Griffith University is taking online education to the next level, meeting the fast-changing needs of today’s student community.
Asophisticated online MBA programleads the way, the first of 12 new online programs to be rolled out during the next three years.
Griffith MBA students can now start their studies when and where they want and will be assigned their own adviser to support them from their initial enquiry and application through to graduation.
Academic Provost,Professor Adam Shoemaker, says the university’s increasingly innovative approach to how programs are delivered will meet new and emerging student expectations.
“Modern-day students expect their education in a mode that suits them,” he said.
“They also need an education that provides them with improved job prospects, ultimately leading to careers of distinction and influence.
“Griffith University aims to meet these demands on a domestic and international scale with high quality program initiatives, and the development of the Griffith MBA online program makes it an increasingly attractive degree in this context.”
The innovative, 100% online offering gives MBA students an unprecedented flexibility to manage their studies, and builds on the face-to-face intensive courses that have proved successful to date.
“Our fully flexible MBA which can be studied online, on campus or a combination of both has been very popular among students to date and will continue to be an option,” MBA Director,Associate Professor Nick Barter(below), said.
The accelerated learning mode now means students can complete a fast-tracked online MBA in two years, and with six intakes a year students can start almost immediately.
A collaborative and supportive digital learning environment incorporates the very latest in audio and visual interactive learning tools.
“We’re offering a 100% online program that’s ready when you are,” hesaid.
“Modern students want to quickly build knowledge, skills and their ability to progress full-time careers. Increasingly, they want to continue to work full-time while also studying full-time. This highly-flexible MBA degree means this ambition can be realised.
“We’ve tailored our MBA for those who know what they want and just want to go out and get it. It will get you where you need to be as efficiently as possible.”
Three core values – responsible leadership, sustainable business practice and global orientation – already set the Griffith MBA apart.
The Griffith MBA is ranked in Australia’s top 10 by the Australian Financial Review BOSS Magazine MBA survey.
Griffith Business School is among the top 2% of business schools in the world, according to the Academic Rankings of World Universities.
In addition Griffith University is rated in the top 4% of universities by Academic Rankings of World Universities and No. 38 in in the top 50 universities under 50 by QS Top Universities 2014/15.
View our newonline degrees.
Five Gold Coast students are revelling in an IT trip of a lifetime, including meetings and tours with Google, Apple, Facebook, Twitter and other technology powerhouses in San Francisco’s legendary Silicon Valley.
Lizzie King, Charles Nelson, Callum McColl, Anthony Guevara and Jack Lewis are students in Griffith University’s School of Information and Communication Technology and are among 20 young Queenslanders identified as having the potential to lead Australia’s next wave of global tech success.
The students were chosen after taking part inStartup Catalyst, a program devised by millionaire Australian tech entrepreneur, Mr Steve Baxter, and sponsored by his Brisbane-based non-profit organisation, River City Labs. The Griffith contingent is the largest within the travelling group.
As well as being granted access to the most iconic names in IT, the Gold Coasters will attend networking events with startup company founders, meet fellow Australians enjoying success in Silicon Valley, participate in educational events and will even bunker down for Startup Weekend, an intense 54-hour event featuring teams from more than 200 cities throughout the world.
Before departing for the US, the students agreed the 10-day experience would be invaluable, if also daunting.
“For anyone who wants to go and pursue start-ups, gaming, web development and so on, this really is the chance of a lifetime,” said Lizzie. “But this is Silicon Valley and the expectations are so high.”
“While there is a tendency to think their skills are so much better than ours, there are plenty of successful Australians operating in Silicon Valley and that’s inspiring,” said Charles.
“To be given access to groups like Google and Apple is a huge opportunity. After being immersed in the Silicon Valley experience, we can bring new knowledge and new skills home to Australia.”
The School of ICT’s Dr Jolon Faichney said the choice of five Griffith students for the Startup Catalyst program was a testament to their skills, practicality and project-oriented thinking, as well as to an entrepreneurial flair fostered within the School.
With their adoption of a third two-year Anti-Corruption Action Plan, G20 leaders have officially acknowledged the threats posed by corruption to economic growth and resilience.
But while Barack Obama listed anti-corruption measures among his top three outcomes of the Brisbane summit, questions are today being asked about the seriousness of governments’ efforts to implement such plans.
“Some G20 commitments essentially repeat promises made by most countries since 2003,” Professor A JBrown, Centre for Governance and Public Policy, Griffith University, says.
