Education Portfolio Town Hall 14 November 2018

[Start transcript]

[Belinda Tynan]

It's really lovely to see you all here this morning. I can't believe that we're mid-November. It's quite extraordinary, really. At least the weather's changing. Most of us have got our legs out now, which is kind of good. We're looking forward to, hopefully, a really fantastic summer break. It's also November. Who in the portfolio is doing Movember? We should be able to see because you're looking a bit more hairy. Come on, stand up, give us a look. Give us a look. How are they going? Wow, well done.

Well, I did say that you were going to have a bit of a competition between ITS and us. I think we might need a few more men to lean into that. Maybe the guys who already have beards, maybe you have to shave yours off.

Ooh, we'll sponsor you to do that. Anyway, I hope that you're getting behind our team of people and if you want to join in on November, don't hesitate to reach out to Tristan down the back there and he can induct you into the ways and the manners and whatever we call it of facial hair.

Right, moving right along. Now, I'm just so pleased to see so many of you have taken the time today to be here because today's session is going to be a little bit different to what we've done before because I've invited a bunch of students along that we're going to be able to ask some questions.

I've got a bunch too. We're going to hopefully get the audience to ask some questions of them as well. The reason why we're here at this university is primarily to support our students to reach their aspirations. So,why wouldn't we ask them what it is that they need in order for us to do that really well? Before I do that, I'd like to invite David up here to do our acknowledgment to country.

[David Howard]

Hello, I'm David Howard. I'm the director of library services and I was reflecting that in my 25-year career in higher education, I've been able to acknowledge country now across three states. I began by having the privilege of acknowledging the Noongar people of the southwest of WA. Then I moved to Adelaide and was able to acknowledge the Kaurna people of the Adelaide region of South Australia. Now it is my privilege to acknowledge the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nations on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the university here at RMIT.

The University respectfully acknowledges their ancestors and elders past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the traditional custodians and the ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia, where we conduct our business.

[Belinda]

Thanks, David. Actually, one of the things I'm really proud of from the Pulse survey is that all the work that we've been doing through our rap champions and through the portfolio itself, around understanding our relationship with indigenous peoples and the land on which we stand, has really paid off. Because in the Pulse School, you all said as a community that you felt you had really strong knowledge on how that works for you, and how that contributes to the business of RMIT and how you go about your work. I'm really pleased to see that, and I hope over these next 12 months, that we actually move to the next step.

Many of you have done the cultural awareness training. For those of you who haven't done that, hopefully, you'll get to do that next year. There's actually a new staff development module as well that's been put out through the credentials and you can get a credential now for that next step of knowledge around Bunjil giri in particular. I hope you'll jump on to the website and that you will find that module and you will commit to doing that next year. I know for my executive team, one of the challenges I'll be giving them is what target they would commit to that their staff would complete that module as well.

If you haven't done the cultural awareness, make sure you jump into that because I think that everyone who has done that has really enjoyed that as a really good starting place for us. Without further ado, I think we're going to play a video first of all, and then we'll get our students up on stage or should I bring the students up now? I could bring them up now. Would you like to come up now? Yes, come on. Come up here. Let me welcome our fantastic students up on this stage.

Before we play the video, I'm going to do some introductions. So, poor Caitlin, she's going I've got to play the video. No, no, no, wait we'll get there.

So, each of our panel members here has their own little story. Before we start today, I'm hoping that you might just give me if you had to give me a 60 second pitch about who you are, what you do and what you're doing now. Do you think you could do that in 60 seconds?

[Joshua]

30 seconds.

[Belinda]

Since you said 30 seconds, I might put the timer on, off you go. You go first. Who are you?

[Joshua]

I'm Joshua Hem. I'm currently studying a Bachelor of Electrical Electronic Engineering. I'm current third year. I've also completed Associate Degree of Mechanical Engineering here as well. Currently, through the help of teachers, I've also got an internship at one of the big Japanese automation company. I'm also competing in world skills for mechatronics through RMIT as well.

[Belinda]

Thank you very much. Now, should we keep moving along?

[Farjana Chowdhury]

Hello. I'm for Farjana Parvin Chowdhury. I'm a Ph.D. student here at Business IT and Logistics Schools. I'm doing my Ph.D. in Business Information Systems. My research topic is understanding breakdowns in international information sharing during disasters. I have just started my PhD journey last April. It's like seven months. My next confirmation of candidature is in February. I'm writing a proposal now. That's all.

[Belinda]

Good for you.

[Sarah Dunwoodie]

My name is Sarah Dunwoodie, I did my undergrad here started in 2015. That was in creative writing. This year, I've completed my honours degree in Media and Communication. I submitted my thesis about three weeks ago. I also work with the Connect Team that are here today.

[Belinda]

When will you get your results for your thesis?

[Sarah]

Well, I don't really want to think about it. I was supposed to already have received them, but I don't think it'll be until the 26th of November official results release day.

[Belinda]

Fantastic. Are you looking forward to graduation?

[Sarah]

I'm not going to graduation.

[Belinda]

Everyone gasp.

[Sarah]

I've already been scolded about this.

