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Glossary of Monash University and higher education terms and acronyms

This glossary defines key terms, acronyms and abbreviations used by the university and in the higher education sector. Particular acknowledgement is extended to the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.

External links are normal blue hyperlinks.  Internal links (links to bookmarks within the glossary) are bold and italic.

Use the browser's "Find" facility from Edit in the menu bar at the top of the page to search for a term or acronym.

If you would like to suggest any additions to the glossary please contact policyhelp@adm.monash.edu.au.

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A
AARNet

Australian Academic Research Network: Australia’s education and research internet services.

ABC

Activity Based Costing: costing of activities and services in a unit obtained by breaking down staff time (salaries) and consumables according to the activities chosen for costing (eg. undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, research, consultancies etc).  ABC is a tool used as part of Strategic Cost Management (SCM).

ABSTUDY

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Study Assistance Scheme

Academic misconduct

Student cheating or assisting to cheat whether in an examination or non-examination context. See Discipline - student and Discipline Statute.

Academic organisational unit

A unit whose primary objective is teaching and/or research (eg schools,  departments and centres).

Academic staff

Staff employed to undertake research and teaching, including Research Only staff.

Access Monash

A program of support, entry pathways, partnerships, scholarships and bursaries providing fair and equitable access to a Monash course.

ACER

Australian Council for Educational Research: educational research centre for creating and distributing research-based knowledge, products and services for learning across the lifespan.

ACGR

Australian Competitive Grants Register: list of eligible programs providing competitive grants to Higher Education Providers.

ACU

Association of Commonwealth Universities

ACU

Australian Catholic University

ADR

Associate Dean (Research)

ADT

Associate Dean (Teaching)

Advanced standing

Credit which is given in one course on the basis of prior formal studies in another course at the same or another higher education or post-secondary institution. See Credit. See the university’s Credit Policy.

AEC

Animal Ethics Committee

AEI

Australian Education International: AEI is part of DEST and promotes Australia’s education, science and training capabilities internationally through a range of strategies, including the Study in Australia website.

Allocate +

Online class allocation system accessible from any computer in the world that has Internet access. Students can browse available timeslots for all enrolled activities and specify personal preferences.

Alternative Arrangements for Assessment

Any variation in the structure, format, duration or venue of an examination or assignment, ensuring that students with disabilities have equal opportunity in all type of assessments (also known as AAAs).

ANZAAS

Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science: aims to promote dialogue and understanding between the public, science and government, and foster public interest in science and technology.

APA

Australian Postgraduate Awards: Scholarships for domestic postgraduate students undertaking a higher degree by research at an eligible Australian provider.

APD

ARC Postdoctoral Fellowships

AQF

Australian Qualifications Framework: unified system of national qualifications in schools, vocational education and training (TAFE and private providers) and the higher education sector (mainly universities).

ARC

Australian Research Council: the ARC funds research and researchers via the National Competitive Grants Program (NCGP). 

ARROW

Australian Research Repositories Online to the World: digital archive for Monash University's research output.

ARTS

Automated Results Transfer System: collects academic results from Australian universities and provides them to institutions through VTAC and the other state admissions systems.

ATN

Australian Technology Network: an alliance of five Australian universities focusing on partnerships with industry and government to deliver practical research outcomes.

AUQA

Australian Universities Quality Agency: national agency that audits and promotes quality assurance in Australian higher education.  

AusAID

Australian Agency for International Development: federal government agency responsible for managing Australia's overseas aid program. Monash is a participating institution in the DEST/AusAID Australian Scholarships program.

Australian Scholarships

Australian Government initiative that brings together Australian Government scholarship programs managed by DEST and AusAID. The program includes Australian Development Scholarships, Australian Leadership Awards and Endeavour Awards.

Austudy

Government assistance to people aged 25 and over who are studying or training full-time at an eligible institution.

Authorised University Travel

Travel on behalf of Monash University that has been approved by the Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Vice-President, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Dean, Divisional Director or their formal nominee.

AVCC

Australian Vice-Chancellors Committee: now replaced by Universities Australia.

AWA

Australian Workplace Agreement: an individual agreement between employer and employee setting out terms and conditions of their employment. By contrast, an Enterprise Bargaining Agreement   is a collective agreement made with a group of employees.

Award

Degree, diploma or certificate which is listed in the Faculties Regulations, or a research higher degree of the university (Masters or PhD) These are the titles which appear on university testamurs and transcripts.

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BAA

Backing Australia’s Ability: Australian Government initiative to support research, science and technology through research and development, commercial applications of research; and developing and retaining skills.