In an analysis published today, ProfessorBrownwelcomes the progress but also describes as ‘dubious overstatements’ the claims of twelve G20 countries about having already implemented whistleblowing laws.
He also challenges the Australian government on how it will implement its own commitments as outgoing G20 president.
“If nothing else, it is clear that the level and quality of accountability reporting of G20 countries on what they areactuallydoing, under Turkey’s presidency in 2015 and thereafter, needs a massive shake-up.”
Read ProfessorBrown’s full paper here.
A burning desire for her job to be no longer required is the wish of Cathy Easte, a disabilities service officer and student at Griffith University.
Cathy is passionate about one day ruling out the need for disability officers for students with special needs and instead empowering everybody to champion the needs of future generations of people with disabilities.
This is the topic of Cathy’s presentation ‘Disability Dialogues’ which she has been selected to present at the upcoming Pathways Conference in Perth.
The ATEND Pathways Conference, held 3-5 December 2014, brings together a range of professional and academic staff to identify and remove barriers for people with disabilities participating in higher education and training.
With a hearing disability herself, Cathy is currently studying part time for a Graduate Certificate in Disability Inclusion at Griffith’s Logan campus.
“As a society, we need to become far more involved in shaping the next generation of people with disabilities,” says Cathy. “Not just the doctors, nurses, teachers or other professionals with disabilities, but also those who will further the rights of the future generations. They may sit on future boards of National Disability Insurance Scheme boards for example.
“Our daily practices are embedded in an individual and highly medical model governing our practice, the university policies and rules for meeting our students’ needs. Students are currently asked to seek out a separate, segregated service; they must disclose and ‘prove’ their disability according to medical terminology, then the disability officer will negotiate adjustments to meet the student’s needs.
Policies are not empowering
“Strong medical models underpin this process and reinforce the ‘difference’ of the needs of students with disabilities. Such processes and policies are not empowering.”
Cathy says she is advocating for academics within the higher education sector to take more of a lead in meeting the needs of students with disabilities. “We need to explore a more complex understanding of disability, to challenge assumptions, beliefs and actions of everyone within the university environment — so inclusion is seen as a whole of university approach. Disability must be viewed differently, with new approaches that will enable us to seize the educational opportunity we have with the rich diversity of people that reside currently within our campuses.
“Far greater numbers of students with disabilities are now entering higher education programs than ever before. We should be preparing them to enter the world not just suitably qualified in their professions but able to positively negotiate and challenge for change in the community.
“These are the individuals who may sit on boards of decision-making power, who will advocate change in government policy to reduce the social oppression that works against their greater inclusion in society.”
Griffith University government experts are helping Mongolian officials plan for their country’s future, at a time of rapid economic and social development.
After participating in an intensive two-week program in Brisbane, 20 senior officials from agencies including the offices of the President, Prime Minister, Cabinet Secretariat and Ministry of Finance have returned to Mongolia with new ideas on monitoring and evaluation planning.
The Monitoring and Evaluation Planning program was funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (DFAT)Australia Awards Fellowships and implemented by Griffith’s International Business Development Unit through the School of Government and International Relations.
The program has equipped the officials with the capacity and skills to monitor the activities of government agencies and to ensure that government policies, processes and regulations are providing an appropriate framework for Mongolia’s accelerating needs at central and provincial levels.
A more comprehensive understanding of monitoring and evaluation methods will assist Ms Munkhzul Zandankhuu, Principal Advising Officer for the Cabinet Secretariat of the Government of Mongolia, in sharing her newfound expertise.
“I am now more confident to measure performances in a more complex world,” Ms Zandankhuu said. “I will evaluate the current status of monitoring regulations and investigate what could be bettered in the short term.”
The program included site visits to the Department of Energy and Water Supply, Logan City Council, Department of Human Services and Office of the Auditor General of Queensland, as well as guest presentations by Queensland government officials and Griffith University academics.
Australia Awards Fellows and Queensland public servants at the networking lunch
One of the highlights was a networking lunch at which mid-level to senior Queensland public servants and the Mongolian officials shared insights gathered from three days of the Graduate Certificate in Policy Analysis program, delivered annually by Griffith.
An expert in public policy processes and the program’s lead academic, Griffith’s Dr Cosmo Howard said the monitoring and evaluation program came at an important time in Mongolia’s development.
“Like other post-Soviet republics, the country is reforming its political and public management systems to improve flexibility, performance and democratic accountability,” he said.
