MELBOURNE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS NEWSLETTER
February 2022
Following on from previous newsletters, a brief report on the discussions and decisions made by the Institute’s Board of Directors for the period July 2021 to December 2021 is provided. The aim of the newsletters is to keep both staff and students aware of the Board’s activities.
MIT’s response to COVID-19
In line with Government COVID-19 requirements, especially during lockdowns, the Board continued to meet remotely via Zoom videoconferencing.
The Board continued to monitor and has endorsed MIT’s updated COVID Safe Plans and the updated Business Continuity Plan COVID-19 Response Plan. It also continues to monitor the transition to the hybrid/blended mode of study which includes some limited face to face classes.
The Board also approved MIT’s COVID-19 Vaccination Policy and Procedure and subsequently approved the COVID-19 Vaccination Statement for publication on the MIT Website and circulated to staff and students. Both documents require all staff and students to be COVID-19 vaccinated.
Throughout the year, the Board regularly expressed its appreciation of, and congratulations to, the MIT Executive Management and staff for their outstanding response to the crisis.
Approved Policies and Procedures
MIT Strategic Plan 2018-2022
The Board considered and approved the 2021 Annual Performance to Plan Report from the CEO at the December meeting and noted MIT’s significant achievements despite the continuing challenges from COVID-19 during 2021.
Student Experience Reports and Appointments
The Board considered and approved the Report on the Annual Review of MIT’s Relative Performance on QILT Indicators 2020 at its August meeting and endorsed the Action Plan. The Board commended the Executive Dean and Campus Director (Melbourne) on the high quality of the report.
It also accepted the report on progress against the Student Experience Plan 2021-2022 and noted that many of the KPI’s for 2021 have been achieved.
Student Experience Committee Appointments: Appointment of student representatives Mr Madiraju Seetha Vara Prasad (Melbourne) and Ms Divya Thapa (Sydney)
Re-appointment of Directors
The Board, sitting as the Nominations Committee, unanimously re-appointed the Chair, Emeritus Professor Wayne Robinson for a further 2-year term and the independent director, Mr James Joughin for a further 2-year term, both commencing on the 1st January 2022.
The Board also re-appointed Emeritus Professor Doug Grant as Chair of the Academic Board for a further term of 2 years commencing on the 1st January 2022. With that re-appointment Professor Grant will serve a further 2-year term as an ex-officio Director on the Board.
Academic Board and Board Standing Committee Appointments
Academic Board Appointments: appointment of Dr Nandini Sidnal as Academic staff representative (SITE, Sydney), Dr Tushar Das as Academic staff representative (SOB, Sydney), Mr Cooriur Ap-Apid as Student representative (Melbourne campus) and the re-appointments of Dr Rajan Kandel as Academic staff representative (SITE, Melbourne) and Dr Gayathri Chethi as Academic staff representative (SOB, Sydney)
Student Academic Outcomes
The Board accepted the 2021 Report on Progression, Attrition and Completion (2016-2020) and endorsed the recommendations contained in the report and congratulated the Chair of the Academic Board and the Academic Board itself on the comprehensiveness and clarity of the report.
Learning and Teaching Plan 2021-2024
Endorsed the Academic Board’s approval of the new Learning and Teaching Plan 2021-2024.
New Courses
Endorsed the Academic Board’s approval of the new Bachelor of Data Analytics degree for course accreditation and subsequently note its successful accreditation by TEQSA.
The Board also endorsed MIT’s application to TEQSA to offer the Master by Research programs and congratulated Executive Management on the successful course accreditation by TEQSA of several CSP funded certificate courses in IT, Cyber Security and Networking.
Self-accrediting Authority and University College Status
At its November meeting, the Board approved MIT’s Self-Accrediting Authority and University College applications for submission to TEQSA.
Board Self-evaluation of its Performance in 2021
Each 12 months, the Board of Directors undertakes a self-assessment of its performance against its Terms of Reference. This covers several areas, including: Strategic Direction; Risk Management and Compliance; Finance; Academic Governance; Corporate Governance; Board Committees and Processes; Stakeholder Communication.
At its December meeting the Board approved the questionnaire used to assess performance and circulated it to Directors. The Chair will meet with each Director individually to discuss their responses to the questionnaire and then prepare a report to be presented to the Board’s first meeting in February 2022.
External Review of the Board
The Board approved the terms of reference for the next external review of the performance of the Board and agreed in principle to carry out two external reviews between now and MIT’s next application for reregistration in 2027. In the latter half of 2021 the Board approved the review process and timelines and asked the Chair to recommend suitable reviewers for consideration in early 2022.
Financials and FY2022 Budget
The audited financial report for year ending 30 June 2021 was approved at the Board’s September meeting.
Risk and Risk Management
The Board reviewed and approved changes to the Risk Register, Risk Management Plan and Detailed Risk Tables following regular review and recommendations from the Audit and Risk Management Committee
It also accepted the 2021 Report and the recommendations contained therein from the Compliance Manager and was gratified to know that MIT is in compliance with the Threshold Standards, ESOS Act and National Code. The Board expressed its appreciation to the Compliance Officer for the high quality of the report.
Marketing Plan 2022-2024
The Board approved the new Marketing Plan 2022-2024 at its September meeting.
Regulatory Updates
Considered new and revised TEQSA guidance notes and publications during the year and sought feedback from relevant Board committees and the Academic Board.
The Board of Directors
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