The Research-Teaching Nexus Professor Richard Larkins Chair, Universities Australia VC and President Monash University

The Research-Teaching Nexus What does it mean? Teaching informed by research Teaching performed by researchers Teaching to stimulate research by students Teaching research skills Research into teaching Research inspired by teaching Any or all of the above? Who could question any of the above, but how to achieve them?

The Research-Teaching Nexus Why it is even more important now than it was when Humboldt first articulated the concept Information is ubiquitous Must turn information into knowledge, and knowledge into the skills and attitudes required for the rapidly changing environment of the 21 st century –Research-related skills will be required in the new environment - discovery and analysis, critical reasoning, problem solving, communication and presentation Campus-based universities must add something special if they are to compete against low-cost, web-enabled mass education universities

Monash Passport A Distinctive Approach to Learning and Teaching

Monash Passport Choose – wide range of options, combined degrees Act – volunteer opportunities, work-integrated learning Enhance – lateral extension, leadership programs Investigate – research integrated into undergraduate programs Explore – opportunities for university-supported international experience at Monash campuses and centre or Monash’s many international partners

Research integrated into under- graduate programs Integrated honours programs Summer programs Research components of standard programs – U(ndergraduate)R(esearch)O(pportunities)P(ro- gram) Dean’s Scholars’ program

Passport: Undergraduate Research and Honours Vice-Chancellor's Undergraduate Research Scholarships Honours –employers recognise additional skills, knowledge and achievement. –provides high-achieving and motivated students an opportunity for more specialised, advanced work. –opens the door to postgraduate study options –in 2009, 50 $5000 scholarships

Summary Bringing research and education together in universities has been a holy grail Universities which succeed in imparting research skills in their graduates will have a big advantage in the 21 st century Creative models are required to achieve this One attempt to do so has been described