Monash South Africa builds research capacity
28 June 2006
In support of Monash University’s vision to be a leading international
research-intensive university, Monash South Africa has appointed a Director
Research, Dr Dina Burger effective from 1 May 2006.
Dr Burger, formerly the Director Research at the University of South
Africa (UNISA), is excited about the challenges of her new position and
says that one of the reasons academics seek employment at Monash South
Africa is the result of the international research standing that the university
enjoys.
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| Dr Dina Burger |
Monash has an outstanding reputation as a global leader in education and
research. It is recognised as one of the top Australian research institutions
and was recently rated number 33 in the world in The Times Higher Education
Supplement: World University Rankings (Nov, 2004 and 2005). It is Australia’s
largest university with over 50 000 students at eight campuses - including
six in Australia, one in Malaysia and one in South Africa.
The Research Directorate at Monash South Africa will ensure a rigorous
research strategy aligned with the research vision of the broader Monash
system, the research agenda of South Africa and will fall within the context
of the African continent.
According to Dr Burger the task of the Research Directorate is to facilitate
a vibrant and productive research culture at the university. In partnership
with the relevant internal stakeholders, it will ensure that every academic
becomes research active and productive.
“Part of our vision is to establish several research centres of
excellence during 2006/7 in the areas of sustainability, injury prevention
and accident management as well as global movements,” says Dr Burger.
Strategic research management, quality and accountability relies heavily
on in-time and accurate research information. To facilitate this, a comprehensive
research management information system will be implemented to inform strategic
research decisions across the institution.
“The circumference of the challenge is deep and wide, yet the commitment
to steer the institution towards a reputable research intensive public
purpose teaching institution is a non-negotiable,” says Dr Burger.
“We are ready and able to deliver on the numerous research challenges
and look forward to fostering strategic research partnerships within the
broader Monash system, with other higher education institutions, as well
as with industry, the private sector and non-governmental organizations
in order to contribute to the human resource development challenges that
we have identified as a nation.
Dr Burger says that she is extremely proud to be associated with such
a prestigious research-intensive and truly international university.
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