Australia
Malaysia
South Africa
Italy
India
Australia’s biggest university Over 60,000 students Top 1 per cent of world universities (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2011) Top 200 – Shanghai Jiao Tong Academic Rankings of World Universities (2011) Ranked 61 by QS World University Rankings (2010)
According to the 2011 QS World University Rankings, Monash is among:
the Top 30 universities in the world for History Philosophy Geography and Area Studies
the Top 40 universities in the world for
Linguistics Medicine Psychology English Modern Languages
The High Impact Universities world rankings place Monash in the Top 150 in the world and 5th in Australia for quality and consistency of research output Among the top 50 universities for Chemistry (the Shanghai Jiao Tong Academic Ranking of World Universities 2011) All achieved in 50 years
Making a big impact...
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...requires big thinking.
Monash University – young, dynamic and ambitious Monash University was established in Melbourne, Australia in 1958. We are named after Sir John Monash, a famous Australian who contributed to almost every level of Australian life. Sir John had a simple philosophy. “...equip yourself for life, not merely for your own benefit, but for the benefit of the whole community.” This philosophy guides everything we do:
our approach to education our research ambitions our people our communities, and our global initiatives.
In little more than 50 years Monash University has earned an enviable national and international reputation for research and teaching excellence. Taking inspiration from Sir John Monash, we have created a world-class education and research community of progress, optimism and ambition. In the past 10 years we have built on this ambition by extending our reach across the globe.
Monash University is the youngest member of the Australia’s Group of Eight. The Group of Eight is an alliance of elite Australian universities recognised for their excellence in teaching and research. The universities in this alliance produce more than 70% of all basic research conducted at Australia’s 39 public universities. It’s a testament to our research focus and ambitions that we are the youngest member of this prestigious group:
Australian National University Monash University The University of Adelaide The University of Melbourne The University of New South Wales The University of Queensland The University of Sydney The University of Western Australia
The M8 Alliance of Academic Health Centers, and Medical Universities is an international collaboration of academic institutions of educational and research excellence. The M8 Alliance acts as a permanent platform for framing future considerations of global medical developments and health challenges.
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Big ambitions At Monash, we want to make as big a difference as we can. In order to translate that ambition into proof, we concentrate on five specific areas. These then form the basis upon which we create our reputation.
Research with impact We use our ideas to help change communities for the better. We invest heavily in research. This grows our knowledge and allows us to develop solutions to contemporary challenges. What we learn in research goes back into our teaching, so our students gain the skills they’ll need to face tomorrow’s challenges.
Our global network We are in a unique position to consider education and research from a global perspective. We are the only Australian university active on four continents. Beyond our bricks and mortar presence we have key partner relationships with 16 universities in North America, Europe, the UK, Africa and Asia. We are a foundation member of the M8 alliance that brings together prestigious medical schools and teaching hospitals around the world.
“It is symptomatic of our ambition and drive that, for a relatively young institution, Monash University ranks above world standards in almost all disciplines.” Vice Chancellor, Ed Byrne
A unique education model
Making an impact where it matters
We believe, before you can change your world, you need to understand your world. This is why our students are given the opportunity to study outside traditional academic settings, to volunteer, to travel the world and to engage in research sooner. Our model encourages students to build on their strengths, and discover new skills, by challenging and supporting them from their first day here.
We seek to improve the human condition through our research and education. As a result, it’s important we understand how Monash can make a positive impact on the community. We have a range of “outreach” programs to ensure that Monash remains connected to the communities that it seeks to serve.
Engaged with industry We build and nurture long-term relationships with businesses, government and NGOs – forging collaborative teams to tackle complex challenges. We use innovative methods to give our partners a competitive edge in an increasingly crowded market.
Big diseases breakthrough Monash professor, Scott O’Neill (Dean, Faculty of Science) is leading the Eliminate Dengue Fever Project. This initiative, funded through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is developing new biological approaches for controlling dengue fever. By protecting mosquitoes from dengue fever, scientists have potentially found a way of preventing the 50 million human cases of the disease reported every year. In a world-first trial, an international collaboration of researchers have successfully transferred promising laboratory results to wild mosquito populations.
