2014 ANNUAL REPORT CURTIN UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2014 We’re making tomorrow better. Curtin strives to meet global challenges by supporting practical research and teaching that addresses issues and creates solutions for healthy, sustainable and successful societies. Curtin’s goal is to benefit the community locally, nationally and internationally, today and in the future. Help us make tomorrow better, together. Curtin University Foundation give.curtin.edu.au L-R – His Excellency Malcolm McCusker, Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Terry and Chancellor Colin Beckett. Professor Deborah Terry officially became Curtin’s Vice-Chancellor at a ceremony Cover image: on 24 February 2014. Originally from Western Australia, Professor Terry had forged Still from Curtin University’s 2014 television commercial. a distinguished career at the University of Queensland, initially as an internationally Curtin’s 2014 television commercial uses thousands of recognised scholar, before progressing through a number of senior leadership roles paper shapes to create a morphing effect, demonstrating to the position of Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor. the diversity of the university’s students around the world and the positive impact that attaining a degree from Curtin can have on their life. Curtin University Annual Report 2014 1 CONTENTS STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE Statement of Compliance................................................... 1 The Honourable Peter Collier MLC Minister for Education; Aboriginal Affairs; Electoral Affairs About Curtin........................................................................ 2 10th Floor, Dumas House 2 Havelock Street Chancellor’s Foreword....................................................... 4 WEST PERTH WA 6005 Vice-Chancellor’s Report................................................... 5 Vision, Mission and Values................................................ 6 Strategic Plan 2013–2017................................................... 7 Report on Performance – 2014 Activity Highlights......... 8 Strategic Theme 1 Dear Minister People and culture.......................................................... 8 In accordance with section 61 of the Financial Management Act 2006, we hereby submit for your information and Strategic Theme 2 presentation to Parliament the Annual Report of Curtin University of Technology for the year ended 31 December 2014. Research......................................................................... 10 The Annual Report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Financial Management Act 2006. Strategic Theme 3 Teaching and learning..................................................... 14 Yours sincerely Strategic Theme 4 Engagement and impact................................................. 18 Report on Operations......................................................... 22 Governance of the University.......................................... 22 Administrative structure................................................... 28 Colin Beckett Deborah Terry Staffing matters............................................................... 30 Chancellor Vice-Chancellor Significant issues and trends.......................................... 33 Other disclosures and legal requirements....................... 34 On behalf of the University Council Curtin Key Statistics........................................................... 44 Independent Auditor’s Report........................................... 46 Dated this 18th day of March 2015 Financial Report 2014 ....................................................... 49 Performance Indicators .................................................... 113 2 Curtin University Annual Report 2014 Curtin University Annual Report 2014 3 ABOUT CURTIN CURTIN LOCATIONS Bentley Campus Kent Street, BENTLEY WA 6102 Postal address: GPO Box U1987, PERTH WA 6845 Website address: curtin.edu.au BENTLEY Perth Perth City Campus Graduate School of Business 78 Murray Street, PERTH WA 6000 PERTH Kalgoorlie Curtin Western Australian School of Mines (WASM) Egan Street, KALGOORLIE WA 6430 (WASM is also located at the Bentley campus) KALGOORLIE Margaret River Margaret River Education Centre 272 Bussell Highway, MARGARET RIVER WA 6285 MARGARET RIVER Curtin University is Western Australia’s largest university, • Centre for Aboriginal Studies Shenton Park with more than 53,600 students. Of these, approximately 31 Health research campus • Curtin Business School per cent are international students, and more than 2,300 are Selby Street, SHENTON PARK WA 6008 research students. Established in 1986, the University takes • Faculty of Health Sciences its name from the influential and widely respected former • Faculty of Humanities Prime Minister of Australia, John Curtin, and continues to SHENTON PARK embrace his philosophy to “look ever forward”, instilling • Faculty of Science and Engineering. a culture of innovation in its teaching and research, and Sydney inspiring staff and students to make tomorrow better. Curtin University Sydney The University is recognised for high-impact research, Curtin House Curtin is an internationally focused institution which offers including in minerals and energy, ICT and emerging 39-47 Regent Street, CHIPPENDALE NSW 2008 a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses technologies, health and sustainable development. in business, humanities, health sciences, resources, Curtin has close links with business, industry, government SYDNEY engineering and related sciences. A culturally diverse and the community, and its courses have a strong practical university, Curtin fosters tolerance and encourages the Miri, Malaysia focus, with many involving vocational or work experience Curtin Sarawak development of the individual. A combination of first-rate components. As a result, Curtin graduates are more Senadin, MIRI, SARAWAK, MALAYSIA resources, staff and technology makes Curtin a major desirable to employers, with skills that enable them to make contributor to tertiary education, both within Australia and a genuine and positive influence in a continuously changing internationally. world. MALAYSIA The University’s main campus is in the suburb of Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of Singapore, Republic of Singapore Bentley, six kilometres south of the centre of Perth, Technology, a body corporate established under the Curtin Curtin Singapore Western Australia’s capital city. Curtin has two additional University of Technology Act 1966, an Act of the Western 90 and 92 Jalan Rajah, SINGAPORE 329162 metropolitan campuses and regional campuses in Australian Parliament. It is domiciled in Australia. Kalgoorlie and Margaret River. Curtin also has campuses in Sydney, Malaysia and Singapore. The University is not an incorporated company under the SINGAPORE Corporations Act 2001. Therefore it does not have an The University’s educational and research programs are Australian Company Number, nor does it have a Certificate divided across five teaching areas. Each teaching area of Incorporation. equips its graduates with the knowledge, skills and industry experience needed to excel in their chosen profession: curtin.edu.au 4 Curtin University Annual Report 2014 Curtin University Annual Report 2014 5 CHANCELLOR’S FOREWORD VICE-CHANCELLOR’S REPORT Professor Deborah Terry joined the University at a landmark We continued with our program of investments to improve As a newcomer to Curtin, my first year as Vice-Chancellor performance, it pays tribute to the enormous effort of staff to time in Curtin’s history. Since she was invested as Vice- our facilities. As an example, Curtin’s world-class science has been, not surprisingly, an extremely busy and build Curtin’s reputation as a research-intensive university, Chancellor in February, I have been extremely impressed and engineering faculty received a further boost this memorable one. When I gave the Orientation Week address undertaking world-leading research in areas of global by how seamlessly she has taken over the leadership year with significant investment made in the University’s to Curtin’s new students at the end of February 2014, I had significance. reins, quickly gaining the full confidence of Council and Kalgoorlie campus, home to the Curtin Western Australian only just joined the University myself and genuinely shared demonstrating her capabilities and commitment to helping School of Mines (WASM). In June, the campus received the students’ sense of excitement and anticipation: there One of Curtin’s highest profile research endeavours Curtin achieve its new vision. In her hectic first year, she $20 million in funding from the State Government’s was so much to learn, so many new people to meet and so remains the international Square Kilometre Array astronomy has established strong local networks, made visits to all of Royalties for Regions program to rebuild and expand its many opportunities to explore. project, arguably the largest science project in the world. Curtin’s local and international campuses and cemented current student housing facilities, enabling more students I believe the magnitude of Curtin’s contribution to this contacts with current and potential partners, at home and from around the state, Australia and the world to benefit I have undertaken a significant journey of discovery over complex and ambitious scientific undertaking – looking overseas. I know the University can look forward to strong from the unique educational experience the campus the past year