[Belinda]

We might ask you in a minute, just why are you not going to graduation? Hopefully, you're going on somewhere fabulous. Now finally.

[Daniel de Jesus]

I'm Daniel de Jesus. I'm completing Advanced Diploma of Civil Engineering here. Previously, I did a foundation study with the School of Science as well. I'm an Australian scholar from East Timor. And at the moment-- for the last few months, I've been working with Metro Tunnel through RMIT. My home office [inaudible] *00:07:43 but we work on Collins Street and I'm working on the structural design for the portals Eastern and Western portals, which is the connection between the new five stations.

[Belinda]

Are you responsible for all the traffic jams?

[Daniel]

That's why we have plan B for you.

[Belinda]

Plan B I like this. No, well, thank you, all of you for making the time to come today because I know you're really busy and you've got things that you do. For us as a group here, this portfolio actually looks after a lot of things to do with students from when they first meet with us, and until they graduate as well. For us to hear your experiences and what your aspirations are and what things we could do better this group, I'm really looking forward to that. Now at the same time, I've also got the soapbox going and we'll get to soapbox in a minute. I'm already starting to get some questions coming in that the audience want to ask you as well.

So, I've got a list and we'll have some from the audience coming through and we'll get you started. Caitlin now is the moment. Said video, please play.

[Video playback starts]

Mustapha: I'm Mustapha, but call me Mus. This is my RMIT story. As a young kid, my life revolved around cars. I loved people developing cars, I loved the sensation of speed. Being able to go faster than I can walk or cycle. During high school, I discovered a little something called engineering. It's here in my story where I was reached out to by RMIT. Here we are at my school. My school is probably like every other school, although it's a [inaudible] * 0:09:19.4 school, which means is part of a program designed to create more equal access to university. Due to being [inaudible] * 0:09:25.6 school, I was able to come to RMIT for a day and experience university firsthand.

Throughout my life through friends, family and Google research I always heard great things about RMIT, especially in engineering. [inaudible] * 0:09:38.4 felt great. Since year 10 I always made an effort to attend the open days. This helped me reinforce my decision. The great part of the open days was the fact that I felt like the RMIT University, its staff, its students saw me as a peer, not some pesky teen asking one too many questions.

In my first year of uni, I'm really focused on my studies, friends and exploring everything little thing of RMIT and the city. It was second year where things got interesting. First thing was the change from [inaudible] * 0:10:06.9 to Canvas. I think the main thing with Canvas and RMIT's other online tools is that their customer mobile, so I get the messages relevant to me.

I started a project to build a hydrogen-powered scale race car where I truly engaged with my favourite teacher. He would always support me and never said no to me quitting. I used to love to work on the project. He would run about like a crazy chicken, trying to make our class as good as possible. After a lot of head scratching and breaking parts, my group finally created a car in time for the writing.

Remember me talking about snaps? Well, I got an email one day from the I Belong team at RMIT about an opportunity. The role was a snaps changing, which means I get to welcome students from school, the one I used to go to. Say hi to Melissa and Andrea. During training I actually learnt a whole bunch of team working skills, communication skills. Later during work, I learnt spontaneous planning skills and furthered my communications. It's amazing how much of what I learned applied to my engineering and made uni group assignments easier.

After some time into my second year, I received an email from the Student Well-Being and Inclusion Team about students leading mental well-being initiative. I think Luke is over here. Let's go surprise him.

I honestly went in headfirst applying into this initiative. I gave the online application my 110%. I had an interview which was really short in comparison to the guy in the room before me. On a Wednesday afternoon, I got an email from the interviewer saying I made it as a leader. We had three workshop days, workshop two and three was one of the most educational experiences in my life. An entrepreneurship workshop led by Dylan an activator, let's crash activate and see what they're up to.

What they achieved was amazing. At day one, we started with 40 odd people that never met and was extremely confused about what we were, until Foremind our personal brand and one down base which was our first event. Workshop two and three taught me much about starting up a brand, clash company, what I needed as an entrepreneur and amazing life skills that I use daily in tech. I think the most amazing part of this was I study engineering which has nothing to do with mental health. And I followed up on random email and I gained so much great new friends and skills which is so relevant to engineering.

What I love about RMIT is that there has been so much conscious decisions made to further improve student life. We've met some of those amazing people today from workshops, activate job shop and amazing student spaces built. In fact, when I first came to RMIT, the new [inaudible] * 0:12:35.4 wasn't about. I love the fact that RMIT could have built 100 classrooms in that area, but instead we're able to host our one town Wednesday and I can enjoy my lunch in the sun.

So, from five years old discovering my passion to now, this has been my RMIT journey and I still have a way to go until it is finished.

[Video playback ends]

[Belinda]

Fantastic.

We worked with Musty here, short for Mustapha, a few weeks ago, because I was going to speak at a conference, and it was all about students. The only problem I had with the conference was there were no students there and here we were talking about. I'll bring students into the space. The team here put together this fantastic, it's almost like an autobiography of the individual about their journey. They still got one more year ago and so the team will add to that the final year when Musty finishes his journey. For those of you who had a keen eye, you should have been able to map the moments that matter student journey through that video.