BDM

Business Development Manager

Block Credit 

Credit granted in the form of whole stages or semesters of a course.

Board of Examiners

Faculty committee responsible for determining the results of the performances of all candidates enrolled in the faculty. The composition and duties of the Board of Examiners are specified in the Examination Regulations.

Bologna Process

A series of European Union reforms aimed at convergence, consistency and portability across higher education systems in Europe by developing a common framework of Bachelor, Master and Doctorate degrees.

Business Rules

Rules that define or constrain the university’s business practices. While business rules guide decision-making behaviour, they do not necessarily emanate from policy. They determine the day-to-day operation of an organisational unit.

Business travel

Approved teaching, research and development undertaken by staff as part of their university work.

Business Travel Diary

Detailed account of staff travel activities and the dates undertaken.

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CAAUT

Carrick Awards for Australian University Teaching: Australian government awards for rewarding excellence in university teaching. These have replaced the Australian Awards for University Teaching.

CAIS

Centre for Australian Indigenous Studies

Callista

Student information system developed by Callista Software Services to accommodate the majority of business functions associated with student administration.

CALT

Centre for the Advancement of Learning and Teaching: coordinates the university’s goal of advancing excellence in education at Monash by providing high quality, systematic, strategic and targeted learning support for students and teaching support for staff.

CAN

Commonwealth Assistance Notice: information sent to Commonwealth supported students after the census date about the units of study for which Commonwealth assistance has been received, their student contribution amounts, their Student Learning Entitlement (SLE) usage, the amount of any up-front payments made, and their HECS-HELP assistance.

Carrick Institute

Institute established in 2004 as a national focus for the enhancement of learning and teaching in Australian higher education providers.

Casual staff

Staff engaged by the hour and paid on an hourly basis that includes a loading in lieu of benefits not provided to the casual employee, including leave entitlements, penalties and loadings.

CAVAL

Cooperative Action by Victorian Academic Libraries: scheme whereby staff and students of participating academic libraries are able to borrow material from other participating Victorian academic libraries.

Census date

The date on which a student's enrolment is taken to be finalised. HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP debts are incurred and SLE is consumed on census dates. Students must make their up-front payments and submit their request/s for Commonwealth assistance by the census date.

CEP

Country Education Profiles: assessment guidelines for the comparability of overseas qualifications to Australian qualifications.

CEQ

Course Experience Questionnaire: annual questionnaire administered by Graduate Careers Australia to new graduates of Australian university undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degrees.

CGS

Commonwealth Grant Scheme: federal government contribution to the cost of Commonwealth supported places. Higher education institutions funded under the CGS are required to enter into funding agreements that are renegotiated annually. The CGS replaces the previous block grants.

Chancellor

The chair of Council, appointed to office by the members of Council. The role encompasses ceremonial, statutory, regulatory and executive functions. 

CHE

Council on Higher Education: South African independent statutory body with the responsibility to advise the Minister of Education on all matters related to higher education policy issues and quality assurance within higher education and training.

Cheating

Seeking to obtain an unfair advantage in an examination or in other written or practical work required to be submitted or completed by a student for assessment. See Discipline Statute.

CHEQ

Centre for Higher Education Quality

CHESSN

Commonwealth Higher Education System Student Number: unique student identifier that higher education providers must use in communications with DEST.

Chief Examiner

Person responsible for assessment in a unit. See Examinations Regulations.

Chief Executive Officer

The Vice-Chancellor and President of the University, or his/her nominee. See definitions in the Enterprise Bargaining Agreement.

Close personal relationship

A relationship which can result in a real or potential conflict of interest; includes family, marital or de facto, and financial relationships.

CMS

Content Management System: system for managing university web pages that enables web authorship without complex technical knowledge and collaborative authoring of web pages.

COE

Confirmation of Enrolment: international students coming to study in Australia may apply to the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA) for a student visa after they have received electronic confirmation of enrolment (eCoE) in a full-time course of study.

Commonwealth Learning Scholarships

Program to support disadvantaged domestic students from low socio-economic backgrounds with costs associated with higher education.

Conflict of interest

A member of the university is at risk of a conflict of interest when he/she has some personal or external interest which could be judged to affect the impartial exercise of university tasks or responsibilities.

Consultant 

Individual or business engaged to provide "personal services" to the university, where these are defined as services provided for reward by an individual's personal efforts or skills, but do not include trade services.

Continuing staff

Staff whose employment has no fixed end date.

Continuous assessment

Assessment tasks or activities that are spread throughout the time of study rather than being concentrated at the end of the semester. Continuous assessment may be formative or summative.

