Northern Territory University 2002 Annual Report
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Northern Territory University 2002 Annual Report Northern Territory University Annual Report Northern Territory University www.ntu.edu.au Office Hours: 8.00am to 4.20pm Freecall: 1800 061 963 Casuarina Campus Ellengowan Drive Casuarina DARWIN NT 0909 Telephone: (08) 8946 6666 Palmerston Campus University Avenue PALMERSTON NT 0830 Telephone: (08) 8946 7800 Alice Springs: Centralian College PO Box 795 ALICE SPRINGS NT 0870 Telephone: (08) 8959 5211 Tennant Creek Regional Centre PO Box 1425 TENNANT CREEK NT 0860 Telephone: (08) 8962 4397 Katherine Regional Centre PO Box 2169 KATHERINE NT 08651 Telephone: (08) 8973 8466 Northern Territory Rural College Stuart Highway Katherine Private Bag 155 KATHERINE NT 0852 Telephone: (08) 8973 8311 Nhulunbuy Regional Centre PO Box 1478 NHULUNBUY NT 0881 Telephone: (08) 8987 0477 Jabiru Regional Centre PO Box 121 JABIRU NT 0886 Telephone: (08) 8979 2257 Northern Territory University Annual Report Purpose of this Report The purpose of this Annual Report is to provide an account of the Northern Territory University’s performance for the 2002 calendar year. It also fulfils the formal reporting requirements of the Northern Territory University to the Northern Territory Minister for Employment, Education and Training, and provides a summary of the University's operations and achievements during the year. The report describes the University's performance in key result areas identified in the University's strategic plan. As such the compilation and publication of this report forms part of the University's ongoing planning process. Northern Territory University Annual Report Northern Territory University Annual Report Report of the Council of the Northern Territory University For the period 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2002 To the Hon Syd Stirling MLA, Minister for Employment, Education and Training. I have the honour to present to you, for tabling in Parliament, the Report of the Council of the Northern Territory University for the year ended 31 December 2002, furnished in accordance with the reporting provisions of the Northern Territory University Act 1988. More than 23,000 graduates have passed through the University since its establishment 13 years ago. It is very pleasing to see so many have availed themselves of the opportunities offered by our integrated University, which provides access to tertiary education at all levels, in many different modes, across a wide and diverse range of courses which are available to everyone. During 2002, the NT University provided undergraduate and postgraduate University education, vocational education and training, and research and consultancy to meet the requirements of the professions and industry, and the aspirations of the Northern Territory population. Nancy Giese AO OBE Chancellor 30 June 2003 Northern Territory University Annual Report Northern Territory University Annual Report Index Highlights S Vice-Chancellor’s Highlights .............................................................. 4 S Key Outcomes in 2002 .......................................................................... 7 The University and its Strategic Objectives S Northern Territory University ............................................................ 22 S Governance and Management ............................................................. 23 S Mission and Objectives ........................................................................ 30 S Key Result Areas for 2002 .................................................................... 32 Higher Education in the Northern Territory: The Way Forward S The Operating Environment ............................................................... 36 S The Vision for Charles Darwin University ........................................ 37 Performance in Detail Academic Programs S Faculty of Science, Information Technology and Education ................................................................... 42 S Faculty of Indigenous Research and Education ................... 46 S Faculty of Law, Business and Arts ......................................... 50 S Faculty of Technology and Industrial Education ................. 52 Support Programs S Teaching and Learning Support ............................................. 56 S Library Services ......................................................................... 61 S Foundation and Alumni ........................................................... 64 S Development .............................................................................. 66 S International Student Division................................................. 68 Business and Administration S Student and Corporate Services .............................................. 72 S Business and Asset Services .................................................... 74 S Human Resources ..................................................................... 76 S Information Technology and Management Services ........... 79 S Marketing and Public Relations .............................................. 82 Financial Performance ......................................................................... 85 Glossary of Terms .................................................................................. 144 Northern Territory University Annual Report Page 2 Northern Territory University Annual Report Highlights Page 3 Northern Territory University Annual Report Vice Chancellor’s Highlights The year 2002 was a landmark in the evolution of tertiary education in the Northern Territory. Both the Northern Territory and the Commonwealth Governments provided leadership and support for a range of reform measures aimed at re- invigorating not just the Northern Territory University, but the Territory tertiary sector as a whole. The planning for change took place against the backdrop nationally of the review of the higher education policy framework, Higher Education at the Crossroads. Higher Education at the Crossroads The Commonwealth Government initiated a major review of higher education early in 2002. Four discussion papers were released to which each university and the community were asked to respond focussing on quality, governance, diversity and regional engagement and the interface between higher education and vocational education and training. The University supported the policy review as being long overdue and acknowledged current incapacity of the sector to accommodate diversity. However we were also emphatic in our opposition to any policy changes opening the way for a two-tier system that would seriously disadvantage regional universities. The University's position is that the regions must be allowed to grow resident capacity and maintain the expectation that the benchmarks against which they measure their activities in teaching, learning and research are recognised internationally as world class. The University also expressed its opposition to the introduction of fees for undergraduate programs on the basis that equity of access should be assured at this level. Strategic Positioning Project The implementation of the recommendations of the Strategic Positioning Project, jointly funded by the Commonwealth and Northern Territory Governments, began in 2002. The Commonwealth Government significantly assisted this project by providing $3 million over two years to facilitate change. While some Project recommendations were superseded by events later in the year, significant reform was brought about through the following. The Higher Education and Training Taskforce was established with a brief to significantly reduce the number of course and unit offerings to levels commensurate with the capacity of the University to deliver quality offerings. Duplication and areas of low demand were particularly targeted. Reductions in excess of 25% were achieved. The University's Council established a working party on University governance; several recommendations to enhance effective governance were made to the Northern Territory Government. (The recommendations were influential in developing the governance arrangements for the new Charles Darwin University.) The Development Unit was established in March 2002 to act as the key facilitator in increasing the University's external revenue. Page 4 Northern Territory University Annual Report Finally, in the latter part of the year, the University's administrative processes were reviewed with a view to reducing costs and freeing up more funds for academic appointments. Over time the administration had grown out of proportion to academic activity and a scaling down was required. The resulting restructure is described in this Report, but it is important to note that in re-setting the balance between administration and academic activity, funds were released to grow the academic program through the recruitment of some additional senior academics in 2003. Charles Darwin University Following Professor Ron McKay's early retirement in September, and my short-term appointment commencing in October, discussions began in earnest to reform the tertiary sector in the Territory by establishing a completely new institution, the Charles Darwin University. The critical elements of the new institution and the reasons for bringing it into being are set out in detail later in this Report. From my perspective, the level of co- operation and collaboration in re-thinking tertiary education achieved with the Northern Territory and Commonwealth Governments and their senior officers was particularly satisfying because it was and continues