If you want to pick that up again and have a look at what Musty touches and what he does through that journey, that's an example of when we really get it right, where everything just works stunningly well. Moving on to my lovely panellists that I've got here, I thought we might have a soft, cushy little question to get you started. Whilst we're answering that question, I'll get my colleagues in the audience to GoSoapBox and they should be the details up there what to jump into. I'm hoping that you will start to put your questions in and vote in there what questions you like answered. I think I've got two in there now, so I'm hoping they'll be a few more shortly. So, why did you choose RMIT? Who would like to start with that one?

[Joshua]

I can start that one. Well, initially my first experience of RMIT, I think I came to open day in 2011, experienced all the dark alleys and I was actually quite scared of the uni when I first came here.

[Belinda]

It was a bit scary in 2011. It's much nicer now.

[Joshua]

Yes, it's very pretty now, but due to my ATAR, I wasn't exceptionally well. RMIT offered a course that experienced a broad range of engineering and I always wanted to explore that. That's why I came here.

[Belinda]

Which courses was that one?

[Joshua]

Associate Degree of Engineering. That's what led me into RMIT. Once I completed that course I transferred to Monash and absolutely hated it.

[Belinda]

Excellent.

No, sorry I didn't say that. You'd come back?

[Joshua]

No, I'd definitely come back. I definitely felt much comfortable here.

[Belinda]

Just explore that little bit, why did you feel more comfortable here? What was it about the environment?

[Joshua]

It was definitely the staff and student environment. All the students at RMIT were willing to help each other communicate, talk. I felt very excluded in Monash, then the teachers weren't as willing to help as they were here.

[Belinda]

That's really good feedback for us and I shouldn't be disparaging about Monash either, so I'll just be careful there. Who else would like to open up, answer that question about why did they choose RMIT? What's your little journey?

[Farjana]

Me? Before telling you why I have chosen RMIT, I have to tell you about a little background information. I did my masters in the University of Leeds in UK, with the Commonwealth scholarship. I passed there with distinctions and then I was looking for my higher study, for the PhD one where it will be better. Then I was looking for the Australia and one of my relatives is living in near Melbourne, so I fixed the Melbourne to study. RMIT was one of the universities listed in Melbourne, therefore, in case of choosing the university, I was looking for high quality research and teaching, as well as whether the universities are offering the scholarships.

Now, first of all, RMIT University has a really good reputation for excellence in business and management educations and in providing high quality industry-responsive programs and research relevant to the national and international marketplace. So, I chose RMIT for this reason, first one, first factor. Then I was looking for the supervisor for the PhD, I think it's really difficult to get the supervisor agree with the proposal and sometimes supervisors are not giving you the feedbacks or no response at all. Now fortunately on that time, I was searching in that website of RMIT for the supervisors and my potential supervisors in my field. On that time, I got to one of my previous teachers in Leeds, who just joined a few years back in RMIT.

I nagged him and talked to him about my intentions and he happily agreed to supervise me. I wrote the proposal and applied here and within four to six weeks I got the admission letters. After getting the admission letter, the most important fact was the scholarship, whether I'm getting it or not. I'm a student from a developing country, it wasn't possible for me to afford this higher study expense here or even I don't have any fund from my home country as well. Scholarship is the only media of study here. As I told you earlier, I studied in UK with a Commonwealth scholarship. I applied here for the available scholarships in RMIT and fortunately I got the highly competitive and the most prestigious RMIT Vice-Chancellor's PhD Scholarship in 2018.

[Belinda]

That's why you're here.

[Farjana]

Yes.

[Belinda]

What a great story and your persistence up front to find the right person that could actually help you in your journey. I'm so glad you're at RMIT. How far through are you? Are you finished?

[Farjana]

No, I have just started. I have started in April, last April. It's like seven months, long time to go.

[Belinda]

Fantastic, what a great journey. Now, what about your, because you're out there in the workforce now, can you remember back to when you first decided--

[Daniel]

Back in the day.

[Belinda]

Back in the day.

[Daniel]

It was in 2014 when I completed my VCE back in Timo, I was shortlisted as one of the finalists for VCII leadership award. I came here and I did university tours and one of them was RMIT. Forget about the others.

[Belinda]

Thank you, we like you already. You're fabulous.

[Daniel]

When I went back, I got my score, and everything went out and I applied through scholarship and they awarded me an advanced diploma that I can pick two universities. I was like, okay. First pick RMIT and the other one, which I don't know which one.

[Belinda]

Why RMIT? What was it about RMIT?

[Daniel]

When I came here, I did a tour and who's-- I can't remember the guy who gave the tour but--

[Belinda]

They were obviously fabulous.

[Daniel]

Very, very-- Yes, very good in persuading. People also told me from- when I asked people about RMIT, it's always about hands on. It is true that it is a young university but it's very old institution and it's known for hands on and practical side instead in theoretical side and in engineering you want to do what you want to do not what the theory says because the theory can be changing but what people want in the workforce is how do you do it not the theory.

[Belinda]

That’s a great journey as well and here you are. You’re still here.

[Daniel]

I’m still here and hopefully I’ll be here and stay here for a bit while.

[Belinda]

Welcome, welcome, welcome.

[Daniel]

Thank you.