Cooperative Delivery

A course in which students are enrolled as Monash students, and Monash and a partner share responsibility for providing teaching, academic support, and administration and services.  See Cross-Institutional Courses and Twinning Programs, and the university’s Cross-Institutional Courses and Partnerships Policy.

Council

The governing body of Monash University, established by the Monash University Act 1958.  Council is chaired by the Chancellor.

Course

The accumulation of units, according to a set of rules, that leads to the award of a qualification (eg Bachelor of Arts, Master of Science).  In the case of a double degree, this course of study can lead to the award of two qualifications. See the university’s Course Structure Policy.

CRC

Cooperative Research Centre: the CRC Programme was established in 1990 to link researchers and industry through research and development (R&D) to improve utilisation, commercialisation and technology transfer of Australia's research.

Credentialled Learning

Relevant skills, knowledge or competencies that have been acquired from a provider other than an Australian university or TAFE college (or equivalent).  See the university’s Credit Policy. See also RPL.

Credit

The recognition for credit of prior study in a university or TAFE college (or equivalent); synonymous with Advanced Standing and Credit Transfer. In recognition of their prior learning, students may be granted Block Credit, Specified or Unspecified Credit. See the university’s Credit Policy.

CRICOS

Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students lists all providers registered to offer courses to people studying in Australia on student visas and the courses that are approved for offer. See also the National Code of Practice for Registration Authorities and Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students.

Cross-Institutional

External relationships which lead to formal agreements with other tertiary institutions, business, industry, government agencies or schools, both locally, nationally and internationally, based on the joint development and delivery or, and graduation from, education and training programs. See Cooperative Delivery  and Twinning Programs, and the university’s Cross-Institutional Courses and Partnerships Policy.

CSP

Commonwealth Supported Place: higher education place for which the Commonwealth makes a contribution towards the cost of the student's education.

CSIRO

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation: Australia's national science agency, aiming to develop and improve Australia’s technologies, and facilitate the general public’s understanding and appreciation of science.

CUPID

Course and Unit Publication and Information Database

Currency of Curriculum

The university’s Relevance of the Curriculum Policy aims to ensure that curricula are regularly updated, abreast with the latest research, responsive to external needs, cognisant of clients, and flexible to change.

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DART

Database Acquisition Accessibility and Annotation e-Research Technologies

DBA

Doctor of Business Administration

Dean

The university officer appointed as chairperson of the faculty presiding over the educational and administrative affairs of the faculty. See definitions in the Enterprise Bargaining Agreement.

Deferral (or deferment)

An adjournment of the starting date for study which allows a student's place in a course to be held for a nominated length of time, usually one year. See the university’s Deferment Policy.

Deferred Examination

See Special Examination.

Degree faculty

The faculty or faculties that a degree covers; for example the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws has the degree faculty of Law/Arts. See also Managing Faculty  and Teaching Faculty.

DEEWR

Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations

DFAT Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
DIAC Department of Immigration and Citizenship (formerly Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs) 

Diploma Supplement

Document attached to a higher education diploma providing a description of the nature, level, context, content and status of the studies successfully completed. It aims to facilitate academic and professional recognition of qualifications.

Discovery Projects

A National Competitive Grants Program for research projects and fellowships from small-scale single projects to clusters of larger projects. Where appropriate, Discovery-Projects emphasises the need for collaboration, and the development of capacity-building partnerships to work on a cohesive research programme that will make a major contribution to generating knowledge.

Discovery-Indigenous Researchers Development Program

A National Competitive Grants Program assisting Indigenous Australian researchers to develop research expertise and experience to a level which is competitive with mainstream funding.

Discipline - education

In the university’s Course Structure Policy, defined as synonymous with 'field of study'.

Disciplinary action - staff

Action by the university to discipline a member of academic or general staff for unsatisfactory performance, misconduct or serious misconduct. See definitions in the Enterprise Bargaining Agreement.

Discipline - student

The Discipline Statute encompasses academic, general and research misconduct by students.

Discipline group 

A means of classifying units of study in terms of the subject matter being taught and/or researched in them. See the DEST Classification of Higher Education Discipline Groups.

Division

The groupings of central administrative areas.

Domestic student

A person enrolled in an undergraduate or postgraduate academic program and who is an Australian or New Zealand citizen, or who holds Permanent Residency status in Australia.

DVC

Deputy Vice-Chancellor. Monash has three DVCs: the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education), Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International).

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EBA

The Enterprise Bargaining Agreement is the outcome of the process by which Monash University and the staff of the university negotiate improvements to the terms and conditions of their employment.

