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From the Vice-Chancellor
I recently had the pleasure of attending our 102 semester
graduation ceremonies, joining the family and friends of our graduating class in
celebrating their achievements.
Valedictorians Lincoln Ford (undergraduate) and David Copray (postgraduate) delivered
stirring speeches to their fellow graduates; while the undergraduate and postgraduate
Occasional Addresses, delivered by The Honourable Richard Alston and Chairman of
the Harilela Group, Dr Hari Harilela respectively, relayed some insightful advice
to graduates as they embark on the next chapter of their lives.
I would also like to recognise Dr Harilela and his wife Padma, who were awarded
Honorary Doctor of the University degrees in recognition of their educational philanthropy.
On a more personal note, last week I made the announcement that I have decided to
retire as Vice Chancellor and President of Bond University when my current contract
expires on 31 December 2011.
We have made significant strides forward as an organisation since the time of my
appointment in January 2004. With the help of Bond's outstanding staff and management
team, Bond has entrenched its place in Australia as a provider of the highest quality
tertiary education, as recognised in the excellent results consistently achieved
in the Good Universities Guide and the AUQA audits. New programs have been introduced
in a number of areas including Medicine, Physiotherapy and Sustainable Development.
Whilst from a relatively low base, research funding has dramatically increased.
The financial security of the institution has been secured by the growth in student
numbers; the appropriate control of costs; and the growth of the Endowment. In turn,
this has allowed the campus infrastructure to be restored and significantly enhanced,
as befitting the quality of institution to which we aspire. And academic staff turnover
is significantly less than the average in the sector. I am proud of these achievements
and I am grateful for the contribution all Bond staff have made to these outcomes.
While there will be time late next year for farewells, I wish to thank all members
of the Senior Management Group and other academic and support staff, acknowledge
the dedication and commitment of Council, and to pay tribute to the student body
and alumni group.
The University Council has engaged the international executive search firm of Heidrick
& Struggles to assist with the recruitment of a new Vice Chancellor and President.
In the meantime, I remain committed to ensuring that Bond goes to even greater heights
and I look forward to sharing our achievements with you.
Professor Robert Stable
Vice-Chancellor and President
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Whilst visiting
the Gold Coast last week as part of the V8 Supercars Armor All Gold Coast 600, The
Beach Boys’ singing sensation and Bond parent, Bruce Johnston enjoyed a game of
volleyball at Bond University with son Max, who is currently studying a Bachelor
of Computer Games.
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MOBILE LEARNING
TECHNOLOGY
ARRIVES ON CAMPUS
Bond University has become the first university in Australia to
introduce the Blackboard Mobile Learn application to students, following in the
footsteps of Stanford and Duke Universities in the United States.
The application allows students to access and contribute to information regarding
their course online through their mobile device – from checking recent administrative
announcements, to reading lecture notes while on the move or participating in online
discussions with their peers.
Associate Professor of Communication and Media at Bond University, Jeffrey Brand
said the application is an important and timely implementation for Bond.
“We have settled on evolving a blended learning environment that leverages the amenity
of our on-campus delivery with the utility of mobile access,” said Professor Brand.
“The Blackboard Mobile Learn application provides us with a chance to engage students
in new ways and encourages them to frequent Blackboard – our learning management
system – more often and more completely,” he said.
Professor Brand is currently preparing a study with colleague Dr Shelley Kinash
to commence in January 2011 to establish whether mobile learning in fact improves
learning opportunities and outcomes, or whether it just moves the way content is
delivered. The study will be partly funded by Bond University’s Office of Quality,
Teaching and Learning.
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BOND'S ANTI-BULLYING
PROGRAM
GOES GLOBAL
Bond University’s anti-bullying program has gone global, with Bentley
University in the United States adopting its “One Goal, One Community” initiative.
The initiative aims to encourage community members to sign a pledge to commit to
behaviours that will better society and put an end to bullying.
Associate Professor of Management and Director of the Bond University LEAP Research
Centre, Dr Amy Kenworthy, together with her former Service Learning student Sarah
Benson – who has just returned to Bentley University after studying a semester abroad
at Bond – led the charge to replicate the program internationally.
They officially launched the program for Bentley’s Service Learning Centre, presenting
their anti-bullying presentation to the local Massachusetts communities of Waltham
and Milton.
The Centre will now continue to roll out the program to local schools in the area,
with the aim of encouraging at least 10,000 community members to sign an anti-bullying
pledge this semester.
The “One Goal, One Community” initiative has already achieved great success in Australia,
with over 10,000 people having signed an anti-bullying pledge in April of this year
when the program was run with Varsity College in Varsity Lakes.
Dr Kenworthy said her students are now working with another ten schools in Gold
Coast region with the goal of securing an additional 20,000 signatures in those
communities through face-to-face conversations by the end of the year.
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