[Belinda]

You’ve said such lovely things about RMIT as well. What a great ambassador. And finally.

[Sarah]

Because I’m the creative industries I think that RMIT is a bit of a hub and I think that’s evident even from the way that everything’s designed and obviously it looked a lot different in 2015 when I first started like we’ve discussed but I don’t know. I think as soon as you come here there is that kind of that everything is inspirational here. It makes you think about things in a different way. Even just sitting here I feel this is like a kaleidoscope and I think that really lends to the sort of thinkers that are here and what can be done and especially in the creative industries, I think that all of my coordinators and people who were my tutors they are published authors and they’re encouraged to obviously continue putting out those publications and they’re in the industry.

RMIT also has publishing houses that are within Building 9, which is where I’ve always been based. There’s a lot of really important literary magazines. Lifted Brow comes out of RMIT, which is really great, and a lot of cultural criticism and I think there’s partnership with EWF, the Emerging Writers Festival. Even just being central there is the Melbourne literary community is based in the CBD and being here is just so advantageous to getting involved.

[Belinda]

That whole hub piece for you is actually quite important then. There’s a reputational piece that I’m hearing from you that is significant.

[Sarah]

I think so. I think if you are in the creative industries-- I mean, I personally didn’t think about going to any other university. I guess I considered going to Melbourne but even though they are obviously famous for different things and maybe they’re better or on par with RMIT in that sense I just feel that going to a different university wouldn’t have given me the direct connection to industry leaders.

[Belinda]

You’re living ready for life and work in the sense there’s a real connection.

[Sarah]

Yes, I would say so. I think even from the first day undergrad I met people who were giants in the Melbourne scene, and these were the people who were grading me and telling what I can do better. What’s better than that?

[Belinda]

Inspiring. I’ve got a pile of questions. We’re going to put the questions up here so people can see them but the one that’s been voted the highest at the moment. You don’t all have to answer this. I might just ask a bunch and some of you can jump in if you don’t mind. What do you wish had been available to you when you first started at RMIT? What do you wish had been available to you when you first started at RMIT?

[Sarah]

I think I would have liked to have known everything that I could get involved with because I feel maybe-- I think it’s definitely changed now but I don’t think then there was that promotion of clubs and leadership roles and all that sort of thing and I really think that by getting involved it turns the university not into-- you know, something-- in a place where you have to come for a couple of hours a day and it’s kind of a drag. It turns it into you know this is a huge part of your life. You’re here so often and that’s a really great thing about the NAS set up now. I mean it is really encouraged that you stay on campus and you become really involved and I think that that’s a real credit to RMIT just that well rounded experience.

[Belinda]

Anybody else.

[Joshua]

Probably more on that aspect is coming from-- You’ll probably understand is it’s coming from 56, 57 [inaudible] * 0:25:09.6 things. It wasn’t as well introduced to that or back when I was studying that which is in 2013. It was more the higher Ed stuff. You had to come down and see everything. There wasn’t that exposure to all the extra services. I'm not sure if it's changed now.

[Belinda]

Especially for our VE students who was trying to make a greater connection because there’s a bit of a hub that sits around Building 56, isn’t there? It’s a real vibe over there for our VE students but their connection back into the campus is equally as important to you. Here’s a good one. Where has it gone? There it is. This is number one. I’m looking at it. We’ve had 27 people voted this one to the top but this one’s interesting. Are you willing to share a bad experience that you’ve had at RMIT? Without mentioning names probably or maybe we should mention. No, no, don’t mention names. We’ll take notes later but is there something that’s happened at RMIT that’s been a bad experience that you think I wish that X had happened so that wouldn’t have happened or something that’s frustrated you, upset you?

[Daniel]

I’ve got one actually.

[Belinda]

Brace yourselves.

[Daniel]

From the transition between VE to the higher Ed you have to have met a certain GPI score and when I enter it was 3.0. This year a couple of weeks before we started exam the School of Undergrad Civil Engineering came over and talk about the [inaudible] * 0:26:50.3 updates, sorry GPI that we have to meet which is 3.0 and then a week later we got an email say, the GPI has been lowered to 2.0. For some of us who got to get three pass we’re not disappointing for getting three because it’s our hard work, but we are very disappointing with the system with this compromising between three down to two just for the sake of meeting the cap in the school of undergrad. I think that’s a little bit discouraging for us. The whole business happened behind the scene and we all understand that but to put that in--

[Belinda]

It is a bit different.

[Daniel]

It is a bit different. I’m not disappointing with what I get. I’m happy with it and I get the job because of it but not when you lower the standards just for the sake of meeting the cap numbers in the School of Civil Engineering.

[Belinda]

Good feedback. Anybody else? You’ve had all good experiences. I’m not sure that's a good sign. What about you two down there? Is there anything that’s happened?

[Farjana]

I don’t have any bad experiences, but I have heard from some peers. They were experiencing problems mostly only with their supervisors. I don’t know about them, but I think it is common in the peer's journey to have sometimes some collusion with the students who are advisers. I think so.

[Belinda]

That’s pretty typical. Thank you for sharing that. What about you?

