assets with income derived from these projects directed towards The channel transmits on UHF channel 31 via a the University’s strategic initiatives. powerful 20kW transmitter. Broadcast Australia has confirmed that TVS’s coverage of the greater Sydney Several significant milestones were achieved in 2008 viewing area is ‘ broadly comparable’ with the other within the campus development program including: five free-to-air channels. It is also now streamed live » Local Council approval of the site concept plan and on the internet on equipment provided by UWS. development control plan for a vibrant integrated development at the Campbelltown campus. The plan TVS operates twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week will enable the creation of a residential community from a fully automated broadcast operations centre on the as well as an open space network for passive and Werrington South campus of the University of Western Sydney. active recreation adjacent to the campus footprint » Continuation of development planning of the University’s Westmead site to create a new town centre for Westmead Precinct » Local Council rezoning approval of a parcel of land at the Penrith campus as part of a future mixed used development » Commencement of the master planning process for the Bankstown campus and preliminary consultation with stakeholders for master planning of the Hawkesbury campus.

Land disposal A 5.18 hectare parcel of land at the Penrith campus was sold to Anglican Retirement Villages for the purpose of developing a seniors living facility to service the local community.

Capital Works and Facilities A major realignment of the organisation structure of Capital Works and Facilities was undertaken in 2008 to improve services and processes relating to capital development, ongoing maintenance, environmental management and security.

The capital works program for 2008 was substantial. It included a number of large capital projects and several other initiatives, which are briefly outlined below:

52 School of Medicine Building Improvements to services facilities within Stable Square Construction of a new purpose built education and research were also completed. The program will continue throughout facility for the School of Medicine at the Campbelltown 2009 with refurbishments to several buildings planned. campus was completed in 2008. The Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, officially opened Backlog Maintenance Audit and Remediation Plan the building in November. With a total floor area of 9,600 A detailed audit of the University’s above ground built assets square metres, the building has an innovative, modular was undertaken in 2008 to determine the extent of backlog design, comprising four buildings connected by a central maintenance and to develop a remediation program. The audit “hub” which is a generous covered outdoor space. The four- involved physical assessment of each asset, identification storey building provides specialist teaching and research of works required and a cost plan. A priority list of projects laboratories, simulated learning spaces for clinical skills was determined and risk assessed. Several of these projects learning, an anatomy laboratory, problem-based learning have been factored into the 2009 Capital Works Program. tutorial rooms and state-of-the-art research equipment. Safety and equitable access Student Precinct incorporating Whitlam In 2008 Capital Works and Facilities continued to deliver Library upgrade, Parramatta campus safety improvements related to the campus environments A major upgrade of the Parramatta campus Whitlam through existing programs, including the “Slip and Trip” Library commenced in 2008 and will be completed in program to address the safety of paved surfaces. The early 2009. Upgrades to the Whitlam Library form part provision of safety ramps and accessible toilets also of a larger project to create a Student Precinct, a vibrant continued. The installation of safety glass, new handrails centralised space for student support, informal learning and balustrades at each of the campuses was completed. and socialising. The Student Precinct will be an important physical link between the education and research buildings Security on the western side of the campus and the Whitlam UWS is committed to the safety of students, Library on the eastern side of the campus. The Student staff and visitors and security of its assets. Precinct Project is scheduled for completion by 2010. In 2008 Capital Works and Facilities commenced the New Multi-Purpose Building, Parramatta campus implementation of a range of critical campus safety and Excellent progress was made in 2008 on the construction security initiatives with the major focus on promoting of a new multi-purpose education and research building security awareness and responding to incidents whilst for the Parramatta campus. With a total floor area of maintaining regulatory and policy compliance. approximately 12,000 square metres, the new facility will provide specialist teaching and research laboratories Initiatives commenced in 2008 include: including simulated learning spaces for the School of » the planning and roll out of a comprehensive Nursing, lecture theatres and tutorial rooms. The multi- CCTV network across all campuses purpose building is scheduled for completion in mid 2009. » development of critical incident response protocols designed to link into the University’s planned CCTV network Building refurbishments, Hawkesbury Campus and Control Centre to assist with crisis management An extensive suite of refurbishment works to buildings » completion of a progressive roll-out of access at the Hawkesbury campus was carried out in 2008. control providing enhanced access control and The program of works included major upgrades to a security to the University’s 520+ buildings. number of existing buildings on campus to provide: » office space for staff of Records and Archives Management Environment and sustainability and a gallery for public display of the archival collection UWS is demonstrating its commitment to the environment and » office space for Capital Works and Facilities sustainability by establishing a dedicated Environmental and (having transferred from the Penrith campus) Risk Management unit within Capital Works and Facilities. » a Reptile House for the School of Natural Sciences.