EFTSL

Equivalent Full-Time Student Load: a measure of the study load, for a year, of a student undertaking a course of study on a full time basis.

ELICOS

English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students

Endeavour Program

Program for high-achieving students, researchers and professionals from the Asia-Pacific region and other regions to undertake short or long term study, research and professional development in Australia.  It also offers exchange programs for Australians to do the same abroad. 

ENTER

Equivalent National Tertiary Entrance Rank: an overall percentile ranking, calculated in steps of 0.05, reflecting the comparative performance of VCE candidates amongst the relevant national age group in a given year. 

ESOS

Education Services for Overseas Students: regulates the education and training of overseas students studying in Australia on student visas through the ESOS Act and associated legislation which protects the interests of these students by providing tuition and financial assurance.   

ESS

Monash Employee Self Service

Exchange student 

A student who is participating in a formal exchange program arranged between the university and a non-Australian overseas higher education provider. The student pays fees to the home institution not to the host institution. See also Monash Abroad.

Exemption

Where a student is not required to take a certain unit on the basis of work already completed but is required to undertake an alternative unit of equivalent credit points. See the university’s Credit Policy.

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Faculty

The groupings of academic areas within the university.

Federation fellowships

Prestigious awards designed to develop and retain Australian skills as part of the National Competitive Grants Program. Federation Fellowships reflect a commitment to excellence in research by attracting world-class researchers to key positions, and creating new rewards and incentives for the application of their talents in Australia.

FEE-HELP

A loan scheme to help eligible non-Commonwealth supported students pay their tuition fees. FEE-HELP has replaced the Postgraduate Education Loan Scheme, Open Learning Deferred Payment Scheme and Bridging for Overseas-Trained Professionals Loan Scheme.

Field of Education

DEST classification of higher education courses, specialisations and units with the same or similar vocational emphasis or principal subject matter.

Field of Study

An approved sequence of units in cognate areas. See the university’s Course Structure Policy.

FiRM

Financial Resources Management Division

Fixed-term employment

Employment for a specified term with a specific start and end date.

Flightlock

System that monitors all travel bookings made through the university’s preferred Travel Management Company.  The system enables early warning of travellers booking to risky locations.

FOI 

Freedom of Information: The University must comply with the Freedom of Information (Miscellaneous) Amendment Act 2001. Documents created and received by any University officer in the course of their duties may be subject to an FOI application. See the university’s Freedom of Information Policy.

Formative assessment

Diagnostic use of assessment during a teaching program to monitor progress and provide feedback. Formative assessment is part of the teaching cycle, and unlike summative assessment, does not involve assigning marks or grades.  

FTE

Full Time Equivalent (Staff)

Full-time employment

All employment during the regular weekly ordinary hours as defined in the Enterprise Bargaining Agreement.

Full-time study

For the purposes of OS-HELP only, full-time study is taken to be a level of academic engagement that is broadly equivalent to the level of academic engagement required by a student undertaking at least 0.75 EFTSL per year.

Future Students

Information for future and prospective students.
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GAMS

Grant Application Management System: a facility for submitting applications for ARC funding schemes via the Internet.

GAT

General Achievement Test: a test of general knowledge and skills in written communication, mathematics, science and technology, humanities, the arts and social sciences undertaken by students enrolled in Units 3 and 4 of any VCE study. The GAT provides a check that school assessments and examinations have been accurately assessed.

GATS

General Agreement on Trade in Services: A set of multilateral rules covering international trade in services. The GATS is administered by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) but the agreement has been negotiated by the WTO member governments themselves. It is important to higher education because the scope of GATS includes education services.

GCHE

Graduate Certificate of Higher Education: formal qualification in university teaching undertaken by new academic staff during their probationary period

GDS

Graduate Destination Survey: annual questionnaire administered by Graduate Careers Australia to new graduates of Australian universities to determine their employment status and destinations approximately four months after graduation.

General misconduct

Any behaviour in relation to people or property which is contrary to generally accepted standards of behaviour. See Discipline Statute.

Genuine fifth year units

Units in the discipline that are clearly a year beyond fourth year honours or a postgraduate diploma level unit. See the university’s Graduate/Postgraduate Course Structure Policy.

Genuine fourth year units

Units that are a clear level beyond third year undergraduate level units. They may be fourth year honours units or they may be special units suitable for a postgraduate diploma, or professional training that builds on three years of study in the discipline. See the university’s Graduate/Postgraduate Course Structure Policy.

Go8

Group of Eight: Group of vice-chancellors of Australia's eight leading universities.

