OCOSA MMAGAZINE Marcus Oldham College Old Students Association Volume 22 I Issue 2 I November 2015 “Studies have shown that the Australian sweet white lupin suppresses appetite, reduces glycaemic load of carbohydrates, improves insulin sensitivity and lowers blood pressure.” Principal’s Perspective The University Experience Survey looked for evidence of innovation, was developed to provide a national impact, value/efficiency and clear architecture for gathering data to improvement in outcomes related measure and improve the tertiary to the sector’s core educational experience. In 2014 all forty of goals. Australia’s universities participated The College is currently developing n an announcement earlier this and for the first time, so did fifteen its Strategic Plan (2016-2020) to Non-University Higher Education year that no doubt surprised provide a disciplined approach to Institutions. some of Australia’s high the management and growth of the I Institution over the next five years. profile universities, the National The University Experience Survey The specific objectives outlined University Experience Survey was conducted using world- class survey research services, in the Plan focus on Institutional 2014 revealed that Marcus and Academic Governance; Oldham topped the Student data management, analytical and qualitative skills. Approximately Educational Management; Satisfaction Survey. Marcus 108,322 students participated in Community Engagement; Physical Oldham was invited, for the the survey, with the response rate Resources and Facilities; Staff and first time in 2014, to participate varying between institutions – Students. The College operates in in the National Survey and the lowest at 21 percent, higher a competitive environment and it the results identified that the response rates at around 50 is critical that significant thought College is ranked in the top percent - and Marcus Oldham’s and consideration is given to its five percent of all forty response rate close to 90 percent. future. The Strategic Plan will be Australian universities for the All figures were aggregated and completed by the end of this year and will allow the College to then Quality of Entire Educational calibrated to ensure final figures represented equal share findings, consider development of its next Experience and Overall Quality Master Plan. of Teaching.Marcus Oldham also regardless of the size of institution performed above the average or response rate. As I look out of my office window, I see the construction of a private achieved by all universities This is a particularly satisfying result, hospital on Marcus Oldham’s on all scales measured by for current and future students, boundary and further to the south and the entire Marcus Oldham the survey which comprised I look across to Bells Beach. From community. It demonstrates that Skills Development; Learner the back of the College Farm the when it comes to the learning Engagement; Student Support skyscrapers of the Melbourne CBD experience and future success of and Learning Resources. are in sight. Marcus Oldham is our students, we mean business. truly fortunate to have its campus For You to Enjoy Other key factors contributing located close to the expanding city to the high rate of student of Geelong, the Great Ocean Road Principal’s Perspective......................... 2 satisfaction are courses structured and Melbourne. From the President’s Desk ................ 3 on the Harvard experience; based We thank our Founding Principal, Nic Archer ................................................... 5 on case study learning, high Mr Ivo Dean OAM, who was Peter Horwood .....................................6-7 student contact hours, small class instrumental in recommending Juanita Allan ......................................... 8-9 sizes, close links with industry and securing the campus site Where We Will Be .................................. 9 and skilled lecturers. Full credit back in the early 1960s. As the Brett Stockings ................................. 10-11 to our lecturers who embrace the College history documents, Ivo Ryan Arnel............................................12-13 Marcus ethos and understand the recommended that the College be Andrea van Niekerk ....................... 14-15 importance of being a teaching established close to a reasonably Tim Gubbins ....................................... 16-17 focused institution. sized city so that staff and students The Centre..................................................18 Australia’s most prestigious higher could enter into the local social life. Reunions ..............................................19-20 education awards were launched He identified several competitor Scholarship Recipients ............... 21-23 by the Australian Financial Review agricultural institutions which were Marcus Minds ...........................................23 newspaper in October to recognise located in isolated areas away from Marcus Congratulates ................24-25 the achievements of universities towns. Ivo held the view that “an Rural Leadership ...........................26-27 and other higher education agricultural college should never be Campus Columns ..........................28-29 providers and the benefits they placed in the deep bush; it should Foundation News ......................... 