53 Risk Management

With the approval of the UWS Environmental Management The University maintains an enterprise-wide strategic risk System and the development of the Greening UWS initiative, assessment and management program which is based on a number of projects were implemented in 2009 relating the methodology contained in the Australian/ New Zealand to the strategic, compliance and operational aspects of Risk Management Standard AS/NZS 4360:2004. sustainability. A Landscape Masterplan was developed, incorporating strategic assessment of each campus and The UWS Risk Register and Risk Profile is updated on operational guidelines on hard and soft landscaping. The a cyclical basis. Risks are identified via surveys and risk UWS Water Saving Action Plan was implemented on workshops conducted with senior executive and managerial the Hawkesbury Campus, with assistance from Sydney staff across the University and its related entities. Water’s Every Drop Counts Program, enabling water audits of the Parramatta and Campbelltown campuses. The Risk Register is used to consolidate the identified risks and record the ways in which these risks will be A Greening UWS demonstration site was implemented addressed based on a) their probability of occurrence on Werrington South campus, incorporating water and (likelihood) and b) magnitude of impact (consequence). energy conservation, monitoring and student engagement. The Register also helps to ensure that efforts to address Other collaborative and externally funded projects included risk are not duplicated and that responses to risk are extending the Hawkesbury Water Recycling Scheme integrated and focused where they are most needed with support from the NSW Climate Change Fund and planning of a carbon capture plantation on the Hawkesbury In addition to the identification and remediation of specific campus with the Department of Primary Industries. high risks, the University is co-ordinating the progressive integration of risk management methodologies and thinking across all areas of the University’s business and operations, including its related entities and commercial activities. This work is being undertaken according to a structured framework, the elements of which are summarised in the UWS Risk Management Framework diagram. The successful implementation of each component of the framework involves cultural change and is an ongoing exercise.

The Audit and Risk Management Committee provides the Board with advice and information on high risk activities or events that do not necessarily form part of the formal risk assessment program, such as new or emerging risks. The risk assessment and management program is also subject to an independent peer review on at least a five-yearly basis as part of the Audit and Risk Assessment Unit quality improvement program.

Key outcomes of the 2008 risk management program include:

» Our cyclical risk assessment program was maintained and the strategic risk profile was updated in partnership with an external provider. » Electronic voting technology was purchased as part of a program to progressively automate risk identification and assessment workshops.

54 Changes in Acts or subordinate legislation/significant judicial decisions

» A process was introduced whereby senior staff attend With the change in Government at the Federal level a number Audit & Risk Management Committee meetings and of amendments were made to the Higher Education Support report on risk in key areas of University operations. Act, 2003 to reflect changes in policy. These included abolition » The UWS Business Continuity Plan update from 2009 of the capacity to charge fees for domestic project was completed under a co-sourcing undergraduate students and abolition of requirements arrangement with an external provider. relating to the National Governance Protocols and the Higher » Closer integration of risk management activities Education Workplace Relations Requirements (HEWRRs). with overall strategic planning was achieved. Changes to the University’s By-law to provide for internet based voting for elections for positions on the Board were gazetted and took effect from May 2008.

UWS Risk Management UWSFramework Risk Management Framework

Policy People Profile and risk Support database Services

Influence Training

Common view Risk self of risk 1. Identify assessments

AS/ NZS 5. Monitor 4360:2004 2. Assess Risk Mgmt Standard

4. Treat 3. Prioritise

Risk based Events and audit plans near misses

Progress Performance reporting indicators

Risk action Staff plans competencies Planning Performance

55 Privacy Code of Conduct

The Privacy Officer gave advice on a range of privacy UWS is committed to maintaining high standards of personal matters during the year and presented privacy and professional conduct in all of its activities. These standards information at a new staff induction session. are outlined in the University’s Code of Conduct. The Code establishes the ethical framework within which the University Two specialist “Privacy and IT” training seminars were held operates, and is a guide to students, visitors and contractors for about 60 staff across the University operating IT based of the ethical standards that we expect they will also uphold in systems that involve the handling and processing of personal their engagement with the University. It outlines what is required information, mainly of students and staff. The seminars of members of the University community and recognises were conducted by an expert consultant and significantly that the University and its policies operate in the context of enhanced the awareness of privacy issues in the IT context. State and Federal laws. The UWS Code of Conduct can be accessed through the internet at the following address: Two internal reviews were conducted in 2008 in response to http://policies.uws.edu.au/view.current.php?id=00072 formal privacy complaints. One case dealt with access issues associated with information held in various University data All of the University’s Policies are published systems, accessible via the internet. In this case the University via an online database available at: was found to be in breach of the legislation and remedial action http://policies.uws.edu.au was undertaken to address the shortcomings. The other case related to the disclosure of some personal information via email by a staff member. It was determined that a breach had occurred and the staff member was appropriately counselled.

56 Freedom of Information – Statement & Summary of Affairs

Part 2 of the NSW Freedom of Information Act 1989 requires agencies to publish an annual Statement of Affairs and a six monthly Summary of Affairs.