GPA

Grade point average: the average result of all grades achieved by a student during a course of study at tertiary level.

Grading Scale

The framework correlating a percentage of marks to a level of achievement on an individual task or a whole unit or course. See the university’s Grading Scale Policy.

Graduate

A person on whom the university has conferred an academic award, including honorary awards and awards conferred jointly with another institution.

Guidelines

 

Non-mandatory approaches to the implementation of policies, procedures or business rules. They provide flexible “good practice” recommendations to assist those responsible for the implementation of policies, procedures and rules, and may include codes of conduct guiding behaviour.

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HDR

Higher Degree by Research

Heads of Agreement 

A non-binding document outlining the main issues relevant to a tentative partnership agreement.

HECS-HELP

A scheme that includes up-front payment discounts and loans to help students in Commonwealth Supported Places pay their student contributions.

HEI

Higher education institution

HEIMS

Higher Education Information Management System: web-based information system providing students with information on the availability and usage of Commonwealth assistance by students and higher education providers with information on program management reporting.

HEP

Higher Education Provider: universities and higher education institutions as determined by the Higher Education Support Act.

HEQC

Higher Education Quality Committee:  subcommittee of the CHE with the mandate to promote quality assurance in South African higher education, audit the quality assurance mechanisms of higher education institutions and accredit higher education programs.

HERDC

Higher Education Research Data Collection: data on research income and research publications data submitted by universities each year.

HESA

Higher Education Support Act

HESA

Higher Education South Africa: HESA came into being as the result of a merger between the South African Universities Vice-Chancellors Association (SAUVCA) and the Committee of Technikon Principals (CTP).

Higher Education Reform Package

Australia’s higher education reform package is a comprehensive ten-year program for higher education which commenced in 2003.

HOD

Head of department

Home Campus

Monash University campus at which the staff member usually works, or student studies, in any part of the world.

Home Institution

The institution at which the student is enrolled for the majority of their  course.

HOS

Head of school

Host Institution

The partner institution at which a student is undertaking some part of an exchange, study abroad or cross-institutional program.

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IAS

Integrated Administrative Systems: a core competence centre within ITS to provide all aspects of support for corporate administrative systems. 

iCCT

information, Computer and Communications Technology Forum

ICT

Information and Communication Technology

IELTS

International English Language Testing Scheme

IGS

Institutional Grants Scheme: The IGS provides block grants, on a calendar year basis, to eligible HEPs to support research and research training activities.

Induction

A program of activities to assist new staff orient to the university.

Insurance Services

Office responsible for all insurance related matters including travel insurance.

Insured person

Employees, Directors, Council and Committee Members, Voluntary and Honorary lecturers, Honorary sports coaches, voluntary workers, consultants, contractors and postgraduate students of Monash University.

Intermission

A break in studies that when granted reserves a place in the course for a student when the intermission has ended providing that the student re-enrols during the designated periods.

International assignment

A period of work when a Monash University Australia staff member is seconded overseas to a Monash University campus or centre for a period of more than ninety days and relocation is required.

International student

A person enrolled in an undergraduate or postgraduate academic program who is not a citizen of Australia or New Zealand and who does not hold Permanent Residency status in Australia.

IP

Intellectual Property: see the university statute, regulations and framework for intellectual property.

IPRS

International Postgraduate Research Scholarships: now known as Endeavour International Postgraduate Research Scholarships.

ITS

The university’s division of Information Technology Services

J

JASON

Joint Academic Scholarships On-line Network: Australian information database for postgraduate scholarships which will allow students to study either at a university in Australia or to travel overseas as part of their program.

K

KPI

Key Performance Indicator

KRONOS

The university load planning and monitoring system.

L

Learning and Teaching Performance Fund

Fund established in 2003 as part of the Australian Government’s Our Universities: Backing Australia’s Future initiative to reward higher education providers that best demonstrate excellence in learning and teaching. 

LOCATE

Monash University protocol for classifying and naming corporate information and records.

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MAI

Monash Asia Institute: six specialist centres representing Asian research and teaching in all ten faculties on all Monash campuses located in Australia and abroad.

Major

A minimum of 48 credit points in a field of study or discipline, including a minimum of 12 points at both second and third year levels respectively. See the university’s Course Structure Policy.

Managing Faculty

The faculty that is assigned responsibility to coordinate administrative matters for each single or double degree program (including but not restricted to admission, enrolment, course advice, academic progress and academic referral). Only one faculty can manage a course/enrolment; for example the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws has the managing faculty of Law.

MAPS

Mature Age and Part-Time Students Association. A division of MSA.

