Dean’s Message

2007 has been an outstanding year, bringing successful outcomes from much hard work. Great progress has been made in our education, research, external relations and international strategies.  The faculty’s budget has been strongly managed and the faculty will be contributing about $30M, or over 17%, of its revenue to the university surplus. This exceptional return is derived from additional student load, particularly in Accounting and Finance, combined with little or no growth in staffing costs, as the market for quality academics with strong research profiles is very tight.

Despite such pressures, the faculty has much to celebrate as the faculty strategies to improve educational and research performance have their desired effect. The integrated Graduate School of Business has again gained outstanding rankings with the MBA, and the GSB’s strengths in personal development are now being made available to students in the other masters programs. All three undergraduate families of degrees have now been through external review, and exciting initiatives are being taken by teams across the faculty to implement recommended improvements. The results are now being seen in the faculty’s improved unit reviews, in the teaching awards won by our teachers and in student success in educational competitions.

Research output has also been very encouraging with many improvements in grant success, publications and research degree completions. For 2008 eight new ARC discovery grants, four ARC linkage grants, one NHMRC and 12 other competitive grants were won.

Many new initiatives were also introduced to improve the faculty’s marketing and external relations functions. The international strategy to build the faculty’s reputation in China helped contribute to the very strong student demand. In 2007 new initiatives were taken to extend this international strategy to India.

I have been the faculty’s Dean since 2000 and have greatly enjoyed working with the faculty’s many talented academic and professional staff. I feel most privileged to have had the opportunity to see the faculty achieve international accreditation with EQUIS and AMBA, and many other externally recognised awards. The faculty has great strengths to carry it forward.  In mid February 2008 I will be moving to take up new challenges in my career.  The faculty has achieved excellent results through the dedicated work of many people, all of whom have reason for much pride.

With thanks and season’s greetings

Gill Palmer