This section of the Annual Report is a brief summary of FOI activity only. The mandatory UWS FOI Statement of Affairs is linked to: http://www.uws.edu.au/about_uws/uws/governance/ policy_and_governance/freedom_of_information

Name of Agency: University of Western Sydney Agency Reference Number: 2280 Cost of Service: $30 per application* Reporting Period: Year ending December 2008

FOI cases Internal Reviews No. Received 6 1 Released in Full 2 Released in Part 2 Refused 0 Neither released 2 1 nor refused

Applications for access to documents can be obtained by contacting: The FOI Officer PO Box 1000 St Marys NSW 1790 e-mail [email protected] phone (02) 9678 7832

*as per the charges schedule at: http://www.uws.edu.au/about_uws/uws/governance/ policy_and_governance/freedom_of_information

57 Our Students

Enrolments by Level (including UWSCollege in 2008) 2006 2007 2008 (p) Doctorate 651 596 572 Master’s by Research 100 78 77 Master by Coursework 3,415 3,900 4,411 Postgraduate Diploma 1,173 1,443 916 Postgraduate Certificate 336 326 292 Bachelor 27,515 27,231 26,736 Diploma/Associate Diploma 9 3 227 Other (non award, enabling, 1,862 1,763 1,974 cross institutional, etc) Total 35,061 35,340 35,205

International Enrolments (including UWSCollege in 2008) International enrolments representing over 110 countries comprised 11.4% of student enrolments in 2007, however, off shore enrolments dropped by 56% 2006 2007 2008 (p) International On Shore 3,684 3,601 3,634 International Off Shore 983 435 290 Total 4,667 4,036 3,924

International Enrolments by Level (including UWSCollege in 2008) 2006 2007 2008 (p) Doctorate 58 55 73 Master’s by Research 10 10 15 Master’s by Coursework 1,703 1,554 1,709 Postgraduate Diploma 322 260 175 Postgraduate Certificate 40 29 28 Bachelor 2,332 2,030 1,752 Other (non award, enabling, 202 98 172 cross institutional, etc) Total 4,667 4,036 3,924

UWS Completions by Level 2005 2006 2007 Doctorate 95 94 114 Master’s by Research 35 19 19 Master’s by Coursework 1,686 1,374 1,510 Postgraduate Diploma 549 604 631 Postgraduate Certificate 120 159 131 Bachelor’s Honours 116 99 139 Bachelor 6,019 5,669 5,634 Diploma/Associate Diploma 41 15 2 Total 8,661 8,033 8,180

58 Appendices

Appendix 1: Board of Trustees Members

3 Official Members The Board of Trustees is the governing authority of the Mr John Phillips AO, Chancellor University and acts for and on behalf of the University. Its key Professor Janice Reid AM, Vice-Chancellor functions are to develop broad policies and strategic plans with Professor Anne Cusick, Chair Academic Senate respect to the University, manage the University’s resources and monitor the University’s performance. The members – 6 Appointed Members (Ministerial) official, appointed and elected – meet approximately six times Ms Vivienne James each year including a planning day. The Board is supported in Ms Jan Burnswoods its work by a number of specialist standing committees and Mr Roy Medich OAM the University also has two important advisory councils, the Mr Glen Sanford Indigenous Advisory Council and the UWS Regional Council. Mr Ian Stone Hon Kim Yeadon (Deputy Chancellor from 9 April 2008) Details about the Board, including summaries and minutes of meetings are published on the University’s web site at: 4 Appointed Members (Board) http://www.uws.edu.au/about_uws/uws/ Ms Mary Foley (Deputy Chancellor) governance/board_of_trustees Ms Gabrielle Kibble AO (Deputy Chancellor until 7 March 2008) Vacancy x 2 The statement of the Board of Trustees is contained in Appendix 7 of this report. 5 Elected Members Ms Jennifer Brown, Graduate Ms Genevieve Kelly, Academic Staff (until 31 May 2008) Professor Carolyn Sappideen, Academic Staff (from 1 June 2008) Ms Jan Brown, General Staff (from 1 January 2008) Ms Saba Ambreen, Undergraduate Student Mr Gang Zheng, Postgraduate Student (until 8 September 2008)

59 Appendix 2: Board of Trustees Meetings

A = Number of meetings attended Committees of the Board B = Number of meetings held during the time the member held Remuneration office or was a member of the Board of Audit & Risk Strategy & & Board Campus committee during the year Trustees Management Resources Nominations Standing Development A B A B A B A B A B A B Ms Saba Ambreen 5 5 Ms Jan Brown 4 5 5 6 Ms Jennifer Brown 5 5 Ms Jan Burnswoods 4 5 Professor Anne Cusick 5 5 Ms Mary Foley 4 5 6 7 4 4 4 4 Ms Vivienne James 3 5 Ms Genevieve Kelly AM 2 2 Ms Gabrielle Kibble AO 1 1 1 1 Mr Roy Medich OAM 3 5 4 5 Mr John Phillips AO 5 5 4 4 4 4 Professor Janice Reid AM 5 5 4 7 4 4 4 4 5 5 Mr Glen Sanford 4 5 5 6 3 4 3 4 Professor Carolyn Sappideen 3 3 Mr Ian Stone 4 5 The Hon Kim Yeadon 5 5 4 4 4 4 5 5 Mr Gang Zheng 2 3 4 5 Ms Gillian Shadwick 5 6 Ms Margaret Smylie 5 6 Mr Paul Tosi 1 3 Ms Karen Waldman 5 6 Ms Genevieve Gregor 7 7 Ms Emma Stein 6 7 Mr Alan Zammit 4 7 Mr Barry Jennings 4 5 Mr Lee Pinder 4 5 Ms Janet Sayer 4 5