[Sarah]

I can’t really think of anything. The only thing I can think is that for my thesis I wanted a specific supervisor, but he ended up not being able to supervise me because he was going to be a teacher of mine so there’s a conflict of interest but that’s not really at RMIT.

[Belinda]

It would have been a conflict in a sense. Good, well that’s really positive feedback for the people who are here. If you were doing your time again and you were coming into the university, what would you wish would be available for you? I mean other what you were saying before around the clubs and stuff, is there anything more specific that, are there any services, for example, that you would have liked to have had available to you before you even started maybe?

[Daniel]

I personally would like to have a student support for engineering students. With the College of Business, they have SLAMs which is good. The teachers plus the HD and DI students together help their students great and I don’t see that in engineering school. I go to SLC. They say, yes, we can maths, English, writing and chemistry and physics but sorry. That lot life lot, what lot no, not our skill. I think we need that support with the engineering students. As the SLC doing a really great job with Maths, Physics and Chemistry and English, but I think we need some specifically for engineering students. When I get to ask about fluid mechanics, or someone can have--

[Belinda]

That's really great feedback. Actually, you've hit a little sore point that we've been wrestling with. It's good that you've actually said it. If any of you could wave a magic wand, and you could get anything done to help you with your employability, what would you ask for?

[Sarah]

I think one-on-one industry mentors would be a great idea. I know that we do have a program like that, but maybe just more resources there.

[Belinda]

Did you have an industry mentor?

[Sarah]

I didn't, but just personally I was talking about before he has taught me all four years. He's given me recommendations and that sort of thing. I guess maybe in a sense, but not an official mentor.

[Belinda]

What about others? No? You feel like you've been okay.

[Daniel]

Yes, but I think we have a good connection with the industry may be. We can get some emails on the platform.

[Belinda]

Did you use any of the services? Like, did you use JobShop or create a CV or LinkedIn profiles? Did you do any of that sort of stuff?

[Joshua]

No. Personally, I looked into it recently, because coming to fourth year got private internships. Luckily, we get a lot of emails through the WIL department and from JobShop letting us know it's all available. There's plenty of resources out there. That aspect of they do let us know which is good.

[Belinda]

It feels like it's a little bit just in time when you need it, that's when you want it.

[Joshua]

Yes, they've changed the course. Now you don't need internship, but yes, there's not a lot of pressure. Not much pressure as in like there's no push to get an internship. There's a lot out there but yes, like, I'll wait till next year and it's passed that point, it's a bit too late.

[Belinda]

When you have an issue that needs to be resolved-- It might depend on the issue on this question, but where do you go to first in RMIT?

[Farjana]

For me, I normally go to my eight-year instructor. She just left a few days ago maybe, but she was really good and very helpful. Whenever I have some issues, I contacted her, and she tried to solve it.

[Joshua]

I've definitely used Connect a bunch of times and academic services. The Learning Centre, I've used them every year I've been here, I had to use them at some point.

[Daniel]

I use the Learning Centre as well and talk to my course coordinator, email program manager. They help me very quick.

[Belinda]

What's your turnaround rate? What do you expect? When you send an email off to someone, how quickly are you wanting them to respond?

[Daniel]

As quick as possible. People are busy but they get back to me about two days. That's good.

[Belinda]

Is that okay?

[Daniel]

Yes, it is all right. I'm happy with it unless if an emergency then I go to level five and give him a call, but that's very rare.

[Belinda]

What about you too.

[Sarah]

I have always had a good relationship with course coordinators. I usually go to them first and the issue has only ever really been course specific. I also use JobShop a few times and obviously Connect is a great resource because I work there too. I like Connect, it's good.

[Belinda]

You do work for Connect, don't you? There's no bias there.

[Sarah]

I'm getting paid extra to say this.

[Belinda]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, the boss is in the second row. One of the challenges we have with students is communicating with you. Quite often we send you important messages. I think sometimes they go straight to the trash can or the bin or they're just not opened. That's one of the challenges we have because some of those messages are really important and they include deadlines around when to pay your fees or when sent some studies or you want to graduate et cetera et cetera. From your point of view, what's the best way for us to communicate with you?

[Joshua]

Coming from experience like your emails. You get so many emails so just briefly skip past them. Maybe-- probably hard to do is pop-ups using Canvas or a message board specific on Canvas when you first login it comes up because in the emails you get so much you just flip through them. You don't read them all.

[Belinda]

Have you missed things because of it?

[Joshua]

I've definitely miss things. I've missed internship opportunities, I've definitely missed important dates, had late fees a couple of times.

[Belinda]

Okay. What about others? How best should we communicate with you?

[Sarah]

My opinion is that we should scrap the announcements thing. My RMIT, because I don't know if anyone looks at that. Most people would like they go into enrolment online or something. I just go straight there. I think that it would be really great when someone first starts at RMIT if there was a prompt that suggested that they get all of RMIT emails forwarded to their personal email. Obviously, that's a personal choice, but I feel that's something that's really helped me. If it's going to your personal email, and you're checking that every day, it's hard to miss things.

[Belinda]

Having two emails becomes a bit clunky, doesn't it?

[Sarah]

Yes.

