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Professor Ian Goulter and Professor Lee Sang-Yoon, President of Hannam University, sign an MOU in August.
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As we approach the Christmas and New Year break, I would like to thank all staff for their efforts over the year. 2006 has been a very busy and successful year. I know the University asks a lot of you, and it has been my great privilege to work alongside you as we strive to reach CSU’s potential.
This year, the University unveiled the University Strategy 2007-2011, which encompasses the vision of a national university for excellence in education for the professions, strategic and applied research and flexible delivery of learning and teaching.
I know a number of the changes made in 2006 to prepare the University for the University Strategy 2007-2011 are still being implemented. I would like to thank everyone for their continuing hard work on these changes as well as the work they have completed in 2006 to prepare for 2007 and beyond.
To some extent, it has been a year of ongoing renewal of CSU, consistent with messages from the Federal Government. The Minister has flagged that she wants universities to “play to their strengths” and “pursue greater diversity”.
This is the uncertain climate in which we currently find ourselves, but I strongly believe that there is an important place and role in inland Australia for CSU. And with your help, we will build CSU into an institution of even greater strength and diversity, one which delivers to its inland constituents the very valuable resource of graduates across a wide range of professions.
This year, we formally welcomed the Orange Campus to the CSU family. Orange will be home to the clinical science degree which will provide a specific education pathway for eligible graduates into the University of Sydney medical and dental programs.
We are also exploring the feasibility of a dental school within CSU. When I invited feedback from staff, it was clear that you agreed a Clinical Dental School would extend our existing strength in health sciences and help address the shortage of oral health practitioners in inland NSW, as well as the oral and general well-being of our communities. Already the National Party has thrown its support behind the idea of training dentists in the bush for the bush.
Again this year, we have established new collaborative agreements both here in Australia and overseas. In Canada, CSU is expanding from teacher education to teaching nurses and other health professionals. During 2006, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Universities in Switzerland, Chile and South Korea.
CSU research and researchers made national news in many areas this year, including:
- health management and science, and the changing roles of paramedics, the medicinal properties of olive oil waste, heart failure in rural NSW, and early detection of diabetes.
- land and water, with leading comment on the current drought as well as water in the Murray Darling Basin and in research on the future of urban water use.
- society, and youth unemployment, profiling missing people, and raising children’s self esteem.
- human movement and sport science, on limits to athletic performance, resistance training and ageing, and and improving athletes performance and recovery times.
- education, on challenges to early childhood education, the national skills shortage, and role of schools in mental health.
I would also like to congratulate staff and students who won awards this year. Professor Don Thomson was awarded the Australian Psychological Society College of Forensic Psychologists inaugural distinguished contributions award, CSU Deputy Chancellor Ian Macintosh and Professor James Haire, became Members in the Order of Australia (AM), Dr Sharynne McLeod was awarded a Fellowship of Speech Pathology , and CSU university teachers were recognised for their dedication, professionalism and enthusiasm as winners of the 2006 Carrick Australian Awards.
Congratulations also to all academic staff who were successful in the 2006 Promotions Round.
Members of staff were also successful this year is receiving recognition through Federal research grants and funding from the US National Science Foundation
I am also pleased to announce a number of further changes in the University for 2007:
- A representative of the Senior Women’s Forum (SWF) will be added to the membership of the Vice-Chancellor’s Forum (VCF
- Mr Gary Shipp, newly appointed Director of the Indigenous Studies Centre at Dubbo and Head of the Dubbo campus, beginning 15 January 2007, will also be appointed to the VCF in his leadership role for indigenous matters
In the spirit of re-examining how the University goes about its activities in relation to the University Strategy 2007-2011 and in recognition of feedback from the University regarding the role on the Senior Executive Group (SEG). I have decided to dis-establish the SEG effective the 31 December 2006. The SEG will be replaced by a new body called the Senior Executive Committee (SEC) with a clearer advisory role to myself on planning, budget and other matters. Terms of Reference for the new SEC can be found here.
I look forward to leading Charles Sturt University into 2007 to address the opportunities and challenges the New Year is sure to bring.
I wish all CSU staff and their families a very safe and happy Christmas and New Year.
Professor Ian Goulter
Vice-Chancellor
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