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Big discoveries
Making a big impact. We pursue a research agenda based on excellence, relevance and impact. Since our foundation, we have had an unrelenting commitment to excellence – from support for emerging researchers to the creation of cross-disciplinary teams. As a result, our researchers have made discoveries with a significant and lasting impact in Australia and around the world. In 1964, work by Monash researchers led to the world’s first laws requiring that seatbelts be installed in all new cars. This started in Victoria and South Australia and soon spread overseas. We pioneered IVF research, achieving the world’s first IVF pregnancy in the early 1970s. Our stem cell scientists were the first in the world to demonstrate that human embryonic stem cells could generate specific types of body cells in the laboratory.
Our leading capabilities Although Monash conducts research in over 150 fields of study, we focus on a number of specialisations. Our leading capabilities fall into four categories, aligned closely with the Australian Government’s National Research Priorities and its National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy. Health and wellbeing
Accident, injury and trauma Cancer Infection and immunity Neuroscience New therapeutics Public health Stem cells and regenerative medicine Women’s, children’s and reproductive health
One of our most outstanding commercialised inventions is the anti-influenza drug Zanamivir (sold as Relenza). This first in-class antiviral drug developed for the treatment and prevention of influenza paved the way for today’s generation of flu vaccines.
Future technologies
With an eye on the future, we make significant strategic investments in world-class research infrastructure.
Sustainable environments
We are increasing our capacity to connect with industry, government and the world’s very best research organisations. In partnership with the Australian government we are developing a new $78 million purpose-built research facility to dramatically boost green chemistry research. Our Centre for Electron Microscopy is home to one of the most powerful electron microscopes in the world, the Titan 80-300. We are a founding member of the Australian Synchrotron. Situated next door to our Clayton campus, our labs have direct access to beamlines – giving our researchers a unique advantage. This access lets us to do unique research in:
Environmental sciences Geology Condensed matter physics Nanotechnology Chemistry and Biological sciences.
Advanced manufacturing Aerospace Energy-related materials Nanomaterials
Urban water Green chemistry Climate change and weather Energy
Resilient cultures and communities
Cultural heritage Development economics Economic modelling Education Mental health law
For a complete A to Z list see www.monash.edu/ research/capabilities/centres/institutes.html
Excellence in Research According to the Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) report (2010), Monash University is performing research “well above world standard” in the fields of: Engineering Biological sciences Medical and Health Sciences.
The company we keep Monash works as either the leading institute or a collaborative partner in a number of research initiatives. We participate in seven Australian Research Centres of Excellence, and act as the lead institution for three of these centres:
Design in Light Metals Green Chemistry Structural and Functional Microbial Genomics
We are also a partner in 15 Cooperative Research Centres which focus specifically on translating “pure” research findings for industry application.
Big change starts here Research E: research.enquiries@monash.edu T: +61 3 9905 3012
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Big on collaboration
We research to make a difference. Sometimes making a difference involves “pure” research. Other times, it involves working with a business partner to find an innovative solution to a genuine commercial need. Our systems are geared around making research work for business. Our Industry Engagement and Commercialisation Group is highly regarded for its ability to build and nurture long-term relationships with industry and other organisations. For example, we have been working with Australia’s peak road accident body, the Traffic Accident Commission (TAC) since 1987 – just a year after it was founded. We are recognised as having one of the most mature approaches to strategic alliances our partners have encountered – particularly with respect to joint governance and professional project management.
Preventing injuries, saving lives and building futures Professor Rod McClure has helped Monash become a recognised world-leader in the prevention of accident and injury. He has been instrumental in making Australian roads safer. He is the current leader of the Monash Injury Research Institute (MIRI) – a group set up to combine the University’s expertise in accident and trauma research. The work of Professor McClure’s team is recognised around the world. Our researchers now collaborate with top road safety institutes in the Netherlands, France, Sweden, the UK, US and Canada, and MIRI has established centres in Europe, Malaysia and South Africa.
