La Trobe University 2005 Annual Report
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LA TROBE UNIVERSITY FORTIETH ANNUAL REPORT OF COUNCIL 2005 LA TROBE UNIVERSITY Annual Report 2005 COMPLIANCE INDEX The Annual Report of La Trobe University is prepared in accordance with: FMA Financial Management Act 1994 FRD Financial Reporting Directions SD Standing Directors of the Minister for Finance issued under the Financial Management Act 1994 TEA 1993 Tertiary Education Act 1993 PAEC Decision of Public Accounts and Estimates Committee of Parliament RUG Victorian Government response to the Review of University Governance ESOS Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 DEST Department of Education, Science and Training This index was prepared to facilitate identification of compliance with statutory disclosure requirements. Clause Disclosure Page(s) Report of Operations FRD 10 Compliance Index FRD 11 Disclosure of Ex-Gratia Payments Not Applicable FRD 21(1)(a), Disclosure of responsible persons and executive officers remuneration. Page 62 of (b), (c), (d) Financial Statements FRD 21(2)(a), Disclosure of remuneration of executive officers. Page 64 of (b), (c) Financial Statements FRD 22 General and financial information Page 5 of SD 4.2(g) (h) Financial Statements SD 4.2 (j) Signature of Chancellor or nominee Covering letter Date of meeting at which Council approved annual report, or date of delegated Covering approval letter General information FRD 22 Manner in which the university was established 2 FRD 22 Relevant Minister 2 FRD 22 Objectives, functions, powers and duties 2-3 FRD 22 Nature and range of services, people and communities served 3-10 FRD 22 Administrative structure 10-15 FRD 22 Members of the Council 10-12 FRD 22 Occupants of senior offices and areas of responsibility 12-13 FRD 22 Organisational charts 14-15 FRD 22 Workforce data for current and previous year; statement on application of merit and 16-17 equity principles FRD 22 Statement on Occupational Health and Safety matters 17-19 Financial Year information FRD 22 Summary of the financial results with comparative results for the preceding four years 20 FRD 22 Summary of significant changes in financial position 20 FRD 22 Operational objectives and performance including significant activities and 21-63 achievements FRD 22 Major changes or factors affecting the achievement of operational objectives 63 FRD 22 Events subsequent to balance date which may have a significant effect on operations 64 in subsequent years FRD 22 Consultancies in excess of $100,000 64 FRD 22 Consultancies less than $100,000 64 Other Relevant Information FRD 22 Application and operation of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 65-67 FRD 22 Compliance with the Building Act 1993 67-69 FRD 22 Compliance with the Whistleblowers Protection Act 2001 (section 104) 69-70 FRD 22 Statement that information listed in Appendix 1 is available on request to the relevant 70 Minister FRD 22 Implementation and compliance with National Competition Policy 70-71 FRD 22 Summary of environmental performance 71 Additional information available on request (subject to the provisions of the FOI Act) FRD 22 Declarations of pecuniary interests Available on request FRD 22 Shares held by senior officers Available on request FRD 22 Publications Available on request FRD 22 Changes in prices, fees, charges, rates and levies Available on request FRD 22 Major external reviews Available on request FRD 22 Major research and development activities Available on request FRD 22 Overseas visits Available on request FRD 22 Promotional, public relations and marketing activities Available on request FRD 22 Occupational Health and Safety matters 17-19 FRD 22 Industrial relations, accidents and disputes Available on request FRD 22 List of major committees sponsored by the University 4-5 Superannuation Liabilities and Disclosure FRD 23 Name and type of scheme Page 58 of Financial Statements FRD 23 Basis for calculating superannuation contributions Page 58 of Financial Statements FRD 23 Cost to the University for the scheme during the year Page 58 of Financial Statements FRD 23 Amount of contributions to defined contribution schemes outstanding at balance date Page 59 of Financial Statements FRD 23 Details of any loan to the University from the scheme Page 59 of Financial Statements FRD 23 If superannuation liabilities are recognized, details for each plan, accrued benefits, Not market value, etc. applicable Additional information s. 12I TEA Compulsory non-academic fees, subscriptions and charges 72-73 1993 PAEC International initiatives and strategies 74 (December 1997) RUG Statement that public funds allocated to the purposes specified by the Government or 74 other public funding body RUG Council’s risk management strategy 74-75 RUG Summary table of financial performance of the University’s Associates and 75 commercial ventures. ESOS Compliance with ESOS Act 2000 75 DEST Internal grievance and complaint procedures and complaints made to and 76 investigated by the Ombudsman DEST Website address for the current and previous