University of Wollongong Annual Report 1990
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UniVERSITY OF WOLLOnQOnQ APiPiUAL REPORT 1990 Front cover A University Open Day attraction This teas how many hundreds of visitors to the campus on August 26 last, who looked at the screen of a scanning electron microscope in the University, were introduced to the excitement of biological research. What they sazv at x 100 magnification was the claw at the distal end of a leg of a funnel-web spider. For scanning purposes the claw was gold coated by the University Electron Microscopist, Mr Nick Mackie, in the Department of Materials Engineering, And for our illustration the black-and-white negative was electronically and artificially coloured by Mr Bill Zealey, senior lecturer in the Department of Physics UPilVERSITY OF WOLLONQOriG Arms of the University The principal elements incorporated in the arms of the University are the blue of the sea, the gold of the sand and the red of the Illawarra flame tree. The open book often used for educational institutions is also included. The blazon is: Azure an open book proper bound gold on a chief wavy of three cinquefoils gules AfinUAL REPORT 1990 The Honourable Virginia Chadwick, MP, Minister for Education Dear Minister In accordance with section 10(i) of the Annual Reports (Statutory Bodies) Act, 1984, and Section 34 of the Public Finance and Audit Act, 1983, the Council of the University has the honour to present to you, for tabling to the Parliament, the Annual Report of the proceedings of the University for the period 1 January to 31 December 1990. ^W^ Chancellor AJLA/V ' ^^^-U/^/vj<U/v, Vice-Chancellor and Principal Crown copyright 1991 ISSN 0313-6906 University of Wollongong Northfields Avenue Wollongong NSW Postal address: PO Box 1144, Wollongong NSW 2500 Australia Telephone: (042) 21 3555 Facsimile: (042) 21 3477 Cable: UNIOFWOL All enquiries should be addressed to the Vice-Principal (Administration) concenc Vice-Chancellor's Review 4 Government of the University 8 Charter 14 Mission Statement 15 Staff and Student Statistics 16 Year in Review 20 Academic Activities 26 Faculties of Arts, 26 • Commerce, 30 • Education, 32 • Engineering, 34 • Health and Behavioural Sciences, 38 • Informatics, 40 • Law, 42 • Science, 44 Academic and Allied Services Aboriginal Education Unit, 46 • Centre for Staff Development, 47 • Equal Education Opportunities, 47 • Information Technology Services, 48 • Micliael Birt Library, 48 Alumni Association 49 Student Services 50 Accommodation, 50 • Careers and Appointments Service, 51 • Counselling Service, 52 • Recreation and Sports Association, 52 • Students' Association, 53 • Student Learning Assistance Centre, 54 • University Union, 55 Research 56 Resrarcli and Industry: Advanced IManufacturing Technology, 58 • Engineering and Industrial Mathematics, 59 • Applied Statistics, 59 • Advanced Engineering Systems, 60 • Advanced Materials and Surface Engineering, 60 • Bulk Materials Handling and Physical Processing, 61 • Advanced Telecommunications, 62 • Tribology, Friction, Lubrication and Wear, 62 • Structural Engineering, 62 Research and the Environment: Fossil Fuels, 63 • Bioactive Molecules, 63 • Quaternary Environmental Change, 64 • Geomechanics, 64 • Geological Evolution of the Tasmanides, 65 • Astronomy and Astrophysics, 65 Research and the Community: Science and Technology Analysis, 66 • Labour Market Analysis, 66 • Education Policy, 67 • Biological Macromolecules, 67 • Equity in Education, 68 • Exercise Stress and Fitness, 68 • Contemporary Arts Practice and Performance, 69 • Gender Studies in Art, 69 Academic Governance flow charts 70 Administration of the University 71 Council Attendances 75 Grants and Donations 76 Donors and Benefactors 82 Buildings and Site Developments 84 Enrolments in University Courses 88 Academic Promotions 95 Prizes Awarded 97 Financial Statements 99 Highlight HE single most important highlight of the year was undoubtedly the frequent evidence of positive staff and student morale. This was so, despite the continuing wave of changes in T higher education policies and developments external to the university. Though there was much to grumble about in the disparity between academic salaries and those prevailing in the general commu nity, the staff at the University of Wollongong were keen to increase further the University's growing reputation. The very high level of positive energy among both senior and junior staff, a rare and precious thing, is remarked upon by all visitors. The task for the new year will be to maintain and enhance that teamwork. The following resume of events and developments chronicles several of the aspects of the university's never-ending pursuit of high standards - important additions and improvements, milestones towards excellence. Notwithstanding the