60 Appendix 3: Committees and other bodies established by the Board of Trustees

Board of Trustees Standing Committees Chair Audit and Risk Management Mr Glen Sanford Strategy and Resources Ms Mary Foley Board Standing Committee Mr John Phillips AO Remuneration and Nominations Mr John Phillips AO Campus Development The Hon Kim Yeadon Academic Senate Professor Anne Cusick

University Bodies Chair UWS Regional Council Professor Janice Reid AM Indigenous Advisory Council Professor Michael McDaniel UWS IT Strategy Committee Hon Kim Yeadon

61 Appendix 4: Academic Senate Membership

NAME POSITION CATEGORY Professor Anne Cusick Chair, Academic Senate Elected Associate Professor Paul Wormell Deputy Chair, Academic Senate (Nominated) Dr Sara Knox 1 of 4 academic staff – College of Arts Elected Dr Peter Dallow 1 of 4 academic staff – College of Arts Elected Associate Professor Meg Smith 1 of 4 academic staff – College of Arts Elected VACANT 1 of 4 academic staff – College of Arts Elected VACANT 1 of 4 academic staff – College of Business Elected Dr Roger Ham 1 of 4 academic staff – College of Business Elected Professor Raja Junankar 1 of 4 academic staff – College of Business Elected Ms Joan Kelly 1 of 4 academic staff – College of Business Elected Associate Professor Andrew Francis 1 of 4 academic staff – College of Health and Science Elected Ms Robyn Moroney 1 of 4 academic staff – College of Health and Science Elected Ms Maxine Veale 1 of 4 academic staff – College of Health and Science Elected Associate Professor Steve Hansen 1 of 4 academic staff – College of Health and Science Elected VACANT Undergraduate Student Elected Ms Elfriede Sangkuhl Postgraduate Student Elected Professor Janice Reid Vice-Chancellor Official Professor John Ingleson Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic and Enterprise Division Official Ms Rhonda Hawkins Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Corporate Strategy and Services Division Official Professor Stuart Campbell Pro Vice-Chancellor, Academic Official Professor Geoff Scott Pro Vice-Chancellor, Planning and Quality Official Professor Andrew Cheetham Pro Vice-Chancellor, Research Official Professor Lesley Wilkes Dean – Research Studies Official Professor Robyn McGuiggan Executive Dean – College of Business Official Professor Wayne McKenna Executive Dean – College of Arts Official Professor Beryl Hesketh Executive Dean – College of Health and Science Official Associate Professor Peter Hutchings Chair – College of Arts Board of Studies Official (Duplicate) Mrs Debra Moodie-Bain A/Chair – College of Health and Science Board of Studies Official Dr Roger Ham (Duplicate) A/Chair – College of Business Board of Studies Official Professor Michael Atherton Associate Dean, Research, College of Arts Official Professor Bobby Bannerjee Associate Dean, Research, College of Business Official Associate Professor Shelley Burgin Associate Dean, Research, College of Health and Science Official Ass Prof Peter Hutchings Associate Dean, Academic, College of Arts Official Professor Stephen Teo Associate Dean, Academic, College of Business Official Dr Betty Gill Associate Dean, Academic, College of Health and Science Official Ms Liz Curach University Librarian Official Ms Thea Seabrook Academic Registrar Official Professor Michael McDaniel Dean, Indigenous Education Official Mr David Holmes President – Undergraduate Students’ Association Official Ms Irena Veljanova President – Postgraduate Students’ Association Official Professor Yang Xiang Vice-Chancellor appointee Appointed Dr Janette Perz Vice-Chancellor appointee Appointed

62 Appendix 5: Principal Officers of the University

Chancellor Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching) Mr M. John Phillips, AO, KGCSG Professor Stuart Campbell BEc Syd, FCPA, SF Fin FAICD BA CentLondPoly, DipLing Lond, DipEd SydTC, MA ANU, PhD Syd Vice-Chancellor Professor Janice Reid, AM Pro Vice-Chancellor (Campus Development) BSc Adel, MA Hawaii, MA PhD Stan Professor Kevin Sproats BTP(Hons) UNSW, GradDip HNP UNSW, PhD UNE Chair, Academic Senate Professor Anne Cusick Pro Vice-Chancellor (Quality and Planning) BAppSc Cumb, Grad Cert Bus Admin CSU Professor Geoff Scott Grad Dip App Beh Sc Cumb, MA (Psych) USyd, BA, Dip.Ed Syd, M.Ed, Ed.D Toronto MA Interdisc stud – UNSW, PhD UNSW FACE

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Enterprise) Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor John Ingleson Professor Andrew Cheetham BAMA, UWA, PhD Monash BSc, PhD Flinders

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Corporate Strategy and Services) Pro Vice-Chancellor (Engagement) Ms Rhonda Hawkins Professor Barbara Holland BSc Syd, MPP Syd, FAICD, AFAIM BJourn, MA Missouri PhD Maryland