“Mongolia currently faces special pressures as a result of heavy fiscal dependence on mining royalties, extraordinarily rapid economic growth and shifting relations with assertive neighbours.”
Dr Howard will travel to Mongolia in 2015 to follow up on the implementation of performance measurement and management practices taught during the program.
The pros and cons of medical marijuana is a discussion focus at the fifth annual Queensland Epilepsy Symposium, Epilepsy — On the Horizon. Jointly hosted by Epilepsy Queensland Inc, Griffith University and St Vincent’s Private Hospital Brisbane, the event will be held at Gardens Point Campus of QUT University in George Street, Brisbane on Thursday, November 20, 2014.
Professor Roy Beran,a neurologist fromGriffith’s School of Medicinewill be one of the panellists discussing medical marijuana. He says he is dubious about the benefitsof the drug with regard to epilepsy.
“The point is that marijuana has been around for over 6000 years and if it was as good as people say it is, then there would be no need for trials because it would have proven its efficacy already,” he says. While pharmaceutical cannabis is available in Australia for treating pain and wasting associated with HIV and chemotherapy, and in the treatment of spasticity in multiple sclerosis, its efficacy in the treatment of severe refractory epilepsy or catastrophic epilepsy syndromes is unknown.
Trials underway
Trials are underway in the USA investigating the efficacy and safety of ‘medical marijuana’ in Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut syndromes, with results to date giving cautious optimism. Professor Terence O’Brien, the only Australian co-chair on the International League Against Epilepsy’s Taskforce on Pre-clinical Therapy Development,will discuss new and future treatments for people with epilepsy.
Aconcerted international research effort is underway to close a major ‘gap’ that has long existed in the treatment of epilepsy. “In the past 20 years, there has been an ‘explosion’ in new drugs to treat epilepsy, but 30 percent of people with epilepsy do not become seizure-free through medication or surgery,” says Professor O’Brien.
“New drugs and treatments have not been able to close this gap in the past 50 years — so we must address the reasons behind drug-resistant epilepsy and develop effective treatments. This group of people face increased injury and death rates; they cannot drive or work, and live with poor quality of life and the stigma associated with seizures.”
The taskforce is strongly focused on enticing government and industry to invest in research to develop drugs that can close this epilepsy treatment gap. Professor O’Brien will present promising pre-clinical data from animal trials of drugs and new types of therapies including genetic therapy, surgery and neurostimulation.
Meanwhile, Dr Chris DeGiorgio, Professor-in-Residence of Neurology at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Medicin, will discuss the positive results of a randomized controlled trial to examine the safety and efficacy of Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation. TNS is a new investigational neuromodulation therapy for people with drug-resistant epilepsy.
Its potential as a treatment for epilepsy is of interest because it is non-invasive, can easily be applied by patients, is worn for 8 to 14 hours, and is less expensive than implantable neurostimulation devices. The trial, published by the American Academy of Neurology last year, was in preparation for a phase 111 clinical trial.
The trigeminal nerve is a cranial nerve just 1cm under the surface of the skin that conveys information from the face and connects directly to the brainstem. TNS allows for non-invasive electrical stimulation via a patch placed on the person’s forehead, modulating activity of the brain regions implicated in epilepsy, depression, ADHD and other disorders.
Internationally respected and highly cited scholar Professor Qing-Long Han is to join Griffith University’s School of Engineering.
Pro Vice Chancellor (Griffith Sciences) Professor Debra Henly said Professor Han and his research team of Dr Fuwen Yang and Dr Xian-Ming Zhang will leave Central Queensland University (CQU) to join Griffith in December. They will be based primarily at the Gold Coast campus.
“Professor Han is a Thomson-Reuters highly cited scholar and will be an invaluable addition to the School of Engineering and the University in general, particularly with regard to research,” Professor Henly said.
“His appointment reflects our ongoing commitment to bringing the finest minds and talents to Griffith Sciences, thus affirming and enhancing the University’s reputation.”
CQU awarded Professor Han the title of Laureate Professor for his international research achievements and leadership, the establishment of the Centre for Intelligent and Networked Systems, an impressive portfolio of publications in leading international journals and research grant successes. While at CQU he has supervised 16 PhD students and seven Masters by Research students.
Professor Han has also been proactive within the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the world’s largest association of technical professionals with more than 400,000 members. His roles have included IEEE Industrial Electronics Society (IES) AdCom Member, Chair of the IEEE IES Technical Committee on Network-based Control Systems and Applications and Member of the IEEE IES Technical Committee on SmartGrids.