30-34 provide to students. These were be close to support services”. Scholarship Program ......................... 35 inaugural awards and I was Well done Ivo; your wise choice Editor’s Memo ........................................ 36 delighted that Marcus Oldham of location provides the College The Network .................................... 37-38 was a finalist shortlisted in the with significant opportunities and Need to Contact Someone? .......... 39 category of ‘Learning Experience’. developments for the future. Cover photograph courtesy Marcus Oldham was the only non- Dr Simon Livingstone CBH Group university finalist. The judging panel Principal 2 MOCOSA November 2015 From the President’s Desk fourth time that the Executive of MOCOSA Executive has supported the day has updated its tie over the the Night and sponsored a race. If fi fty plus years of the Association. you can make it along on Friday I look forward to presenting this 20th November, then I’m sure you new design to the 2015 graduating will have a great night out. students at the end of the year. I would also like to thank Anthony Should any past students wish to Mulcahy RBM 02 for his input on order a new tie please contact the the MOCOSA Executive over the College. past eight years, and I wish him Another item popular among past well with his volunteering eff orts in students is the Fifty Year lapel his local community. pin. Obviously, being less formal Having done a few road trips than a tie, it can be worn on more during the past month, and a bit occasions, helping to identify of phoning around this week, I fellow graduates. I had one pinned am reminded of the well-known to my hat during the recent Dorothea Mackellar poem ‘My raduates, who may have Adelaide Show and it led to a Country’. After the Victorian winter lost their MOCOSA tie number of conversations with past crop was put into the blast furnace somewhere deep in the students. These pins are currently over the Grand Final weekend, I G available for purchase online via was informed of a crop nearby wardrobe or spilled one too many pie and sauce, gravy from the website. which now, will be cut for hay - not due to the heat, but unbelievably, the lamb roast or perhaps a Further on in this Magazine, you due to a frost!!! dribble of sugar cane extract, will fi nd more information about now is your time to be one the inaugural Marcus Oldham Race It is fair to say – we face some of the fi rst to order a newly Night organized by the Marcus challenges! designed MOCOSA tie! Oldham Foundation. Along with Good luck with your projects. the Golf Day, this new event will In line with the be another great fundraiser for the James P Bufton FM 94 updated logo and College. MOCOSA President color scheme of the College, the MOCOSA The aim is to generate funds to help Executive selected develop the Health and Resilience a striking design Program being implemented at incorporating our new Marcus. This is an issue that I feel logo, as illustrated. very passionate about and I am I believe this is the very proud to announce that the Further details in Foundation News on page 30. MOCOSA November 2015 3 4 MOC0191_LockupAd.inddMOCOSA 1 November 2015 12/05/2015 5:03 pm Sharing the experience of a student on industry placement in New Zealand Nic Archer ic is from Cressy in As the station is so big the number of staff members Tasmania and is currently is also quite large. Dealing with people, dogs and undertaking his Farm livestock can get stressful so he’s learning how to N manage people in various situations and how to Business Management Second Year Industry Placement resolve conflict. requirement. He chose to This year he has enjoyed understanding more about cross the Tasman to work on sheep and cattle and learning to better understand a property 30 minutes from livestock generally. He has also been able to train his Lake Taupo in New Zealand’s own team of dogs which he will bring home at the end North Island, as a shepherd/tractor driver on the of the year, and this will allow him to have dogs trained 14,000ha sheep, beef and dairy grazing property. and ready for work when he finishes at Marcus. Nic says his experience this year has been very During the winter they were feeding out huge amounts enjoyable. Working with the New Zealanders has of silage - up to 220 tonnes a day. The property runs just given him an enthusiasm to try new things and to try over 26,000 ewes, 1,000 cows and agists 3,500 dairy and push the boundaries to get the most out of the cows. Management includes break-feeding the dairy farming system. It has also left him with lots of new cows and ewes on swede and kale crops. The station ideas to increase production and increase efficiency - is in some of New Zealand’s toughest high country ideas to take home and implement in his own system.