Executive Dean, College of Arts Academic Registrar Professor Wayne McKenna Ms Thea Seabrook BA(Hons) PhD Leeds BA UNSW, MA Syd, MEdAdmin (Hons) UNSW

Executive Dean, College of Business Chief Operating Officer Associate Professor Robyn McGuiggan Julie Priest BSc(Hons) MComm PhD BEc Syd, ICAA

Executive Dean, College of Health and Science University Librarian Professor Beryl Hesketh Ms Liz Curach BSocSc, BA (Hons) Cape Town, Dip Teach Wgtn NZ, BA KCAE, MA Victoria Uni of Wellington, PhD Massey MA Syd, GDipER UTS, AALIA

63 Appendix 6: Consultancies

Consultancies commissioned in 2008 amounting to $30,000 or more included: Consultant Cost $ Title/Nature of consultancy

Finance Accounting/Tax PricewaterhouseCoopers 30,000 Goods and Services Tax Review WHK Horwath Sydney Pty Ltd 126,885 Development of Financial Forecasting Model Subtotal 156,885

Management Services Gavin Anderson & Company (Australia) Ltd 68,734 Student Representation and Implementation Plan Report KPMG 41,155 Strategic Risk Assessment Stanisic Associates 30,000 Development Brief for Student Precinct Parramatta Campus Landcom 38,273 Campbelltown Campus Master Plan Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu 51,505 Control Objectives for Information and related Technology Project Subtotal 229,667

Information Technology UXC Performance Management Pty Ltd 36,416 Development of Strategy for Business Intelligence Subtotal 36,416

Environmental P. Clifton and Associates 30,000 Review and update of hazardous material registers Subtotal 30,000

Research Strategic Economics Group 38,636 North-West and West Central Sydney Employment Strategies Subtotal 38,636

Total Consultancies equal to 491,604 or more than $30,000

During 2008 other consultancies were engaged in the following areas: $ Management Services 219,728 Total Consultancies less than $30,000 219,728

Total Consultancies 711,332

64 Appendix 7: UWS Board of Trustees Report

Members The Federal Government released the report of its The members of the Board of Trustees of the University broad review of Australian Higher Education and the are detailed in Appendix 1 of this annual report. Government will issue a formal response in early 2009.

Meetings of Members Environmental Regulation Meetings of Members of the Board of Trustees of the The University is subject to various Commonwealth, University are detailed in Appendix 2 of this report. State and local government statutes and requirements related to environmental matters. The University has not Principal Activities incurred any significant environmental liabilities under The principal activities of the University are the provision any environmental legislation. Details of the University’s of university level education and research through a wide general activities related to environmental issues are range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses and detailed on pages 53–54 of this annual report. research programs with a particular reference to the Greater Western Sydney region. The University’s functions and Insurance of Officers the authorities of the Board of Trustees are prescribed Clause 5 of Schedule 1 of the University of Western Sydney Act by the University of Western Sydney Act 1997. 1997 provides a degree of personal liability protection for Board members and officers of the University for acts done under The University also has a number of controlled entities direction and in good faith. The University also has Director that undertake specific activities aligned with the and Officer Liability Protection insurance with Unimutual. mission of the University. Details of the entities are contained in pages 51–52 of this annual report. Proceedings on Behalf of the University There were no significant proceedings on Review of Operations behalf of the University during 2008. The operations and outcomes of the University are outlined in detail in the full Annual Report and in This report is made in accordance with a resolution particular in the sections Learning and Teaching, of the Board of Trustees on 8 April 2009. Research and Community Engagement and Service. John Phillips AO Significant Changes in State of Affairs Chancellor There were no significant changes in the state Dated: 8 April 2009 at Penrith, NSW of affairs of the University during the year.

Matters Subsequent to the End of the Financial Year Other than the developments described in this report the members are of the opinion that no other matter or circumstance will significantly affect the operations or outcomes of the University.

Likely Developments and Expected Results of Operations The Federal Government announced that from mid 2009 universities will be able to levy a compulsory student support services and amenities fee of up to $250 per annum. This action follows the Government’s review of the effects of the introduction of VSU and will assist the University and its student groups to provide much needed services and amenities.

65 Equity Statistics

Table A .1 Trends in the Representation of EEO Groups – Academic staff Benchmark EEO Groups: Academic staff 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 or target

Women 50% 45% 46% 45% 46% 47% 49%

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander 2% 0% 0% 0% 1% 1% 1% people People whose language first spoken 19% 23% 24% 25% 25% 24% 26% as a child was not English People with a disability 12% 6% 6% 6% 7% 7% 7%

People with a disability requiring 7% 2% 2% 2% 2% 3% 2% adjustment at work

Table A .2 Trends in the Representation of EEO Groups – General staff Benchmark EEO Groups: General staff 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 or target

Women 50% 66% 66% 66% 66% 67% 66%

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander 2% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% people People whose language first spoken 19% 14% 15% 15% 15% 15% 16% as a child was not English People with a disability 12% 8% 8% 8% 9% 8% 9%