MBA

Master of Business Administration

Mentoring

A process where a less inexperienced member of staff or graduate student is supported by an experienced colleague. Monash University runs a university-wide mentoring scheme for academic and general women staff members.

MEQ

 

Monash Experience Questionnaire: biennial student survey through which the university systematically identifies major areas of the student experience that requiring attention and improvement.

MISCL

Monash Immunology and Stem Cell Laboratories

Misconduct – staff

Staff conduct which is not serious misconduct but which is nonetheless conduct which is unsatisfactory. See definitions in the Enterprise Bargaining Agreement.

Misconduct – student

See Discipline - student

MNRF

Major National Research Facilities Programme

Mode of attendance

This is a classification of the way in which a student is undertaking a unit of study, according to whether their enrolment in a unit is Internal, External or Multi-modal.

Monash Abroad

The Monash Abroad website provides information about exchange and study abroad opportunities for Monash students, and students at overseas institutions who would like to spend one or two semesters studying at Monash.

Monash University Act

The University Act is the legal instrument under which the university operates.

Monpix

Monash University Archives Online Image Database

MonQueST

Monash Questionnaire Series on Teaching

MONSU Caulfield

Monash University Student Union Caulfield

MOU (or MoU)

Memorandum of Understanding: A document outlining the terms and conditions of an agreement between parties, including each party’s requirements and responsibilities. An MOU can be the precursor to a formal contract.

MPA

Monash Postgraduate Association

MRC

Monash University Research Committee

MRGS

Monash Research Graduate School

MSA

Monash South Africa

MSA

Monash Student Association (Clayton)

MUARC

Monash University Accident Research Centre: a leading Australian injury prevention and control research institute. Its charter includes safety in all modes of transport, in the workplace, in the community and in the home.

MUBS

Monash Union of Berwick Students

MUELC

Monash University English Language Centre

MUFY

Monash University Foundation Year

MUGSU

Monash University Gippsland Student Union

MUISS

Monash University International Student Services

MUMA

Monash University Museum of Art

MUSC Monash University Sunway Campus

MUTTS

Monash University Timetable System

MUV

Monash University Venues

N
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Natural justice

The right to be heard, the right to be treated without bias, the right to be informed of allegations being made and provided with an opportunity to respond to them. The principles derive from the belief of the Romans that some principles of law are "natural" or self-evident. See the principles of procedural fairness in the university’s Student Discipline Guidelines.

National Competitive Grants Program

These programs are grouped into Discovery, Linkage and Centres. The ARC Discovery programs fund individual researchers and projects. The ARC Linkage programs fund partnerships between researchers and industry, government and community organisations as well as the international community. The ARC Centres programs build research scale and focus and strengthen major research partnerships and networks.

National priority areas

Areas for which the Commonwealth offers additional assistance, either through offering additional places, increasing Commonwealth contributions or reducing the maximum student contribution amounts for a place (see the Commonwealth Grant Scheme Guidelines). Currently, education and nursing are the National Priority areas.

National research priorities

DEST sets priorities for research areas that will contribute to Australia’s future.

NESB

Non-English-Speaking Background

NHMRC

National Health and Medical Research Council

Non-award course

An academic course of study of varying length, normally not more than the equivalent of one semester full-time (eg faculty certificates).  Non-award courses are normally designed to meet the needs of external clients, including the profession, industry and the community.  The course may include units that are normally taken as part of award courses, and may articulate into award programs.

NOOSR

National Office for Overseas Skill Recognition. See also Country Education Profiles.

NP

Near Pass Grade: the grade to be used where a Faculty does not wish to record a Fail (N) grade for a student who has achieved a mark in the range 45-49. See the university’s Grading Scale Policy.

NQF

South African National Qualifications Framework: principles and guidelines by which records of learner achievement are registered to enable national recognition of acquired skills and knowledge.

NTEU

National Tertiary Education Industry Union

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OCLC

Off Campus Learning Centre

OECD

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development: Australia is a member country of the OECD whose interests include the global higher education market.

Off Campus Learning

Distributed learning with teacher and learners geographically separated from each other.  (The term ‘Off Campus Learning’ has replaced the terminology previously used by the university including ‘Distributed Learning’ and ‘Distance Education’.)

OHS

Occupational Health and Safety: see the university’s Occupational Health, Safety & Environment (OHS&E) website and also the national OHS strategy.

OLA

Open Learning Australia: now known as Open Universities Australia.

OQU

Overseas Qualifications Unit

OPRS

Overseas Postgraduate Research Scholarships: now known as Endeavour International Postgraduate Research Scholarships.

