The Monash Response
Recognising that the university had let developments in educational technology
drift without clear policy and strategic direction, in 2006 Monash established an
Educational Technology Committee, and charged it with responsibility for
aligning the considerable forces and innovative practices into a cohesive plan.
To ensure input from all relevant stakeholders (including technology
ëchampionsí), committee membership included all faculties, service divisions,
the library and student groups, making a total of 25 persons.
At the time, the university had been developing a series of frameworks, the
name used for the means of addressing issues and areas of activity which are:
• Complex;
• Cross-portfolio;
• Require conceptualisation and infrastructure support;
• Bring together existing activities; and
• Add new activities to the mix.
One of the first decisions of the Committee was thus to prepare the
Educational Technology Framework.
By way of background, Monash University, Australiaís largest university, is
a significant player in international research and education. New educational
technologies may play a pivotal role in enhancing the Universityís multiple
campuses and international perspectives enabling communication across
boundaries. New educational technologies can also complement mobility
experiences through seamless platforms for communication and learning
(Educational Technology Framework, 2007).
Monash is unique among Australiaís research-intensive universities in
having multiple campuses, which include one regional, two outer suburban,