People with a disability requiring 7% 2% 2% 3% 3% 2% 3% adjustment at work

Table B .1 . Trends in the Distribution of EEO Groups – Academic staff Distribution index Benchmark EEO Groups: Academic staff 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 or target

Women 100% 87 86 87 86 88 88

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander 100% n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a people People whose language first spoken 100% 99 96 97 92 92 94 as a child was not English People with a disability 100% 104 101 102 95 98 92

People with a disability requiring 100% n/a n/a n/a 96 98 n/a adjustment at work

Table B .2 . Trends in the Distribution of EEO Groups – General staff Distribution index Benchmark EEO Groups: General staff 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 or target Women 100% 93 92 92 91 89 90

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander 100% n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a people People whose language first spoken 100% 100 100 100 100 101 98 as a child was not English People with a disability 100% 101 100 101 99 97 100

People with a disability requiring 100% 103 103 104 108 103 105 adjustment at work

66 Student Enrolment Data

Table 1: Student Enrolments, On and Off Shore, 2004 - 2008 (p) (Includes the UWS College in 2008) 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 (p) On-Shore 33,096 33,562 34,078 34,905 34,915 Off-Shore 3,323 1,785 983 435 290 Total 36,419 35,347 35,061 35,340 35,205

(Source: Annual DEEWR Submissions)

Table 2: Commencing Student Enrolments, On and Off Shore, 2004 - 2008 (p) (Includes the UWS College in 2008) 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 (p) On Shore 12,520 14,335 14,006 14,124 15,095 Off-Shore 930 755 48 64 162 Total 13,450 15,090 14,054 14,188 15,257

(Source: Annual DEEWR Submissions)

Table 3: Student Enrolments by Gender, 2004- 2008 (p) (Includes the UWS College in 2008) 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 (p) Females 20,403 19,719 19,869 20,281 20,209 Males 16,016 15,628 15,192 15,059 14,996 Total 36,419 35,347 35,061 35,340 35,205

(Source: Annual DEEWR Submissions)

Table 4: Student Enrolments by Course Level, 2006 - 2008 (p) (Includes the UWS College in 2008) 2006 % 2007 % 2008 (p) % Undergraduate 27,524 78.5% 27,234 77.1% 26,963 76.6% Higher Degree by 3,415 9.7% 3,901 11.0% 4,411 12.5% Coursework Higher Degree by 751 2.1% 673 1.9% 649 1.8% Research Other 1,509 4.3% 1,769 5.0% 1,208 3.4% Postgraduate Other* 1,862 5.3% 1,763 5.0% 1,974 5.6% Total 35,061 100.0% 35,340 100.0% 35,205 100.0%

*Other includes enabling, non award and cross institutional (Source: Annual DEEWR Submissions)

67 Table 5: Student Enrolments by Broad Field of Education, 2006 - 2008 (p) (Includes the UWS College in 2008) Broad Field of 2006 % 2007 % 2008 (p) % Education Management 10,611 30.3% 10,624 30.1% 10,551 30.0% And Commerce Society And 7,727 22.0% 8,275 23.4% 8,410 23.9% Culture Health 4,349 12.4% 4,693 13.3% 4,803 13.6% Creative Arts 2,508 7.2% 2,260 6.4% 2,454 7.0% Education 2,391 6.8% 2,568 7.3% 2,274 6.5% Natural And 2,179 6.2% 2,320 6.6% 2,230 6.3% Physical Sciences Engineering 1,190 3.4% 1,090 3.1% 1,069 3.0% And Related Technologies Information 1,512 4.3% 1,164 3.3% 890 2.5% Technology Architecture And 581 1.7% 650 1.8% 652 1.9% Building Agriculture, 656 1.9% 552 1.6% 545 1.5% Environmental And Related Studies Other 1,357 3.9% 1,144 3.2% 1,327 3.8% Total 35,061 100.0% 35,340 100.0% 35,205 100.0%

(Source: Annual DEEWR Submissions)

Table 6: Student Enrolments by Campus, 2006 - 2008 (p) (Includes the UWS College in 2008) Campus 2006 % 2007 % 2008 (p) % BANKSTOWN 6,417 18.3% 7,290 20.6% 7,124 20.2% BLACKTOWN 3,080 8.8% 2,889 8.2% 2,350 6.7% CAMPBELLTOWN 4,808 13.7% 4,826 13.7% 4,501 12.8% HAWKESBURY 2,424 6.9% 2,304 6.5% 2,096 6.0% PARRAMATTA 9,168 26.1% 9,311 26.3% 10,123 28.8% PENRITH 7,629 21.8% 7,977 22.6% 7,829 22.2% Off campus, Off shore and Other 1,535 4.4% 743 2.1% 1,182 3.4% Total 35,061 100.0% 35,340 100.0% 35,205 100.0%

(Source: Annual DEEWR Submissions and Callista Student System)

