Annual Report Annual 2010
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Swinburne University of Technology ANNUAL REPORT 2010 Contents Annual Report (AR) Transmission letter AR : 1 Message from the Chancellor AR : 2 Message from the Vice-Chancellor AR : 4 Organisational profile AR : 8 The Coat of Arms AR : 8 Objectives AR : 9 Relevant Minister AR : 9 Nature and range of services AR : 9 Teaching divisions AR : 10 Governance AR : 11 Council AR : 11 Members of Swinburne Council AR : 12 Risk management AR : 16 Profiles of senior executives AR : 20 Swinburne at a glance AR : 21 Mission and Vision AR : 24 2010 Organisational performance AR : 26 Strategic goal 1 – Growth AR : 26 Strategic goal 2 – Transformational learning and teaching AR : 28 Strategic goal 3 – Transformational research AR : 32 Strategic goal 4 – Transformational culture AR : 36 Strategic goal 5 – Quality infrastructure AR : 40 Strategic goal 6 – Social inclusion, diversity and sustainability AR : 44 Strategic goal 7 – Internationalisation AR : 48 Statutory and Financial Report (SFR) Statutory reporting, compliance and disclosure statements SFR : 2 Building Act SFR : 2 Building works SFR : 2 Maintenance SFR : 2 Compliance SFR : 2 Environment SFR : 2 Consultancies SFR : 3 Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) SFR : 3 Freedom of Information (FOI) SFR : 4 Grievance and complaint handling procedures SFR : 5 Industrial relations SFR : 5 Merit and equity SFR : 5 National competition policy SFR : 6 Occupational Health and Safety SFR : 6 Notifiable incidents SFR : 6 Whistleblowers Protection Act SFR : 7 Information about the University SFR : 7 Additional information available on request SFR : 7 Financial summaries and statements SFR : 8 Compliance Index 2010 SFR : 10 Auditor-General’s report (including the Statement of Performance) SFR : 12 Statements by the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor and Principal Accounting Officer SFR : 16 Financial reporting SFR : 19 Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2010 SFR : 23 Mr Peter Hall, MLC Minister for Higher Education and Skills Level 36, 121 Exhibition Street Melbourne VIC 3000 Dear Minister In accordance with the requirements of regulations under the Financial Management Act 1994, I am pleased to submit for your information and presentation to Parliament the Swinburne University of Technology Annual Report for the year ending 31 December 2010. The Annual Report was approved by the Swinburne Council at its meeting on 21 March 2011. Yours sincerely Professor Andrew Flitman Mr Bill Scales Acting Vice-Chancellor and President Chancellor 21 March 2011 21 March 2011 Hawthorn Campus John Street Hawthorn Victoria 3122 Australia PO Box 218 Hawthorn Victoria 3122 Australia Telephone +61 3 9214 8000 Facsimile +61 3 9214 5454 www.swinburne.edu.au ABN 13 628 586 699 CRICOS Provider 00111D 2010 ANNUAL REPORT AR: 1 Message from the Chancellor AR: 2 SWINBURNE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY In 2009, the Commonwealth In particular, 2010 saw a consultative Towards the latter part of 2010, Government released a landmark revision of the University’s vision Professor Ian Young, the University’s policy for higher education entitled statement and strategic plan, Swinburne Vice-Chancellor for the past seven years, Transforming Australia’s Higher in 2015, led by Vice-Chancellor Professor advised that he had accepted the role Education System. Produced in response Ian Young. In parallel, much preparatory of Vice-Chancellor at the Australian to recommendations arising from the work was undertaken by the Council National University. Professor Young’s Bradley Review of Higher Education, and senior personnel towards the period as Vice-Chancellor at Swinburne this policy foreshadowed far-reaching establishment of a single Academic has seen the revitalisation of many of changes to post-compulsory education Senate for the University. The new Senate Swinburne’s buildings, the completion of in Australia. will replace the former Academic Board the new Advanced Technology Centre at and Board of TAFE Studies and, as a the Hawthorn Campus, significant growth Most notable of these changes is the single body covering both the higher in Swinburne’s reputation as provider intention to introduce demand-driven and vocational education sectors, of high quality teaching, learning and full contestability in higher education it will enhance and streamline our research, the growing reputation from 2012, with no ‘cap’ on student arrangements for curriculum of Swinburne TAFE as a provider of enrolments. This means that, from 2012, development, program accreditation, outstanding vocational programs, and a Australian higher education students will quality control and academic governance. new understanding of the importance of have unparalleled choice about where