Notre Dame senior staff challenged

Document Type

Media Release

Publication Date

Winter 19-7-2007

Publisher Name

The University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle

Publication Place

Fremantle

Abstract

Senior staff from the Broome, Fremantle and Sydney Campuses of The University of Notre Dame Australia, gathered on the Fremantle Campus recently for a leadership conference that focused on the future development of the University as a national institution spanning three campuses.

The seminar was facilitated by Professor Mark McKenna, Executive Dean of the School of Medicine and Acting Provost on the Fremantle Campus. Over two days, Professor McKenna challenged staff to examine ways that Notre Dame could continue to be one University while offering distinctiveness at the campus level.

Professor McKenna said, “We also asked the University leaders to consider the same question that we ask our students -Amongst all the pressures on me, am I becoming who I want to be?”

There were a number of other important issues discussed during the seminar particularly the significant contribution that the Broome Campus can make to reconciliation between non-indigenous and indigenous Australians.

Sister Sonia Wagner sgs, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Broome), reminded staff that a key objective of the Campus is to provide strong support for the process of reconciliation, providing an educational arena for non-Aboriginal people to relate directly to Aboriginal people and to learn about their law, history and culture

“In establishing and remaining committed to the Broome Campus, Notre Dame acknowledges that access to education is critical to the empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities,” she explained.

Another important challenge for the University was identified as competing in an ever-increasing competitive tertiary education market whilst retaining its unique Catholic identity. Staying true to its Objects which focus on the provision of University education within a context of Catholic faith and values; and the provision of an excellent standard of teaching, scholarship and research; training for the professions; and pastoral care for students.

Staff agreed that the University’s Core Curriculum – Philosophy, Theology and Ethics, part of every undergraduate degree, was fundamental to the provision of a unique tertiary experience for students.

Questions were also posed as to what type of leaders does the University want to graduate. It was noted that while there will be graduates who go on and achieve significant milestones, the University also aspires to graduate students who, whilst not necessarily may become high profile leaders, live out their life and career with the hope of making a difference to society.

The growth and development of Notre Dame as a truly National University will continue to bring challenges and rewards for the students, staff and the community it serves.

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