Annual Reports 76 FMA 49(a), (b), (c), (d), (e) Financial Statements SD 4.2 (a) Prepared in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards (AAS and AASB Page 27 of standards) and other mandatory professional reporting requirements (including Financial Urgent Issues Group Consensus Views and Statements of Accounting Concepts), Statements Financial Reporting Directions and Business Rules SD 4.2 (b) Comprised Statement of Financial Performance and Financial Position, Statement of Pages 17- Cash Flows and Notes to the financial statements 23 of Financial Statements SD 4.2(c) Signed and dated by the Accountable Officer, CFAO and a member of the Page 15 of Responsible Body Financial Statements SD 4.2 (d) Expressed in the nearest dollar Page 34 of Financial Statements SD 4.2 (e) Reviewed and recommended by the Audit Committee or Responsible body prior to Page 15 of finalization and submission Financial Statements La Trobe University Annual Report of Council 2005 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The 2005 year for La Trobe University was one of consolidation and positioning for significant future change. Notwithstanding an apparent decline in interest among school leavers in university study, La Trobe’s student load for 2005 was nearly two percentage points above the target agreed with the Federal Government. During the year the Government introduced its new Learning and Teaching program and major policy changes in relation to workplace reform. In addition, the Government’s new research agenda became clearer. After an exhaustive Enterprise Bargaining Agreement process that resulted in staff receiving a 22% salary increase over the 2005-2008 period (3.5 years), the University was found to be compliant with the Government’s new Higher Education Workplace Reform Requirements. This ensures the preservation of the 2.5% per year indexation of the Federal Government’s operating grant to the University over the 2005-2008 period. The University invested substantial effort in positioning itself to respond well to the Government’s research reform agenda. Areas of research strength and potential strength have been identified and $15m over the 2006 to 2008 period was earmarked to lift the University’s performance. During the year, the University was ranked by the UK Times Higher Education Supplement at 98th in the world. The University was ranked 23rd in Humanities, 66th in Social Sciences and 86th in Biomedicine. Also during the year Standard & Poor’s confirmed its AA- rating of the University. Page 1 La Trobe University Annual Report of Council 2005 REPORT OF OPERATIONS GENERAL INFORMATION 1. MANNER IN WHICH THE UNIVERSITY WAS ESTABLISHED La Trobe University was established by the La Trobe University Act 1964. Section 3 of the Act established the University as a body politic and corporate having perpetual succession and a common seal. The University was officially opened by the Premier of Victoria on 8 March 1967 and commenced teaching at the beginning of that academic year. 2. RELEVANT MINISTER The responsible minister in the current Victorian government is the Minister for Education and Training, The Honourable Lynne Kosky, MP. 3. OBJECTIVES, FUNCTIONS, POWERS AND DUTIES 3.1 Objects The objects of the University set out in the Act are: (1) to serve the community and in particular the citizens of Victoria _ (i) by making knowledge available for the benefit of all; and (ii) by providing an institution in which all enrolled students will have the opportunity of fitting themselves for life as well as becoming learned in a particular branch or branches of learning; (2) in particular: (i) to provide facilities for study and education and to give instruction and training in such branches of learning as may from time to time be prescribed by the Statutes; (ii) to foster by teaching study and research the advancement of learning and the dissemination of knowledge; (iii) to foster the general welfare and development of all enrolled students; and (iv) to confer or grant after examination the several degrees of Bachelor, Master and Doctor and such other degrees, diplomas and other awards as are prescribed. (3) to provide such facilities for the aforesaid objects as the Council deems necessary or conducive for their attainment. 3.2 Powers and Duties The La Trobe University Act 1964 provides the broad framework for governance and organisation of the University. (1) Section 6 of the Act prescribes the Council as the governing authority of the University. (2) Section 23 empowers the Council to confer any degree or grant any diploma or other award to a student of the University and gives power to revoke any such degree, diploma or other award. (3) Section 24 enables Council to delegate powers or authority to committees. (4) Under section 25A Council may by statute constitute any part of the University as a College of the University. (5) Sections 26 and 27 provide for Convocation and Academic Board. (6) Section 30 of the Act gives the Council power to make Statutes and Regulations for or with respect to all matters governing the University.