Orientation

The beginning of semester for new students: activities (usually of a week’s duration) designed to help students settle into university and provide them with information to prepare them for university life.

OS-HELP

A cash loan available to eligible students who undertake some of their  course overseas. See the university’s OS-HELP information at the Monash Abroad website.

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Parental leave

Parental leave in the 2005 Enterprise Agreement covers maternity leave, adoption leave and spouse/partner birth leave.

Partnerships

Partnerships primarily involve two basic models, "twinning programs" and "cooperative delivery". See also the university’s Cross-Institutional Courses and Partnerships Policy.

PELS

Postgraduate Education Loans Scheme: replaced by FEE-HELP

PEPP

Plagiarism Education and Prevention Project

Personal information

Any information or opinion about an individual whose identity is apparent or can reasonably be ascertained from the information or opinion, and may include name, address, date of birth and staff or student identification number. See the university’s Privacy Policy.

Plagiarism

Using another person's ideas and or manner of expressing them and to pass them off as one's own by failing to give appropriate acknowledgement. See the university’s Plagiarism Policy.

Policy

A concise, formal and mandatory statement of principle which provides a framework for decision-making and a means by which the university reduces institutional risk. Policies support the university’s course for the foreseeable future and should therefore change infrequently.

Postgraduate coursework student

A person enrolled in a higher degree program based predominantly on coursework study. Masters by coursework programs may involve a project or ‘minor thesis’ that allows the student to become familiar with research methodologies in the area and provides a limited opportunity for putting them into practice. At Monash, coursework Masters Degrees normally involve the completion of coursework subjects that represent no less than 50% of the requirements of the  course.

Postgraduate research student

A person enrolled in a higher degree program based predominantly or wholly on research rather than coursework.

PREQ

Postgraduate Research Experience Questionnaire: annual questionnaire administered by Graduate Careers Australia to new graduates of Australian university postgraduate research degrees.

PRISMS

Provider Registration and International Students Management System that allows registered users to generate Confirmations of Enrolment (CoEs) for overseas students. Providers are also required to use PRISMS to report prescribed variations to students' enrolments.

Procedures

Mandatory steps required to implement and comply with a policy and meet its intent. They specify who does what and when. Procedures may be reviewed and revised more frequently than policies.

Program

The path to an award or  course.

PVC

Pro Vice-Chancellor. Monash has seven PVCs: Pro Vice-Chancellor - Planning and Quality, Pro Vice-Chancellor - Campus CoordinationPro Vice-Chancellor - Industry Engagement and Commercialisation, Pro Vice-Chancellor - Research and Research Training, Pro Vice-Chancellor - Gippsland, Pro Vice-Chancellor - Malaysia and Pro Vice-Chancellor - South Africa.

Q

QA

Quality Assurance. See also the CHEQ website.

Qualification

An award or other form of certification of attainment, competence or attendance.

Qualifications Category

A particular level of academic study leading to a qualification.  Each qualification category has specific entrance and exit standards, duration and credit points. See the university’s Schedule of Qualifications Categories.

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R&D

Research and Development: the creation of new knowledge and the use of this knowledge to devise new applications.

RAE

Research Assessment Exercise: a series of exercises to assess the quality of UK research and to inform the selective distribution of public funds for research by the four UK higher education funding bodies.

Regulations

Often known as "associated legislation". Like statutes, they are drafted by the university solicitors and Council is the final step of approval; however, unlike statutes, they do not have to be signed off by the minister. The regulations will typically spell out in more detail some aspect of the statute.

ResearchMaster

Database software used to track research activity at Monash University

Research Block Grants

Programs providing eligible Higher Education Providers with grants to support research and research training.

Research misconduct

Negligent or intentional (i) fabrication or falsification of data; (ii) plagiarism; (iii) misleading or inadequate ascription of authorship; (iv) breaches of the university’s Code of Conduct for the Responsible Practice of Research. See the Discipline Statute.

RIBG

Research Infrastructure Block Grant: RIBG provides block grants, on a calendar year basis, to eligible HEPs to enhance the development and maintenance of research infrastructure.

RPL

Recognition of Prior Learning: The recognition of knowledge, skills, attitudes and/or attributes that have been acquired from other than an Australian university or TAFE college (or equivalent). For the purposes of the university’s Credit Policy, RPL includes both credentialled and uncredentialled learning.

RMO 

Records Management Office: The RMO is responsible for the management of current central administration records. These records reflect the central business transactions of the university.

ROPES

Researchers' Online Projects Enquiry System

RQF

Research Quality Framework: DEST initiative for an improved assessment of the quality and impact of publicly funded research and an effective process to achieve this. See also the RQF@Monash website.