[Belinda]

In fact, I think I've got three email addresses at the moment. Let's ask the audience. How many has one email address? Hand up. Everyone has one. Who has two email addresses? Who has three? Who has four? None. Who has five? Right, you need some help. You need some help.

[Sarah]

It's just so you can get the Netflix free trials, so you can get the free trial.

[Daniel]

It's all Netflix now.

[Belinda]

Of course, that's what we all do. That's what we do.

[Farjana]

I think email is the best way I think because I check every day the email. It's very hard to miss anything when it comes through email.

[Belinda]

Email suits you.

[Farjana]

The student email.

[Belinda]

Yes, that's good. All right, let me go down my list here. I've got a few more things here. I'll put something around personalisation. As you know, in the higher education sector, we talk a lot about actually hyper-personalisation. How we can make your journey when you come to the University, something that is relevant just to you so that when you get those emails that it might feel like we're just broadcasting to everyone, but instead it specifically comes to you and it has a reason for coming to you. Or it could even be around things like we learn what your hobbies are, what clubs you're in and we can make suggestions to you. I don't know how many of you. Do you use the Amazon websites at all, or buy things online?

[All]

Yes.

[Belinda]

You know how, when you're online, it gets to know you and it's a bit creepy sometimes. They make suggestions, here's another book you'd like to read or here's a product or you suddenly find yourself surfing the web and all the hotels you were looking for in Alice Springs appearing for weeks on end. How do they know that? On RMIT, we're looking at ways in which we can try and personalise things for you. How do you feel about that?

[Farjana]

It will be great to have the personalised informations for myself. I think it's a great way and we will like it most.

[Joshua]

Probably good for students who are actively looking for extracurricular activities. They're brought to them, so they actually know because the information is out there if you go looking. If you don't go looking, then you generally don't know it's there. If it's a bit more information passed to students to let them be aware that it's there.

[Belinda]

If that was individualised a bit more it would be more relevant. You might even look at it. You might even read your emails.

[Joshua]

I might. Yes.

[Belinda]

You might. What about others?

[Sarah]

I think the ready for work and life endeavour is something that is personal. It is like a checklist of what do you need to do to feel like you've got to where you want to be at the end of your degree. I think that that hyper-professionalisation is great. It also like I was saying before, it does make it seem like University is something that is there to help you rather than something that you have to get through.

[Belinda]

It sounds good. I've got a question from my librarians in the room. They would like to understand because the library's going more digital, it's being more online in that space. They'd like to ask you the question about, is there anything you wish you could have but you don't currently have in that environment and how the library could support you.

[Joshua]

In the digital aspect or physical aspect?

[Belinda]

You could do both if you like. David is down the front here. Would you like to stand up David, so he can give you feedback directly?

[Joshua]

I've used the library service a couple of times, especially for researching. It's a pretty good. It's quite useful, quite easy to use. Maybe in the aspect of books. I know you will go hire books, but sometimes it's not always easy to get there. Maybe online copies or like renting online instead of renting physically, because the way technology is these days, we use our computers and phones more than anything, than actual physical paper, especially lugging around some of the textbooks.

[Belinda]

Do you even bring a bag to uni?

[Joshua]

Yes, but I couldn't use it. Some books are two inches thick. Holding those around and you get to class you didn't even need them half the time. They more like renting digital copies instead of just physical books.

[Belinda]

How do you know what's in the library? I mean, how do you know that the books that you want maybe isn't there and you just haven't been able to find it in a digital format?

[Joshua]

Search it online first because I know the library has got a pretty extensive database of where everything's kept, and you can order it to the library you're referring to

[Belinda]

Do you ever use that chat function where you can ask a question of the library?

[Joshua]

I think I've used it once. I haven't really needed to use it.

[Belinda]

Interesting. Any other people got perspectives around the library?

[Sarah]

I think that the only issue I've ever had with the library is the weekend opening hours but I understand that's to do with personnel and that sort of thing but sometimes it is the time that you can study and it would be really great if their hours were matched as the hours on weekdays.

[Belinda]

How late do you stay in university when you're here? Other than when you're working, when you're not working but when you're being a student.

[Sarah]

When I was writing my thesis, I was probably until closing probably every weekday. A fair bit of time.

[Belinda]

Now the other really big innovation that’s gone into the student space has been around Canvas and the learning environment and I was just wondering if you had any thoughts on the learning environment itself and the things you might suggest to help us improve that. Have you had a great experience? You don’t like it. Tell us a little bit about your experience with Canvas. I know it’s very new, but I’d be interested to know, and I think there’s a few people here who’d be keen to hear what you’ve got to say about it.

[Joshua]

I've used Blackboard for many years before Canvas came along through and it’s definitely huge improvement even just accessing information, work, communicating [cough] sorry, communicating with teachers and the discussions. I think there was a discussion board on Blackboard. I think my memory a bit. Even that is just a bit easier to navigate through and get information from.

[Belinda]

Have I told you how fantastic you are? You’re seriously fantastic. Thank you for saying that about Canvas. We do know there are some issues with it as well, but I think what you’re saying it feels consistent from other students as well. What about you?

[Daniel]

I think the user-friendly side of it is very friendly and we get access--

[Belinda]

I like you too.

