SWINBURNE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY SWINBURNE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY ANNUAL REPORT 2012 REPORT ANNUAL Swinburne University of Technology Annual Report Swinburne University of Technology www.swinburne.edu.au ISSN 1447-8242 The information in this report was correct at the time of printing (April 2013). The University reserves the right to alter or amend the material contained in this publication. CRICOS provider code: 00111D SP0207-29-0413 Contents Annual Report (AR) Statutory and Financial Report (SFR) Transmission letter AR : 1 Statutory reporting, compliance and disclosure statements SFR : 2 From the Chancellor AR : 2 Building Act SFR : 2 From the Vice-Chancellor AR : 4 Building works SFR : 2 2012 Highlights AR : 6 Maintenance SFR : 2 Compliance SFR : 2 Organisational profile AR : 12 Environment SFR : 2 The Coat of Arms AR : 12 2012 TAFE repairs and maintenance expenditure report SFR : 3 Objectives AR : 12 Energy consumption SFR : 3 Relevant Minister AR : 13 Consultancies SFR : 3 Nature and range of services AR : 13 Consultancies in excess of $100,000 SFR : 3 Teaching divisions AR : 14 Consultancies less than $100,000 SFR : 3 Corporate areas AR : 15 Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) SFR : 3 Governance AR : 15 Freedom of Information (FOI) SFR : 4 Council AR : 15 Procedure for handling requests SFR : 4 Members of Swinburne University of Technology Council 2011 AR : 16 FOI statistics 20102 SFR : 4 Indemnifying Council Members AR : 20 Categories of documents in the possession of the University SFR : 4 Council Boards and Committees AR : 21 Grievance and complaint handling procedures SFR : 5 Statutes and Regulations amended in 2012 AR : 22 Role of the Ombudsman in relation to complaints SFR : 5 Voluntary Code of Best Practice for Governance of Employee relations SFR : 5 Australian Universities AR : 22 Diversity and Inclusion SFR : 5 Risk management AR : 22 National competition policy SFR : 6 Attestation on compliance with the Australian/New Zealand Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) SFR : 6 Risk Management Standard AR : 23 Notifiable incidents SFR : 6 Associate and commercial ventures AR : 24 Whistleblowers Protection Act SFR : 7 University companies and controlled entities AR : 24 Information about the University SFR : 7 Swinburne University of Technology Organisation chart AR : 25 Additional information available on request SFR : 7 Senior executives AR : 26 Compulsory non-academic fees SFR : 8 Swinburne at a glance AR : 29 Summary of significant changes in financial position during 2012 SFR : 9 Statistical information – Swinburne TAFE, Swinburne College and NICA, 2010–2012 AR : 29 Events subsequent to balance date SFR : 9 Statistical information – Higher Education, 2010–2012 AR : 30 Statement that public funds allocated to the University have been allocated to the purposes specified by the government Staffing profile by organisational unit AR : 31 or other public funding body SFR : 9 Mission and Vision AR : 32 Financial performance including key performance indicators SFR : 9 Statement by the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor and Organisational performance AR : 34 Principal Accounting Officer (TAFE Performance) SFR : 10 Strategic goal 1 – Our students AR : 34 TAFE Key Performace Indicators SFR : 11 Strategic goal 2 – Our research AR : 42 VAGO – Independent Auditor’s Report SFR : 12 Strategic goal 3 – Our connections AR : 50 Compliance Index 2012 SFR : 14 Strategic goal 4 – Our culture AR : 58 VAGO – Independent Auditor’s Report SFR : 16 Statement by the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor and Principal Accounting Officer (University) SFR : 18 Financial reporting SFR : 19 Notes to the financial statements for the year ended Acknowledgements 31 December 2012 SFR : 23 The Annual Report was prepared by Ms Cheryl Menon of Swinburne’s Strategic Planning and Quality Unit. The Financial Report was prepared by Mr Grayden Nelson, Associate Director, Finance Department. Designed by Swinburne Press Design Studio. The Annual Report is also available online at: www.swinburne.edu.au/corporate/spq/reports_annual.html where an email link is provided for feedback. Production information The Annual Report and Financial Report were printed using vegetable-based inks. Paper stocks certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) and contain fibre sourced only from responsible forestry practices. Manufactured under the ISO 14001 environmental management systems standard. Photographs Eamon Gallagher: pages 27, 28, 47 and 53 Paul Jones: page 33 Photograph on page 5 courtesy Swinburne Marketing