Monash Council visits South African campus

14 September 2007

Seen at the Council dinner at Casalinga. From the left: Advisor in the Water Research Node at MSA, Professor Hamanth Kasan; Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor: Research at MSA Dr Dina Burger; Prof Kallie Pistorius of University of Pretoria; Pro Vice Chancellor and President of MSA Professor Tyrone Pretorius; Vice Chancellor and President Professor Richard Larkins.

The Monash University Council visited the Monash South Africa (MSA) campus for three days at the beginning of September in what was its second visit to this campus since its inception, the first being in October 2002.

During the visit, the Council were taken on a tour of Johannesburg, Soweto and the area surrounding the MSA campus. After a formal welcome by the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tyrone Pretorius, they were taken on a tour of the campus.

The council had meetings with the Pro Vice-Chancellor and senior management to discuss the vision and strategy for the future. They also met with a cross section of general staff and student representatives.

Prior to departure, a dinner was held at Casilinga restaurant, in Muldersdrift near the campus, where Council members had an opportunity to meet MSA Board members, past and present students, current and prospective donors, and other MSA stakeholders.

When welcoming the guests Professor Richard Larkins, Vice Chancellor and President, said he was delighted with the progress made by the MSA campus, which forms part of Monash University’s commitment to engaging the world and delivering new solutions in research and education for the 21st century.

With its campuses in South Africa and Malaysia, Monash has forged a true international learning community, delivering vital and relevant outcomes through research and education.

As research at Monash South Africa gathers momentum, and higher degrees by research are introduced on this campus, important research collaborations are being formed with other South African and African institutions.

Professor Larkins said that “Stronger global campuses and collaborative alliances will drive new solutions to the problems of this and other regions.”

“Monash’s research-intensive international focus enables us to address important theoretical and practical challenges and to develop graduates who will wish to do the same.”