substantial achievements of 1990, the towering excellence we seek will require many, many years of similar achieve ments. Legislation The new University Council, constituted under the 1989 University Act, took office on January 1. The new members brought a wide range of expertise to Council, thus compensating, in some degree, for the reduction in membership under the new Act. For example, the University was fortunate to be able to use the category of 'Council-appointed' member to appoint Mr Robert Somervaille, an eminent lawyer of wide experience who is also currently the Chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. By-law amendments initiated in 1989 were submitted to the Minister for Education. This University anticipated the Minister's plan to simplify all University By-laws following the introduction of the new Acts and had transferred legislation from the By-law to Rules and Regulations: a much more efficient procedure allowing changes to be made by the University Council itself and not, after long delay, by Parliament. University structures A basic, additional focus of academic activities was achieved in mid year when research and postgraduate programs were drawn together into a new Graduate Faculty within which course development and research will be nurtured, the exchange of ideas and information encouraged and professional postgraduate programs mounted. The Faculty structure was strengthened with the devolution of budgetary responsibility from the central Administration to the Faculty sector. Devolution was an ongoing process during 1990 as Deans and Faculty Committees undertook increasing financial and staff management roles. A guarantee of more realistic faculty attitudes and more accountable practices, devolution is also a pointer to the continuing growth and maturity of the University itself. The Illawarra Technology Corporation was reorganised during 1990 to allow for more accountable and more effective management structures The Corporation is the University's technology, research and develop ment enterprise. Its operational divisions were streamlined within the single entity of the Corporation and all were made responsible to a single Board reporting to the University Council. In April the Wollongong Conservatorium oflVlusic was brought decisively within the University structure, thus ending an unhappy period of debate with government officials about the status of a conservatorium which had the misfortune of being located outside the capi tal city. The University's solution was to bring the Conservatorium into its School of Creative Arts in the Faculty of Arts. We thus not only preserved the full range of its serv ices for the people of the City of Wollongong but also ensured an academic base of research and scholarship to enrich and further its ac tivities. Academic developments Academic activity during the year included the preparation and approval of undergradu ate and postgraduate courses for the new Faculty of Law. The Law degrees will be distinguished by a strong clinical emphasis and liaison with other disciplines and the Deputy Chairman of the Australian Vice-Chancellors' legal profession. Conunittee (AVCC) for 1990, the Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Ken McKinnon, during the year was Exciting new proposals were endorsed for unanimously elected its President, ITis term of office began on offerings in Information Technology and 1 jatiunry 1991 and will continue to 31 December 1992. Health Sciences. An interesting development Professor McKinnon is (as is widely known) a former was the joint BA/BCom degree with Japanese Chairman of the Commonwealth Schools Commission and of as a major study in the Arts component. This the Australian National Commission for UNESCO course involves study in a Japanese univer sity and marks a diversification of the Department of Modern Languages which until now has concentrated on European languages. These particular examples give a good indication of the balance in our courses. This University aims for excellence across the board of accepted higher tertiary offerings; we have built a strong reputation in the technologies but not to the detriment of other important fields of scholarship. Staffing The Foundation Dean of the Faculty of Law, Professor John Goldring, took up duty in June and two further professorial appointments - Professor David Farrier and Professor Sheila McAllister - were made soon afterwards. The Foundation Dean of the Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, Professor Christine Ewan, took up her appointment in January and the new Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Professor Tibor Rozgonyi, arrived in June. Professor Sid Morris was appointed as Dean of the new Faculty of Informatics and he will take up duty early in 1991. Professor Phillip Barter was