Services Photographs on pages 41, 45, 49, 57 and 63 courtesy Swinburne Media Transmission Letter 4 March 2013 The Hon. Peter Hall, MLC Minister for Higher Education and Skills 2 Treasury Place East Melbourne VIC 3002 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 2012. The Annual Report was approved by the Swinburne Council at its meeting on 4 March 2013. Yours sincerely Mr Bill Scales AO Chancellor 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 2012 ANNUAL REPORT AR: 1 FROM THE CHANCELLOR In 2012, Swinburne University of Technology made a number of important and difficult strategic decisions to enable it to cope with the constantly changing tertiary education environment, to build on its record of achievement and to prepare for further success. 2012 was the first full year of implementation of the landmark reform arising from the Bradley Review of Higher Education which has created intense competition between Australian universities for students. It has required all universities, including Swinburne, to reconsider old practices and sharpen their focus to ensure that they are meeting the expectations of their students and stakeholders. Swinburne’s longstanding focus on the needs of students, and the quality of teaching programs, has ensured that we have benefited from the decision to increase competition in the higher education sector. Our enrolments grew strongly in 2012 and our reputation for high quality teaching was confirmed. Competition was also intense in the international education market. 2012 saw the implementation of new government rules allowing streamlined visa processing for international students, but at the same time placed greater responsibilities on Australian universities to assure the suitability of the students that they enrol from overseas. Swinburne held its own in a challenging international education market. 2012 was also a year in which interest in online education gathered significant pace. Swinburne continued to increase its involvement in the delivery of online education, something which we have done for many years as a member of Open Universities Australia. 2012 was the first full year of operation of Swinburne Online, which creates educational opportunities for many students for whom campus study is not possible. Students responded strongly to Swinburne’s new online offerings, with more than 2,000 students accessing degrees available through Swinburne Online. AR: 2 SWINBURNE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY Swinburne faced increased competition in Swinburne also strengthened its Since its establishment in 1908, Swinburne the vocational education sector, following commitment to high levels of academic has experienced many transformations, major reforms announced by the Victorian excellence with significant changes to the growing from being a local provider of Government to place public TAFE providers operations of our Academic Senate, the body technical education into a focused university on an equal footing with private providers responsible to Council for ensuring academic offering high quality tertiary education and to significantly reduce public subsidies standards within the University. and producing world-class research. for some vocational education and training As a public university focused on delivering (VET) programs with effect from July 2012. Notwithstanding the many challenges, outcomes for the students, industries and The impact of these changes fundamentally Swinburne continued to invest in high the communities it serves, Swinburne altered the ground rules for TAFE providers quality research and continues to enhance will need to adapt to change but with and forced them to adopt new practices its standing as a significant research a continuing vision to be a world leader to be able to remain competitive. These institution in its own right as reflected in science, technology and innovation. changes precipitated a thorough review by our promotion into the Top 400 by the of Swinburne’s course portfolio and a Academic Ranking of World Universities. On behalf of the Swinburne University consideration of the ongoing viability of Fourteen Discovery projects and four Future Council, I thank the Vice-Chancellor, our presence across multiple campuses. Fellowships were awarded to Swinburne Professor Linda Kristjanson, her leadership by the Australian Research Council in team and all Swinburne staff for their Swinburne responded to these significant addition to two Early Career Fellowships contribution through a challenging year. policy changes by deciding to close its awarded by the NHMRC. As this report I would also like to thank my Council