Information Futures Commission gets under way
[ The University of Melbourne Voice Vol. 2, No. 1
4 - 18 February 2008 ]
Around 200 staff and students attended last week’s launch of the University’s Information Futures Commission (IFC) by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Glyn Davis.
The IFC, announced in December 2007, is modelled on the University’s highly-successful Curriculum Com-mission which oversaw a major overhaul of the University’s entire curriculum in 2006.
It will examine international trends in libraries and scholarly technologies, review the University’s current capability, and consult widely to develop an inspiring and deliverable information strategy for the next decade.
Professor Davis told the launch audience it was time the University reviewed its libraries and scholarly information systems and agreed on a future direction. “If we do not make the decisions on these issues, we will find the decisions being made without our knowing it,” he warned.
He noted that drivers for the Commission include the new Melbourne Model curriculum, the technology-based teaching methods expected by ‘digital native’ students, the challenge of making academic materials available free on line, and the move to develop a new Master Plan for the University.
The IFC launch was followed by a presentation by Mr Richard Katz, Vice-President of EDUCAUSE, a US-based non-profit association to advance higher education by promoting the intelligent use of information technology.
Mr Katz, a Director of the EDUCAUSE Centre for Applied Research (ECAR) is the first of a number of thinkers on libraries and scholarly technologies to give public presentations during the Commission process.
Mr Katz suggested that the challenge for the University is less technical and more one of institutional purposes, adaptability and will.
“The needs of our stakeholders are changing. Soon virtual environments will support learning and discovery and will rival and surpass ‘built’ ones, in certain cases.
“The successful university of the future will know its values, have clarity of purposes, and an IT capacity to reflect and extend those values and purposes globally.”
In late February the Commission will release a Consultation Paper to encourage input from the University community. The consultation process, from February to May, will include workshops, open forums and presentations. An expert panel of academics, professional staff and student representatives will meet regularly to contribute ideas and guidance, and a series of discussion papers will stimulate conversation on specific topics.
Members of the University community are encouraged to make submissions via the Information Futures Commission website www.informationfutures.unimelb.edu.au or email info-futures@unimelb.edu.au . Submissions will be published on the site, which will also offer a feedback form, news, and links to relevant papers, podcasts and vodcasts.
The Commission’s final report will be considered by the University’s formal decision-making bodies – at the June meeting of the Academic Board and the July meeting of the University Council. A detailed strategy and action plan will be in place in time to inform the University’s 2009 plans and budget.
An international panel of experts will provide input and peer-review of the final report. This panel includes Mr Richard Katz and Dame Lynne Brindley, Chief Executive of the British Library.
Information Futures Commission Steering Committee
Vice-Chancellor Professor Glyn Davis - Chair;
Council member Ms Sally Beattie;
Provost Professor Peter McPhee;
Chair, Research & Research Training Committee Professor Ron Slocombe;
Chair, Teaching & Learning Development Committee Professor Richard James;
Chair, Libraries Committee Professor Janet McCalman;
Vice-Principal (Property & Campus Services) Mr Chris White;
Pro Vice-Chancellor (University Relations) Professor Warren Bebbington;
Dean of Architecture, Building and Planning Professor Tom Kvan;
Dean of Veterinary Science Professor Ken Hinchcliff;
Dean of Arts Professor Mark Considine;
Student representative Ms Elizabeth Buckingham;
Commission leader, Vice-Principal and Chief Information Officer Ms Linda O’Brien
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