He has served the International Federation of Automatic Control (IFAC) as a Member of its Technical Committees on Networked Systems, Linear Control Systems and Power and Energy Systems.
Professor Han’s managerial experience includes more than eight years as CQU’s Associate Dean (Research and Innovation) of the Higher Education Division/Faculty and more than six years as Founding Director of the Centre for Intelligent and Networked Systems.
In March 2010, China’s Ministry of Education appointed Professor Han “Chang Jiang (Yangtze River) Scholar Chair Professor” in recognition of his outstanding contributions to Control Theory and Control Engineering.
As well as publishing more than 280 fully refereed papers in prestigious journals and leading conferences, Professor Han’s work has been cited 8448 times with an h-index of 43 and an i10-index of 100 (source: Google Scholar), 6530 times with an h-index of 40 (SCOPUS) and 5181 times with an h-index of 36 (ISI Web of Science).
Meanwhile, Dr Fuwen Yang has research interests in networked control systems, distributed filtering and sensing, reliable fault detection and solar power. He has published 48 refereed journals articles and has an h-index of 22.
Dr Xian-Ming Zhang’s research interests concern control theory and control engineering. He has 22 publications in high quality journals and conference proceedings.
Griffith University Chancellor, The Honourable Leneen Forde AC has argued that a new kind of leadership is needed to assist women achieve gender equality.
“What the world really needs now is genuine leadership that transcends the old ways and replaces them with a different model of leadership based on intelligence, compassion and understanding,’’ Ms Forde said in her welcome address at the International Dialogue for Women in Leadership on November 17.
“Women in leadership positions can use the power that comes with leadership to exemplify and convey these principles.
“There are many ways to open doors and I hope our women leaders will do their best to leave doors open for others to follow.”
She said the G20 provided a great opportunity to observe and think about those things that have implications for the way the world is run, not just in the interests of individuals or single nations but in the interest of all human beings.
“We have seen some positive attempts to rise above national self-interest and deal with the big issues that the whole world must unite to consider. Among these issues are inter-generational equity and gender equality.
“Bringing about change has not always been easy but looking back over the years we have come a very long way. She said much of this change had been brought about by women in leadership roles.
“When I graduated from law school and undertook article of clerkship women were paid $5 a week, but the young men who started at the same time as me were paid $20 a week, four times as much and it wasn’t because they were better lawyers.
“Unfortunately, conditions and rules have not changed everywhere in the world and they haven’t changed yet for every young woman.”
Joanne Weidenmiller presented the keynote speech on women in technology.
Hosted by Griffith University and the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney, the International Dialogue on Women in Leadership brought world leaders from government, business and academia to encourage and promote women’s leadership in the global economy.
The Honourable Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO spoke at the event’s opening evening following the G20 Leaders Summit on Sunday, November 16.
Other speakers included The Honourable Michaelia Cash, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women, Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Dr Jose Angel Guerria, Secretary General Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development andJoanne Weidenmiller, CEO 1-Page, United States, the first Silicon Valley start-up to list on the ASX.
Griffith University’sEmeritus Professor Colin MackerrasAO DUniv has been singled out for extraordinary acknowledgement by the visiting President of the People’s Republic of China in an address to the Australian parliament.
His Excellency Mr Xi Jinping said that during his extensive travels throughout Australia he had experienced the goodwill of all Australians towards the Chinese people, but it was Professor Mackerras for whom he reserved his strongest gratitude.
“With his unremitting efforts and devotion, Professor Mackerras has built a bridge of mutual understanding and amity between our peoples,” President Xi said.
“Last September, he was conferred the Friendship Award by the Chinese government. Professor Mackerras, I wish to express deep appreciation to both you and many other Australians for what you have done to enhance the friendship between our two countries.”
50 years of scholarship
High praise indeed, but Professor Mackerras has devoted more than 50 years of scholarship to developing and strengthening this bond; bringing to Australia and the rest of the world an accurate image of modern China.
The relationship began in 1964 when Professor Mackerras first went to China and took up a teaching position at the Beijing Foreign Languages Institute, now called the Beijing Foreign Studies University. During the next five decades he re-visited China more than 60 times.
In February 1965 Professor Mackerras’s eldest child, Stephen, was born there giving him the distinction of being the first Australian citizen born in the People’s Republic.
