From the Vice-Chancellor – August 2020

Dear Deakin alumni and friends,

The dKin Times has always featured stories of Deakin alumni and our partners doing remarkable things across the world. It has been particularly edifying and touching to see this international perspective in recent times. I know that it has given me a sense of shared human experience, and an expansive mindset during a period when our physical worlds have new, if temporary, limits. Wherever you are, I hope that you have likewise drawn comfort from and found inspiration in these stories.

With greater public and political scepticism on the merits of globalism, it is more important than ever to showcase our international credentials and the immense value that our connections create, both in Australia and for our communities abroad. Great universities build bridges, they strive for connection and broaden their understanding of diverse peoples and places. Australia, and Deakin, are entwined in the affairs of the world, and these networks and relationships will continue to be a fundamental strength in the years ahead. We greatly look forward to welcoming our international students, academics and other visitors back to our campuses.

In Victoria, the State Government’s recently enacted Stage 3 and 4 lockdowns in regional areas and Melbourne respectively, have meant that we have further revised our campus reactivation plans. We need to remain flexible and patient, always adhering to the advice of the health authorities. Staff and students are working and learning remotely, apart from a small selection of activities that are exempt. For the latest information on these measures, please visit our dedicated website.

Deakin continues to prove its strong digital capabilities, with events that were once vibrant face-to-face occasions, now being wholly and successfully run online. I hope you have managed to enjoy one or more of these events, including the annual Brookes Oration held on 17 August, delivered this year by Mr John Denton, Board member of the United Nations Global Compact; and the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) final, held on 19 August, which is an important opportunity for our HDR students to communicate their areas of research and its relevance.

Deakin’s first ever Virtual Open Day surpassed all expectations, with close to 44,000 people interacting with over 1,000 Deakin staff over six hours on Sunday, 16 August – almost double the turnout to traditional Open Days, a truly amazing result for all involved.

Upcoming online events include the Deakin Alumni Awards on 8 October, a Zoom panel on 31 August featuring Deakin alumni who are living life on the frontline of COVID-19; and ongoing, free webinars on a wide range of topics – visit our events page to find out more and register.

Best wishes,
Iain.

Vice-Chancellor
Deakin University