Welcome to the April issue of Micro-Byte

With the first quarter of the year already gone we are fast approaching the busiest period for the Faculty.

Planning has already begun for some of the major Faculty events including Open Day, the Honours and Research Expo and Industry Showcase. Your input and assistance with these events will be greatly appreciated to ensure the Faculty is able to showcase its full potential.

Soon you will also notice part of the university website roll over into the new format. This is the first stage and other areas will slowly be moved across as the year progresses. Our current content is being reviewed and we are having discussions with Schools to ensure only our key messages are carried across into this new content management system.

We have been making a constant effort to meet the Key Performance Indicators approved by the University Council which are outlined in the Faculty and School corporate plans.

Meeting AQF compliance for all programs is a high priority for self-accrediting purposes. Reviewing these programs is an opportunity for improvement in content and assessment methods which is one of the strategic objectives outlined in the University Education Plan.

Some of our academics have had their research topics featured in local media which has helped promote the high calibre work being undertaken by our Faculty, such as the research into amphibian protection being led by Dr John Clulow and Professor Michael Mahony.

Close to 500 students graduated earlier this month from the Faculty and it was an excellent opportunity to briefly meet our graduates that will now be able to strongly contribute to workplaces at a local, national and international level.

Please keep up the good work as the year continues and contact microbyte@newcastle.edu.au if there is anything you would like to share with us.

Best wishes,

Professor Bill Hogarth
Pro Vice-Chancellor