RTS

Research Training Scheme: block grants, on a calendar year basis, to eligible Higher Education Providers to support research training for students undertaking Doctorate and Masters degrees by research. 

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SAP

The SAP R/3 system is a business software system used at Monash as its integrated HR and Finance system. The "R" in the R/3 name means real-time, or immediate processing of the data entered. Real-time allows actual, up to date records, to be seen at all times. SAP AG is a German based company and is a market leader in the supply of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software.

SAQA

South African Qualifications Authority: body appointed by the South African Ministers of Education and Labour responsible for the registration and accreditation of education and training bodies, and the development and implementation of the NQF.

SCERH

Standing Committee on Ethics in Research involving Humans

SCM

Strategic Cost Management: financial management process used by the university that focuses on the cost of activities and services undertaken across the university, and the costs and benefits of strategic investments.

SDU

Staff Development Unit

Serious misconduct - staff

Misbehaviour of a kind which constitutes a serious impediment to the carrying out of a staff member's duties; and/or serious dereliction of one’s duties; and/or conviction by a court of an offence which constitutes a serious impediment to conducting one’s duties. See definitions in the Enterprise Bargaining Agreement.

SLA

Service Level Agreement: mutual agreement regarding the services and service levels provided by support services to faculties, and the respective responsibilities of each party.

SLE

Student Learning Entitlement: access to an equivalent of seven years of full-time study in a Commonwealth supported place for eligible Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens and holders of permanent visas.

SMC

Senior Management Committee

Special Consideration

Consideration by a board of examiners of students whose assessment has been affected by illness or other serious cause. See the university’s Special Consideration Policy.

Special Examination

Also referred to as a deferred examination: may be granted to students whose work during the academic year or performance in an examination or other assessment has been gravely affected by illness or other serious cause. See the Examinations Regulation.

Specialisation - Monash

Synonymous with 'major'. See the university’s Course Structure Policy.

Specialisation – DEST

The field of education in which a student, who has completed the academic requirements of a  course, has specialised.

Specialised degree

Structured degree program with a high content of units in an area of specialisation, named with either a specific degree or tagged degree title. See the university’s Course Titling and Abbreviation Policy.

Specific degree

A specialised degree whose main title indicates the specialisation, in contrast to a tagged degree. See the university’s Course Titling and Abbreviation Policy.

Specified credit 

Credit granted in the form of specific Monash unit(s). See the university’s Credit Policy.

Statutes

Pieces of university legislation subordinate to the Monash University Act. Changes are drafted by the university solicitors, approved by Academic Board, then Council, and must be signed off by the state Minister of Education.

Stream

A structured program of study in a specific discipline area, which may be part of single or multiple award course program.

STRIP

Science Technology Research and Innovation Precinct

Study Abroad Program

An approved program of study at a host overseas higher education institution that counts as credit towards a course enrolled in with the home higher education provider. These students are not covered by an agreement between institutions and will typically pay fees set by the overseas institution while studying overseas. See also Monash Abroad.

Summative assessment

Summative assessment assigns marks or grades to students’ work after learning has occurred. It can take the form of continuous assessment and/or terminal examinations. See also formative assessment.

Supervisor - staff

Person responsible for the day-to-day supervision of the staff member. See definitions in the Enterprise Bargaining Agreement.

Supervisor - student

Person responsible for academic supervision of a postgraduate research student (see also supervision section of Doctoral and MPhil handbook).

Supplementary Examination

Supplementary assessment granted to a student in circumstances such as when a candidate obtains a mark in a particular mark range or after certain prerequisites have been satisfied.  See the university’s Examinations Regulation.

Syllabus +

Syllabus + (or Plus) along with Allocate Plus are used for space management, timetabling and class allocation forming the Monash University Timetable System (MUTTS).

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TAFE

Technical and Further Education

Tagged degree

Specialised degree whose title consists of a broader generic degree with a specialisation in parentheses.

TAO

Travel Advisory Office: responsible for managing travel related contractors to Monash University such as the preferred TMC and car rental agencies.

TARDIS

Total Access Research Data Information System

Teaching faculty

The Teaching Faculty is a unit level variable. It is the faculty that runs the individual unit and is assigned the funded teaching load.

Teaching-research nexus

The teaching-research nexus at Monash is defined as the many ways in which teaching informs research and research informs teaching; this mutually supportive relationship operating to the benefit of both.

Terminal Examination

Examination held after the end of the teaching period and the results of which are wholly or partly used in the final assessment for the unit