ANNUAL REPORT 2008 VOLUME ONE contents 02 Message from the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor The Honourable Verity Firth MP 03 2008 Achievements at a Glance Minister for Education and Training New South Wales Parliament House Macquarie Street 04 Institutional Profile Sydney NSW 2001 05 Five Year Key Statistics 30 April 2009 06 Reviewing our Strategic Priorities Dear Minister Building Distinction: Strategic Plan 2007 – 2011 On behalf of the Council of the University of Newcastle, we have the honour of presenting to Performance against the Strategic Plan you the Annual Report on the work and activities of the University of Newcastle for the year ended 31 December 2008. 10 Reviewing our Operational Performance The Annual Report and the accompanying audited Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with the Annual Reports (Statutory Bodies) Act 1984 and the Public Teaching and Learning Finance and Audit Act 1983. Research and Research Training People and Engagement Services and Resources Financial Performance and Outcomes Conjoint Professor Trevor Waring AM 44 Our Organisation Chancellor Governance Controlled entities Management Professor Nicholas Saunders 48 Appendices Vice-Chancellor and President Compliance Index can be found on the inside back cover. Audited Financial Statements for the University of Newcastle and its controlled entities are presented in Volume Two of the Annual Report 2008. Communication Objectives Whilst this Annual Report has been written to comply with statutory reporting requirements, it also aims to demonstrate the University of Newcastle’s commitment to its strategic objectives as described in the Strategic Plan 2007 – 2011, Building Distinction. The report describes the University’s operational framework, reviews activities for 2008 and offers a view of plans for ongoing improvement. Feedback We would like to hear your suggestions for the Annual Report 2009. Please send any comments to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Services), the University of Newcastle. Cover image Graduation Ceremony in the Great Hall, October 2008 Image by Murray McKean MESSAGE FROM THE CHANCELLOR AND VICE-CHANCELLOR 2008 ACHIEVEMENTS AT A GLANCE The Australian higher education sector is in a period of transition that presents exciting Teaching and Learning opportunities and challenges. The most significant feature of this transition is the Bradley • A positive audit by the Australian Universities Quality Agency that recognised the University as a vibrant Review of Higher Education. Released last year, the Review is the most comprehensive analysis and well-managed institution with enthusiastic students and staff of tertiary education in Australia in two decades and it foreshadows significant and positive • External recognition of outstanding teaching and learning staff – seven Australian Learning and Teaching Council change for all universities in coming years. Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning; three NSW Quality Teacher Awards; six Australian A key element of the Review is a greater focus on students. The University of Newcastle is Learning and Teaching Council grants as lead or partner institution aligned with this focus and in 2008 our efforts, once again, centred on providing a great learning • Continued emphasis on program quality assurance though 14 external program reviews covering 47 individual programs environment and experience for our students. and program accreditation for 21 programs The growing success of the University is reflected in our record enrolment in 2008 of 30,000 • Promotion of the student experience through exciting opportunities for work-integrated learning – 40 Bachelor students. Our reputation as a higher education institution of distinction is built on the strategic, of Communication students were supported to attend the 2008 Beijing Olympics and Paralympics as part of the operational and personal achievements of many members of the University’s community. international media contingent Highlights from 2008 include: • Continued strategic investment to improve student learning outcomes though initiatives such as teaching fellowships, • a positive audit by the Australian Universities Quality Agency that recognised the University project grants, further development of English language support programs, major upgrades to teaching facilities, and as a vibrant and well-managed institution with enthusiastic students and staff; external benchmarking/networking • recognition for our academic staff with seven Citations for Outstanding Contributions to • Student success internationally – sprinter Heath Francis won three gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Student Learning from the Australian Learning and Teaching Council, three NSW State Games, setting new world records in the 200 metre and 400 metre events and a personal best time in the 100 metre Government Quality Teaching Awards, eight externally-funded research fellowships and event; NUManoids became the first world champions of the new Standard Platform League at the 2008 RoboCup the appointment of a sixth Laureate Professor; competition held in China • continued research funding success with almost $25 million in new project funding from the Australian Research Council and National Health and Medical Research Council; Research and Research Training • expanded work-based learning opportunities for our students, including 40 Bachelor of • Continued success in attracting external research funding with total research income increasing by 28 per cent Communication students undertaking work experience at the 2008 Beijing Olympics on the previous year and over $25 million in new project funding for 2009 and Paralympics; • Excellent examples of research impact and collaboration across the University including increased research publications • national success for our Chamber Choir as winners of Channel 7’s Battle of the Choirs; in high quality journals and exchange events with industry • greater collaboration and engagement with our communities through a wide range of public • Sector leaders in the development of the Responsible Conduct of Research Policy and supporting documents to comply lectures, conferences and community-based projects particularly relating to Indigenous and with the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research environmental issues; • Enhanced support for Research Higher Degree students through additional scholarships, a laptop computer scheme, • establishment of the University Committee on Environmental Sustainability and confirmation the RHD seminar series, the supervisor workshop training program and incentives for Honours students to further their of the goal to reduce the University’s carbon emissions by 20 per cent by 2015; research careers • reinvigoration of our organisational commitment to the values of honesty, fairness, trust, accountability and respect through the launch of a new Code of Conduct; and People and Engagement • completion of the Strategic Master Plans for the Callaghan and Ourimbah campuses creating • Indigenous collaboration through a range of teaching and learning, research and community-based activities such a framework for coordinated future development and renewal. as the National Indigenous Family and Community Strengths Conference and Forum on the Impact of Drought on Indigenous Communities The Council and Executive Committee continued to provide strong leadership throughout 2008 to position the University to achieve its strategic objectives. Through their commitment and the • The University of Newcastle Chamber Choir won Channel 7’s Battle of the Choirs with conductor, Dr Philip Matthias, efforts of our staff and students, the University is poised for further growth and success in 2009. also receiving Convocation’s Newton-John Award • Promotion of regional collaboration and engagement though a variety of public lectures, conferences and events such as the Bill of Rights Symposium and the Newcastle 2020 Summit • New International Alumni Chapter activities launched in Botswana, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand and the Philippines with events being held in Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Beijing Services and Resources Conjoint Professor Trevor Waring AM Professor Nicholas Saunders • Establishment of the University Committee on Environmental Sustainability, re-invigorating the organisation’s Chancellor Vice-Chancellor and President commitment to this area • University’s new brand recognised with a merit award in Education Category of the ReBrand 100 awards • New initiatives to support students and the teaching and learning experience through establishment of the ESOS Compliance Unit and the Transition and Retention Unit as well as peer networking conferences such as Focus@Newcastle • Continued emphasis in planning and risk management through the development of the IT Strategic Plan 2009 – 2014, implementation of an enterprise risk management system and development of Strategic Master Plans for the Callaghan and Ourimbah campuses 04 | ANNUAL REPORT 2008 ANNUAL REPORT 2008 | 05 INSTITUTIONAL PROFILE FIVE YEAR KEY STATISTICS Locations Our Students % change CATEGORY 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 The University of Newcastle is a multi-campus institution The University of Newcastle is a medium-sized, comprehensive 2007-2008 with programs offered at four locations: Newcastle, Central and research-intensive institution and a member of the NUMBER OF Total 26001 26385 26872 28500 30336 6.4 Coast and Port Macquarie in Australia, and Singapore. Innovative Research