By 1974 he had become the Foundation Professor in Modern Asian Studies as the ground-breaking Asian Studies program began at Griffith University. Since then he has helped Chinese studies become a thriving and recognised area of research in Australia and inspired generations of students from both countries to take on the challenge of exchange programs.
Education is the most important aspect of bilateral relations
In 2011, the now Emeritus Professor Mackerras became inaugural director of the Tourism Confucius Instituteat Griffith’s Gold Coast campus. Professor Mackerras believes that of all aspects of bilateral relations, education is the most important.
“Students from each country study in the other and get to understand and appreciate it,” Professor Mackerras said. “Educational relations involve cooperative research, as well as trying to understand the world from an unfamiliar point of view. If we study and learn together, we can understand each other better.”
His work has been recognised in Australia too with the Gold Citation for the Media Peace Prize in 1981, the Foundation Cross of Merit Award in 1993, the Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Australia-China Cultural Relations in 1999, and the Centenary Medal Australia in 2003. In 2006 Griffith awarded him a Doctor of the University and in 2007 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia.
A powerful legacy
For a man who has done more for diplomatic relations with China than any Western leader could have hoped to achieve, the job is not yet done. There is no denying however that his legacy is already great, and the proof of that may lie in these words by President Xi.
“As an old Chinese saying goes, the ocean is vast because it admits numerous rivers. It is the steady streams of mutual understanding and friendship between our two peoples that have created the vast ocean of goodwill between China and Australia. I am greatly heartened by the immense support for China-Australia relations in both countries.”
An artistic and cultural collaboration between Australia and China spanning 15 years will be celebrated by a joint exhibition in South Bank this December.
The Queensland College of Art Griffith University (QCA) and Shandong University of Arts (SUA) will present a collection of 80 artworks, including paintings, prints, water colours and other various media, created by staff and postgraduate students from both institutions.
The exhibition follows the renewal of an agreement signed last weekend at a ceremony attended by a host of esteemed guests.
Professor Ian O’Connor, Vice Chancellor and President of Griffith University, welcomed the international cohortand highlighted the deep understanding and philosophical thinking evident in the works.
“While artistic styles and media choices vary greatly in this show, there is a surprising resonance evident in the scenes of daily life, respect for people and also for the natural world,” he said.
Professor O’Connor and Mr LI Zongwei sign the new agreement at a ceremony on Saturday 15 November
Timing the signing of the official renewal agreement to coincide with the G20 Leader’s Summit was also significant according to Professor O’Connor.
“Each artist here explores a new way of thinking and I believe it is particularly meaningful that this extraordinary work be formalised and celebrated today not half a kilometre from where world leaders are meeting to discuss world problems,” he said.
“We hope they will show creativity similar to that which we see today in developing solutions,” Professor O’Connor said.
Mr LI Zongwei, Chairman of Administration Committee at SUA, joined Professor O’Connor in the official proceedings, speaking of the great honour seen and felt in such a cultural and artistic exchange.
“Both universities have seen tremendous achievements from this partnership and we have forged deep friendships and complementary advantage,” he said.
The exhibition was presented in the Griffith University Art Gallery over the weekend as a special preview event leading up to the show’spublic launch on 9 December.
“It demonstrates our cooperative accomplishments in bridging the teacher / student experience to advocate more than just art and education but peaceful ideologies for greater contribution to our societies.”
The renewal of the partnership agreement will now initiate further exchange opportunities for students in the Bachelor of Design Futures (Honours), Bachelor of Digital Media and the Masters and Doctorate programs.
A long term artistic partnership
According to QCA Director Paul Cleveland, the latest exhibition of 80 works, which will open to the public from Tuesday 9 December, is a true celebration of a long term partnership to encourage cross-cultural artistic interaction.
“Since the first agreement was signed in 2000, we have enjoyed annual reciprocal visits, joint performances and exhibitions, and ongoing exchanges for students and staff,” he explained.
“These experiences have deepened cultural understanding through common interests and built an enduring link between the two institutions.
“With visiting experts and scholars sharing their talents and knowledge with students each year through a mutual teaching relationship, it has offered many emerging artists an insight into the importance of a shared cultural perspective.
“The hundreds of students who have travelled abroad over the past 15 years as part of this initiative have also had the opportunity to expand their artistic horizons internationally with the support of like-minded peers,” he said.
The exhibition will be on displayin the Project and Webb Galleries of the QCA South Bank campus(226 Grey Street) from 9 — 20 December open Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10am to 4pm. It will close over the Christmas/New Year period and will then reopen 6 January running through to 28 February 2015.