More than 15 new drug candidates have progressed into clinical development through collaborative programmes with our Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation. Once we understand the technical, social and business goals, we handpick the people best placed to work on the project, no matter where they come from. We bring together a solution-focused multidisciplinary team designed to address the specific challenges and needs of our partners. We also have access to specialist researchers in other countries thanks to our global network. We know how to encourage highly-focused individuals to work collaboratively for the common goal of the project. We work with the long-term focus, but are able to progress rapidly from discovery to utility. We expect to make exciting discoveries. So we have robust systems in place to ensure new Intellectual Property is well protected – and the integrity and commercial potential of the project cannot be compromised.
Big change starts here Industry Engagement E: industryengagement@adm.monash.edu.au T: +61 3 9905 9910 F: +61 3 9905 9911
Taking our innovation to the world 2010 was a big year for our spin-off company Acrux (ASX-ACR). The biotech company signed one of the largest licensing deals in the history of Australian biotechnology after securing a global deal with United States-based Eli Lilly for the commercialisation of transdermal testosterone solution AXIRON©. Following the deal, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new drug application for AXIRON©, making it the first testosterone replacement product authorised for administration via the armpit. Acrux Limited was formed in 1998 after Monash researchers Emeritus Professor Barry Reed, Dr Tim Morgan and Professor Barrie Finnin discovered the innovative spray-on drug delivery technology. Applied to the armpit like a deodorant, AXIRON© uses a specially designed applicator that ensures patients avoid direct hand contact with the drug and eliminates mess. The fast-drying properties, discreet application site and ‘no touch’ features are expected to make it an attractive option for men with testosterone deficiency. The company has already had two of its new medicines, based on the drug delivery technology, approved by the FDA.
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A growing global network
Preparing globally mobile graduates Today’s graduates will compete with the rest of the world for jobs. Monash courses ensure they are exposed to a global perspective from day one.
A global perspective underpins everything we do – in the classroom, in the laboratory and in our work with industry partners. Our international network, lets us draw on perspectives, relationships and resources that most other universities cannot. Operating campuses in Malaysia and South Africa, and a research and teaching centre in Italy, gives us unique insights into the challenges and opportunites of operating across national boundaries. We also have a range of collaborations, joint ventures and partnerships that span the globe. We operate the IITB-Monash Research Academy, a multidisciplinary research academy in collaboration Indian Institute of Technology Bombay and we are negotiating a joint venture for research and graduate studies in China. These global connections provide international perspectives and opportunities for our students, our staff and our researchers.
Big change starts here Global Engagement E: odvcge@monash.edu T: +61 3 9905 5264 F: +61 3 9905 5340
Our degrees are internationally recognised, which gives our graduates an extra edge – helping them thrive in the international labour market. Our global network gives Monash students more opportunities to experience different cultures and ways of seeing the world. We have more than 115 exchange partner universities in 25 countries and many foreign governments and scholarship providers choose Monash University as the destination for their best and brightest. When they graduate, our students become part of an international network of more than 275,000 alumni.
Italy Prato
India
Mumbai
Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur
South Africa Johannesburg
Australia Victoria Melbourne campuses: Berwick, Caulfield, Clayton, Parkville, Peninsula Gippsland
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Making a bigger difference Making a difference where it matters We help the people who help their communities. We have launched a new school of indigenous health to help bridge the gap between indigenous health and the non-indigenous population. The Harvest Alliance School for Indigenous Health will begin taking students in 2012.
Making a bigger difference from day one We know our students are smart and passionate when they arrive. Our education model – the Monash Passport – recognises this and gives them opportunities to create a distinctly personal edge to their degree. It’s all about choice – from the type of skills they want to develop to the sorts of experiences that will help them develop those skills. We leverage our global network and provide experiences that give our graduates a broader, richer perspective. Which makes them perfect candidates for any business looking to thrive in tomorrow’s increasingly globalised market.
The Monash Passport Learning through volunteering
Research at our Monash South Africa campus has been developed in alignment with the agendas of South Africa and the African continent as a whole.