68 Table 7: Student Load (EFTSL) by Funding Source, 2006 - 2008 (p) (Includes the UWS College in 2008) Funding Source 2006 % 2007 % 2008 (p) % Commonwealth Grants Scheme 19,290 80.5% 19,749 82.2% 20,054 82.6% Research Training Scheme 337 1.4% 299 1.2% 308 1.3% Sub-Total Commonwealth Funded 19,627 81.9% 20,048 83.4% 20,363 83.9% Domestic Fee-Paying Postgraduate 1,172 4.9% 1,181 4.9% 1,014 4.2% International On-shore 2,434 10.2% 2,416 10.1% 2,563 10.6% International Off-shore 450 1.9% 124 0.5% 54 0.2% Non-Award 269 1.1% 256 1.1% 289 1.2% Sub-Total Fee-Paying Load 4,325 18.1% 3,977 16.6% 3,919 16.1% UWS Total 23,951 100.0% 24,025 100.0% 24,282 100.0%

EFTSL = Equivalent Full Time Student Load (Source: Annual DEEWR Submissions)

Table 8: Graduate Destinations, 2005 - 2008 (Australian Residents with Undergraduate Degrees) % of Graduates 2005 2006 2007 2008 UWS Sector UWS Sector UWS Sector UWS Sector Working Full-time 56.8% 56.8% 55.4% 54.7% 56.7% 58.2% 53.9% n.a Working Part-time 26.4% 23.0% 19.7% 16.4% 27.7% 23.6% 30.8% n.a Seeking Work 11.5% 7.1% 5.6% 4.2% 5.2% 5.0% 6.6% n.a Unavailable for Work 5.3% 13.1% 19.4% 24.8% 10.4% 13.2% 8.7% n.a Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.1% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% n.a

Further Full Time Study* 17.2% 22.5% 13.3% 20.3% 13.2% 20.0% 23.0% n.a

*Please note that graduates in further full time study will also be counted in one of the above graduate destination categories. (Source: 2005-2008 Graduate Destination Survey)

69 Table 9: Explicit Graduate Satisfaction, 2005 - 2008 Year - % of Explicit Satisfaction Overall Satisfaction Good Teaching Generic Skills UWS Sector UWS Sector UWS Sector 2005 62.0% 69.7% 44.1% 49.1% 61.5% 64.3% 2006 61.7% 69.9% 45.4% 50.6% 62.0% 64.5% 2007 65.6% 71.0% 45.6% 52.4% 63.5% 65.8% 2008 65.5% n.a 46.3% n.a 64.6% n.a

(Source: 2005-2008 Course Experience Questionnaire)

Table 10: On-Shore Student Staff Ratio, 2004 - 2008 (p) On-Shore Student Staff Ratio, 2004 - 2008 (p) Year UWS Sector 2004 19.6 19.4 2005 22.1 19.1 2006 22.1 19.3 2007 23.1 19.4 2008 (p) 24.3 n.a

(Source: Institutional Assessment Framework Report and UWS DEEWR Load and Staff Submissions)

70 Table 11: UWS Market Share of Preferences, NSW/ACT, 2005 - 2008 UWS Market Share of Preferences First Preferences First to Third Preferences 2005 2006 2007 2008 2005 2006 2007 2008 Current School Leavers 12.8% 12.2% 12.9% 12.6% 14.4% 13.7% 14.9% 13.5% Non Current School Leavers 16.6% 14.8% 15.8% 16.3% 18.2% 16.1% 17.1% 16.8% Total 14.5% 13.4% 14.2% 14.2% 15.9% 14.7% 15.8% 14.8%

Number of Preferences to UWS First Preferences First to Third Preferences 2005 2006 2007 2008 2005 2006 2007 2008 Current School Leavers 5,113 4,784 5,116 5,152 16,722 15,471 17,056 15,831 Non Current School Leavers 5,456 4,609 4,899 5,161 14,373 11,674 12,226 12,131 Total 10,569 9,393 10,015 10,313 31,095 27,145 29,282 27,962

Table 12: UWS Market Share of Greater Western Sydney (GWS) Preferences, NSW/ACT, 2005–2008 UWS Market Share of Preferences First Preferences First to Third Preferences from GWS 2005 2006 2007 2008 2005 2006 2007 2008 Current School Leavers 34.2% 32.6% 33.5% 34.3% 36.1% 34.0% 35.7% 33.8% Non Current School Leavers 45.7% 41.6% 43.1% 42.7% 45.7% 41.0% 41.7% 40.4% Total 39.5% 36.6% 37.7% 38.1% 40.1% 36.8% 38.0% 36.4%

Number of Preferences from GWS First Preferences First to Third Preferences to UWS 2005 2006 2007 2008 2005 2006 2007 2008 Current School Leavers 3,557 3,362 3,551 3,743 11,090 10,260 11,069 10,738 Non Current School Leavers 3,946 3,380 3,536 3,758 10,099 8,189 8,287 8,522 Total 7,503 6,742 7,087 7,501 21,189 18,449 19,356 19,260

(Source: UAC Main Round)