dual sector institutions – in part, because they study and what they study, and it Taken together, the revision of Swinburne of Swinburne’s successes. While the complements the situation that applies in 2015 and the establishment of the Council and staff are very sad to lose in respect of vocational education and Academic Senate will prepare the Professor Young, he leaves Swinburne training in Victoria from 2011. The result University for success in what will be a with our best wishes and we know he is an unprecedented opportunity for a much more ‘seamless’ and competitive will be an outstanding Vice-Chancellor dual sector university such as Swinburne tertiary education environment in the at the ANU. to meet the very diverse needs of years ahead. Further, these and a number students, and to grow and strengthen of other important 2010 initiatives will On behalf of the University Council, its overall capability and reach. enable Swinburne to make a real I would like to thank all staff for their contribution to national initiatives to contribution to Swinburne during 2010, In response to the changing economic, improve participation and attainment and also thank our alumni and other social, demographic and policy landscape, in tertiary education, particularly for stakeholders for their ongoing support. both the University Council and senior student cohorts that are presently May I conclude by commending the management placed considerable under-represented. Report to you, on behalf of the Council. emphasis on strategic planning in 2010, The information it contains gives some to ensure that Swinburne is positioned Swinburne’s future success will be idea of the breadth, depth and quality of well for the future. This work did not contingent on our ability to capitalise the University’s operations, albeit just for necessitate any dramatic change in our fully on the very considerable advantage a single calendar year in the institution’s mission, broad direction or management we have in being a dual sector university, more than 100 year history. structure, but it did involve significant and particularly on our continuing to changes to academic governance deliver education and research of the Bill Scales AO, BEc, FIPAA, FAICD arrangements, a re-setting of our highest quality. As the information Chancellor and Chair, University Council strategic priorities, and many provided in this Annual Report evidences, adjustments to plans and targets. the University’s recent growth has been managed without any diminution in the quality of either education or research, and this is a tribute to all involved. 2010 ANNUAL REPORT AR: 3 Message from the Vice-Chancellor AR: 4 SWINBURNE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY For Swinburne, 2010 was another In a very difficult global economic climate, The 2010 Excellence in Research productive and successful year. more than 3,850 international students for Australia (ERA) assessment of The University enhanced its ‘top 500’ commenced study at one of Swinburne’s Swinburne’s research performance status within both the Shanghai Jiao Melbourne campuses in 2010 – down confirmed that the areas of research Tong (SHJT) and QS World University 10 per cent on the previous year. A sharp concentration which have formed the rankings, reflecting its growing decline in the number of students coming focus of Swinburne’s policy of research reputation and improving performance from India was offset to some degree by concentration are world-leading. in research. This strength in research increased demand from China, Vietnam For example, research in the Physical is complemented by excellence in and Singapore. Sciences at Swinburne was assessed education – Swinburne is the only at the very highest level possible. Enrolments at the University’s branch university in Australia to rate the Not surprisingly, however, the ERA campus in Sarawak, Malaysia, increased maximum five stars for all three assessment highlighted that this substantially: up from 2,750 in 2009 to teaching measures (teaching quality, outstanding quality does not exist 3,150 in 2010. Another standout was the development of generic skills and across all of the University’s research – growth in off-campus delivery, particularly overall satisfaction) in the 2011 a fact recognized in the latest version through Swinburne’s participation in Good Universities Guide. of “Swinburne in 2015” which outlines Open Universities Australia (up from the next stage of Swinburne’s research Both the Higher Education and TAFE 8,500 unit enrolments in 2009 to 14,500 development. This will involve a broadening Divisions comfortably exceeded the unit enrolments in 2010). As well, of our research activity without any loss student load targets set in their Swinburne’s TAFE Division provided of focus on delivering research of the 2010 funding