Research & Development Management

1.         Planning & Management

R1a:    Produce a 5-year strategic plan for the School of Engineering (with clear milestones) linked to a financial plan.

To be completed by December 2001 as part of the Engineering planning process.

Agree

R1b:    Provide a clear strategy (with milestones) for international recruiting in conjunction with Murdoch International.

Part of R1a

Agree

R1c:    Re-establish the industry liaison forum as an Industry Advisory Committee.

This is currently underway.

Agree

R1d:    Provide clear lines of responsibilities for campus planning & management issues, including facilities and personnel.

Referred to Campus Principal

Agree

2.         Staffing

R2a:    Appoint two new academic staff; one in Renewable Energy and one in Instrumentation & Control.

Staffing appointments are made in accord with the Engineering strategic plan and budgetary considerations. However, the School policy is not to appoint to programs but to the School.

Agree. It was noted that these appointments also support University Areas of Research Strength.

R2b:    Annual staff reviews should have a strong focus on career development plans particularly during periods of high stress on staff.

Agreed, with the need for recognition of the intense staff contribution during the commissioning of the School

Agree

3.         Students

R3a:    Murdoch University and the Student Guild should find ways to demonstrate commitment to the students at Rockingham campus.

Referred to Campus Principal

Agree

R3b:    Consider the option to remove Physics as a prerequisite for entry into Software Engineering by introducing a university bridging program in physics.

Bridging units are currently offered to all students who do not have sufficient background in particular areas. For Physics this is M120 Introduction to Physics. Software Engineering, as with all Engineering programs, includes the need for an understanding of Physics, particularly in this case for electricity and electronics.

No comment

R3c:    Establish a plan to develop and maintain an active Engineering Alumni.

This is already incorporated in the Engineering Strategic Plan

Agree

4.         Educational Programs

R4a:    Maintain the BE (Instrumentation & Control Engineering) degree program in its current structure.

Agreed

No comment

R4b:    The rationale for, and curriculum of, the BE (Engineering Chemistry) Program needs to be re-evaluated with a view to: (i) a possible termination of the BE (Engineering Chemistry) Program, (ii) the introduction of new Technical Electives in chemical analysis into the BE (Instrumentation & Control Engineering) Program, and (iii) the introduction of a coursework masters degree in Chemical Analysis.

(i and ii) This re-evaluation will be part of the normal review process, and will be included in R1a.

(iii) Not consistent with current academic planning

No comment

R4c:    The BE (Renewable Energy Engineering) degree program should be reviewed with respect to structure, curriculum content and staff planning.

The BE (Renewable Energy Engineering) program is currently under development and consequently under continuing review

No comment

R4d:    Consideration should be given to re-naming the BE (Industrial and Computer Systems Engineering) as BE (Computer Systems Engineering). 

The correct name of the degree is BE (Industrial Computer Systems Engineering.) It is significantly different to Computer Systems Engineering

No comment

R4e:    Consideration should be given to allowing students to undertake the BE (Software Engineering) Program at both Rockingham and the South Street Campus. Appropriate tele-conferencing facilities should be introduced to permit lectures to be delivered at both campuses. Planning should allow for the eventual appointment of a level E in software engineering within the School of Engineering.

This has been tried unsuccessfully, but remains under consideration.

Tele and video conferencing is not consistent with teaching philosophy within Engineering which utilises close student/staff contact, and the full use of a range of teaching resources.

Staffing appointments are made in accord with the Engineering strategic plan and budget considerations.

No comment

R4f:     Re-evaluate the existing BTech Program with a view to possible termination in 2002.

This re-evaluation is part of the School’s normal review process, and will be included in R1a.

No comment

R4g:    Develop a detailed rationale, business plan and staffing plan before approving the introduction of the BTech (Networking and Software Systems).

This has now been completed.

No comment

R4h:    Review the rationale, educational outcomes, management and resource requirements of the proposed engineering internship program.

This has now been completed.

No comment

R4i:     Formalise the academic structure for the delivery of continuing professional development and graduate coursework programs.

This organisation will be included in R1a.

No comment

R4j:  Formalise benchmarking arrangements with other engineering schools as part of the strategic plan of the School.

These arrangements will be included in R1a.

Agree

5.         Research

R5a:    Produce a management plan for research.

Agreed. The management plan will be extended to include focused research areas.

Agree

R5b: Provide administrative support for Prof. Peter Lee to allow his continuing involvement in engineering research to be at a level of 50%.

Referred to Deputy Vice Chancellor.

No comment

R5c:     Exploit the potential synergies between separation science and process control.

Agreed

Agree

6.         Infrastructure and Campus Needs

R6a:    Improve video-conferencing and tele-conferencing facilities.

Referred to Campus Principal

No comment

R6b:    Develop and propagate a strategic plan for the development of facilities at Rockingham Campus.

Referred to Campus Principal

Such a plan should ensure adequate provision is made for research students and staff.

R6c:    Improve the signage of Murdoch Campus from major roads and at the site itself, to make its presence more prominent.

Referred to Campus Principal

No comment

7.         Review Process

R7:      Ensure all stakeholders are strongly encouraged to make submissions to University wide reviews. Documentation and data should also be current and provided in a timely manner.

Part of the arrangement of the Review Process. Referred to Chair  of Academic Council in his capacity as Director of Quality Assurance Audits and School Reviews.

No comment