71 College Boards of of Boards College Studies * Arts * Business * Health and Science Academic Senate Senate Academic Committees of CommitteesSenate of * Executive * Education * Courses Approvals and Articulations * Research * Research Studies Appeals Administration * Academic and Enterprise Division * Corporate Strategy and Services Division Chief* Operating Officer Portfolio UWS Executive UWS Vice Chancellor Vice (VC, (VC, DVCs, COO, Deans) Board of Trustees of Board Colleges * Arts * Business * Health and Science Schools and Research Centres UWS GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE UWS

UWS Governance Structure College Boards of of Boards College Studies * Arts * Business * Health and Science College Boards of of Boards College Studies * Arts * Business * Health and Science Academic Senate Senate Academic Academic Senate Senate Academic Committees of CommitteesSenate of * Executive * Education * Courses Approvals and Articulations * Research * Research Studies Appeals Committees of CommitteesSenate of * Executive * Education * Courses Approvals and Articulations * Research * Research Studies Appeals Administration * Academic and Enterprise Division * Corporate Strategy and Services Division Chief* Operating Officer Portfolio Administration * Academic and Enterprise Division * Corporate Strategy and Services Division Chief* Operating Officer Portfolio UWS Executive UWS Vice Chancellor Vice (VC, (VC, DVCs, COO, Deans) UWS Executive UWS Vice Chancellor Vice Board of Trustees of Board (VC, (VC, DVCs, COO, Deans) Colleges * Arts * Business * Health and Science Schools and Research Centres Board of Trustees of Board UWS GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE UWS University Bodies Bodies University * Indigenous Advisory Council * UWS Regional Council * IT Strategy Committee Colleges * Arts * Business * Health and Science Schools and Research Centres UWS GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE UWS University Bodies Bodies University * Indigenous Advisory Council * UWS Regional Council * IT Strategy Committee University Bodies Bodies University * Indigenous Advisory Council * UWS Regional Council * IT Strategy Committee Last Updated October 2008 Last Updated October 2008 Board Standing Committees Standing Board * Audit and Risk Management * Board Standing Committee * Campus Development * Remuneration and Nominations * Strategy and Resources

72 Board Standing Committees Standing Board * Audit and Risk Management * Board Standing Committee * Campus Development * Remuneration and Nominations * Strategy and Resources Last Updated October 2008 Board Standing Committees Standing Board * Audit and Risk Management * Board Standing Committee * Campus Development * Remuneration and Nominations * Strategy and Resources UWS Management Structure (Office theof PVCCD) ProfessorKevin Sproats CapitalWorks and Facilities CampusDevelopment PVCCAMPUS DEVELOPMENT ExecutiveDean ProfessorBeryl Hesketh COLLEGEOF HEALTH &SCIENCE Schoolof Biomedical and Health Sciences Schoolof Computing and Mathematics Schoolof Engineering Schoolof Medicine Schoolof Natural Sciences Schoolof Nursing CentreforComplementary Medicine CentreforPlant and Food Science Urban Research Centre Records& Archives Management Services Rhonda Hawkins Complaint Resolution Unit WebManagement Informationand Analysis Unit Student Administration Student Support Service UWS EntitiesManagement SpecialProjects Unit Academic Registrar Media &Communication Policy& Governance Professional Development Audit &Risk Assessment Equity& Diversity Human Resources Legal Counsel PVCQuality Marketing CORPORATE STRATEGY& SERVICES (Officeof the DVCCSS& Secretary to theBoT) ExecutiveDean VICE-CHANCELLOR Professor JaniceReid COLLEGEOF BUSINESS (Office theof Vice-Chancellor) AssociateProfessor Robyn McGuiggan GraduateSchool of Business Schoolof Accounting Schoolof Economics and Finance Schoolof Law Schoolof Management Schoolof Marketing CentreforIndustry and Innovation Studies BadanamiCentre for IndigenousEducation Student LearningUnit Deanof Research Studies ArtCollection Teaching DevelopmentUnit Officeof Research Services Officeof UniversityEngagement Careers &Cooperative EducationUnit SchoolsEngagement Unit (Officeof the DVCAE) ProfessorJohn Ingleson ACADEMIC& ENTERPRISE AlumniRelations Library PVCLearning &Teaching PVCResearch PVCUniversity Engagement UWS Development UWS Innovationand Consulting UWS International Whitlam Institute ExecutiveDean COLLEGE OFARTS (2008) Professor WayneMcKenna JuliePriest PrintServices Updated December 2008 December Updated Finance InformationTechnology CHIEFOPERATING OFFICER (Office theof Chief Operating Officer) Centre forCitizenship andPublic Policy Schoolof Communication Arts Schoolof Education Schoolof Humanities and Languages Schoolof Psychology Schoolof Social Sciences CentreforCultural Research CentreforEducational Research MARCS Auditory Laboratories Social Justice andSocial Change Research Centre UWS MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE STRUCTURE MANAGEMENT UWS

73 Annual Report 2008

The University of Western Sydney Annual Report 2008 has been produced in a two volume set: volume 1, “The Year in Review”, contains statutory reports while volume 2, “Financial Statements”, contains the financial statements of the University and related entities.

The cost of production for the Annual Report 2008 is $16,000.

UWS Annual Reports are also available via the Internet and can be found on the UWS website: http://www.uws.edu.au

74

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