[Daniel]

As Joshua said, it’s very accessible and it’s easy to navigate as well and I have it on my phone, the student app and it works perfectly fine as your desktop and you can see and flick around and go through everything. It’s so much easier and way easier than Blackboard.

[Joshua]

The Blackboard app was terrible as well.

[Daniel]

Very true.

[Belinda]

Do either of you have any comment around-- You probably haven’t seen. You wouldn’t experience Canvas but--

[Sarah]

I’m on-board. I basically think the same thing. I think it’s a huge improvement. It’s a lot cleaner. It’s better for announcements. The group discussion is great, course syllabus material is all really accessible. I think it’s--

[Belinda]

That sounds really good. I’m so happy because it was such a big project and there’s a lot of people in this room that worked really hard on this. Thank you for that feedback and we are really pleased that it’s actually made things easier for you. Now the next question I’d like to ask you is really around student satisfaction because that’s really important to us and if we were to make your courses even better than they are to improve your student satisfaction, what would we need to do?

[Joshua]

Personally, I think my biggest or greatest regret was so far as I'm studying is seeing student who get along real well with their teachers and working with the staff and I really haven’t had that I guess time or connection with my teachers to actually get to know them, make it more something really social like an engaging environment because actually know teachers head on. Through my social degree I knew most of teachers, got along with them all and then when I came to RMIT I really haven’t had that exposure with my teachers.

[Belinda]

That relationship with your teachers is actually a very important and you’ve called that out several times in your experience as well.

[Sarah]

I think teachers pretty much make it. I mean, obviously there’s a lot of opportunities to make friends but if your teachers aren’t engaged, you’re not engaged at the end of day, I think.

[Belinda]

What about you?

[Daniel]

I think from VE it’s more about-- we know our teachers better because we’re a small size of students and the teachers knows us but I think when we look at the industry and what they do and we replicate into our course and bring in to the course, I think we just need to keep updating what we have and then we want the industry wants and then in that way students are job ready.

[Belinda]

Now all of you or maybe perhaps not you because you’re doing supervisory so the PhD side of things but you probably all have to do a lot of student surveys, probably a lot. On your experience of doing those and your satisfaction with them of rating yourself between one and five, how would you rate your experience of doing those surveys? Is it a pleasurable that’s up at number five or it’s just, oh no, not another survey. It’s number one. What’s your number?

[Sarah]

I think that I’ve always done them because especially this year I feel it’s been worse, but you just get accosted with emails until you do it essentially, until the deadline. Have you noticed?

[Belinda]

You get no rest.

[Sarah]

I think there was a point where I was getting maybe two emails a day about it. I mean good job on getting them done, I guess.

[Belinda]

Would you like to meet that team of people, survey? Would you like just to stand up and show us who you are? These are the delightful people.

[Sarah]

Thanks for the emails.

[Belinda]

Great feedback. Anybody else. You didn’t give me a one to five though. I mean you do them, so you do them.

[Sarah]

I mean I do them but sometimes I tick any option.

[Belinda]

You tick any option. That’s just we don’t want to hear.

[Audience]

Gasp. Gasp.

[Belinda]

Gasp.

Have you had to complete any yet?

[Farjana]

I did of course. Yes, I completed one. I think it’s five because the experience I had for the last seven months it is really good and I’m really satisfied with the environment, the RMIT’s environment. It’s so much you’re multicultural, open-minded and--

[Belinda]

You don’t mind doing it. You’re okay about doing it.

[Farjana]

Yes.

[Belinda]

That’s good. That’s also what I want to hear. You’re a great student. Thank you.

[Joshua]

In my view when I say that I do them depending-- I do them but at the same time if I find a subject that I feel I can put input into and if the teacher's done really well or really bad I can give positive feedback or negative feedback for improving. I know I had a subject this year for this semester that I feel I could have given suggestion to make the subject a little bit better. That’s generally my reason behind doing the surveys but yes, probably two or three.

[Belinda]

Two or three and when you do the surveys and you give feedback, what’s your expectations going what’s going to happen with that feedback? What’s your expectation?

[Joshua]

I know from one of my classes this year that has worked in the past. They did after the course a bit from student feedback to make it better. I know it does take an effect but it’s more dependent if it’s one voice saying it, or everyone has to say it before it happens.

[Belinda]

Great. What about you? Do you remember those?

[Daniel]

Yes, I do. I do them very often because only for questions for us up there, but I give it five for those questions and questionnaires and everything, but I think where it ends up, I don’t know. People say it’s, go on the website and we go on the website clicking for the survey. I think the latest one is published. There is about 2011 or 2012. That’s the latest one. I don’t know what was the reason, years that we-- I’m telling you this. The VE students, the satisfactory of VE students are up there. The higher Ed is somewhere here. If you have a look at the survey that allowed on the website that’s because VE students and teachers are more engaged.

[Belinda]

Do you think the teacher is the most significant difference for the VE student?

[Daniel]

Yes, yes, they are. Once you know your know teacher’s there right beside me when you need any help, you know students just keep pushing themselves if they know someone there to help them and especially with course like engineering where we never do that in high school. We didn’t do that. With maths you did that throughout your lifetime, you sort of getting around there but to have some of the teachers there ready to help you at any point are very, very helpful.