Volunteering – through a wide range of not-for-profit partners – helps students gain valuable, career-enhancing skills, build confidence and develop networks.
The Brain Research Institute at Monash Sunway, Malaysia has established a regional training school to combat neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s, which is on the rise across South-East Asia.
Creating international networks
Learning from experience Pharmacy student Jane O’Connor traveled to the Solomon Islands to experience the challenges of practising pharmacy in a developing country. During her three-month trip – made possible by a traveling scholarship – Jane worked in the National Referral Hospital and made recommendations for improving the supply of medications to remote clinics. “It was amazing to compare what I knew of an Australian hospital and what they manage to make do with in the Solomons,” Jane says. “There is a ward round done each day, but the hospital is so overloaded that this brief encounter may be the patients only interaction with professional health care for the day. It was especially confronting for me as malaria, tuberculosis and malnutrition were all present in the most severe degrees.”
Big change starts here Learning & Teaching E: opvclt@monash.edu T: +61 3 9903 1198
Students are encouraged to use our international connections to build the networks they’ll need to thrive in tomorrow’s workplace. Work experience that works Our work experience and industry placement programs give students the opportunity to translate theory to practice. And give employers a chance to road test world-ready workers – before they graduate. Learning to lead Monash offers some engaging and interactive programs that prepare students for success beyond the classroom. More skills and more knowledge We offer a number of multi-disciplinary, cross-university opportunities which introduce students to major research challenges and industry experts from various disciplines. A smarter option The Monash passport gives students more ways to enhance their degree – from research experience to extra study options. It’s why Monash has more students doing double degrees than any other Australian university. We even give ambitious high school students a head start by allowing them to study a first-year Monash subject as part of their final year at secondary school.
Some of our bigger achievements 1958
1996
2007
Foundation. Monash is the first university to be established in the State of Victoria for 106 years.
After designing and synthesising the world’s first anti-viral drug – the anti influenza drug Relenza – Professor Mark von Itzstein jointly awarded the Australia Prize for Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Eight Monash scientists share in the prestige of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, awarded jointly to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and former US Vice-President Al Gore.
1998 Monash University Sunway campus established in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
On 31 July 2007, Monash University welcomed a new era in scientific research with the official opening of the Australian Synchrotron.
1964
1999
2009
Work by Monash researchers results in mandatory seatbelt use in Australia.
Relenza becomes available in Australia – completing the successful commercialization of a Monash research partnership with GlaxoSmithKline. Relenza has now been approved for the treatment of influenza worldwide. And has changed the way drugs are developed.
The Australian Centre of Pharmaceutical Innovation jointly established by the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MIPS) and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Australia.
1961 Monash University Collection is established. Today it is nationally recognised for its currency, depth and diversity.
1973 Monash researchers achieve the world’s first IVF pregnancy. 1977 Monash scientists develop the smoothed particle hydrodynamics algorithm a powerful method for solving complex fluid dynamical problems, and now used in special effects in movies. 1980 Professors Alan Trounson and Carl Wood of the Monash Institute of Reproduction and Development (MIRD) achieve Australia’s first successful IVF birth. This was the world’s 4th IVF baby. 12 out of first 15 IVF babies in the world are Monash babies.
2000 Monash scientists become first in the world to derive nerve stem cells from human embryonic stem cells in the laboratory.
2010 Climate Works Australia – our partnership with The Myer Foundation – develops Australia’s first Low Carbon Growth Plan. Monash team makes breakthroughs in breast cancer research.
2001
2011
Monash South Africa established
A team of Monash scientists led by Professor Scott O’Neill conduct a world first trial that has the potential to prevent the 50 million human cases of Dengue fever reported every year, by protecting mosquitos from the disease.
Monash University Prato Centre opened. 2004 Monash becomes part of a team developing a cheap, single-dose cure for malaria (currently in human trials).
Monash University Victoria 3800 Australia Telephone: +61 3 9902 6000 facebook.com/Monash University twitter.com/Monash.uni
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