[Belinda]

That’s really interesting perspectives from all of you. I’m wondering when if you can remember whether it was when you first started or if it’s just as you’re going through your studies, do you get enough information about where you go to get counselling or support in terms of your well-being or if there’s any issues around being safe in the community? Do you feel that you know where to go and what to do and who to contact and all of that stuff?

[Joshua]

I know there's been a few emails and notifications going out about it and I'm pretty sure there's a bunch of posters hanging around. I first haven't noticed anything recently, but I've been looking out for it.

[Farjana]

Okay. When I have first come here, I didn't get any booklet like where to go, and how to do other things. I don't know but you were giving it in other grade level or other levels, but when I was a UK in Leeds University, I had booklets that shows me where I need to go and what to do. Here I have to talk with my administrator for everything and she needs to find out what I need to do next.

It would be better to have an outline of the university, with the university maps and where the clubs are there, what opportunities out there were. It is the website I know but if it is like a booklet when I am arriving handed over.

[Belinda]

That would really useful.

[Farjana]

Yes, it would be useful.

[Belinda]

Do you think particularly for international students they would appreciate something like that?

[Farjana]

And that's why I'm telling you. I haven't gotten, that's why I'm telling you. Another thing is I think that the website needs to be updated because last year when I applied for the PhD then I have found a lot if information was there, but when I went to the agent in my country for RMIT agents who normally need to address it the transcripts and certificates, I found it difficult to address it without the RMIT agents because in our country the professors cannot adjust any documents, but we hear RMIT agents should at address it otherwise it is difficult, they will not take it.

I need to find out in my country who are the RMIT agents and never talked with them and they told me that something is there in the website, but the things has been changed. I think it would be better to have been updated in the websites all the time. Whatever you have new you can put in that website so we can have it.

[Belinda]

One of the things that we have really focused on this year because it's been an issue across the sector is there's a campaign that's been called Respect Now Always, it has been looking at issues of sexual harassment within universities in particular and we've had a very large campaign to try and make our university community understand what's acceptable, what's not acceptable and how you might report something if you found yourself either was a bystander or on the back end of receiving, being in that position. Have you seen the campaign, and has it had any impact on you in terms of how you think about how we should behave in universities?

[Joshua]

Personally, I've seen anything to do with the campaign.

[Farjana]

Yes, I've seen the campaigns. I think it would be very beneficial for their students, how should they behave.

[Belinda]

Okay, because I think what we're trying to do is sort to see if we can teach our student and our staff community about what we think is acceptable and it's been on a really large political role as well around in terms of the international campaigns around this place as well. Good, okay. I probably I've got loads and loads of questions up here and maybe I'll give you all some homework, if you go and maybe answer them or maybe not because you might read your emails but let me finish off with one last thing.

If you were a vice chancellor for a day, what would you change about RMIT? Don't tell me you want more sausages, I'm not going to buy you any more sausages, but if you were vice chancellor for a day what would you change about RMIT? That's a hard one.

Stunned silence.

[Joshua]

You're just doing a good job that we could match up. I'll probably do more damage than I would do good.

[Belinda]

Caitlin how much are we paying you?

[Sarah]

I guess I really think of a lot of things but probably more scholarships because at the end of the day for so many people it's the difference between being able to study and not being able to study.

[Farjana]

Similar. There's lot's things to do, but I think as an international I know lots of people in our country, intelligent people are there but they cannot come here just for those scholarships. There are scholarships I know but not very much enough for the living standard here, maintaining here in Melbourne. I think it could be just giving more scholarships that people can come and RMIT will be more research oriented then people are coming across the country and contribute here.

[Belinda]

I think we'd like that too. You're now all almost our alumni, let me talk to you about philanthropy and how you can help create a fantastic scholarship pool for future students. Just kidding but maybe later we might talk to you. What about you, you're sure there's nothing you would do as vice chancellor for a day? Would you get a new suit would you buy-- I don't I know.

[Joshua]

Dress up nicely [inaudible] *00:55:56.

[Belinda]

Get some new shoes.

[Joshua]

The aspect of there's a way of knowing about scholarship and stuff in my high school there were more close to the Monash campus, a bit more in Monash came out but I don't think we even came to RMIT for an open day with the school or had anyone come out from RMIT. Maybe just come out and discuss a bit more about how it-- like the TAFE aspect because my view on RMIT and why I enjoy it so much is it's more of hands on university. Especially now with a push to the TAFEs and everything. Now there is a good opportunity for RMIT we're getting to how they're hands on between the higher Ed and VE, they have more information to the high schools.

[Belinda]

Now that's really good advice. Anything from you?

[Daniel]

I don't think so. I can't think of anything.

[Belinda]

It's all good. Well, I just think you've been an absolutely fabulous panel. I've really appreciated you coming here to talk to us and there are many more questions than I could have possibly asked. This community of people I'm sure will have many more questions to ask of you as we go and have some morning tea. Please hang around with us, but in the meantime, I hope you will thank our gorgeous panel.

[Applause] * 0:57:17.8.

[End transcript]