Director's Welcome
Australian tertiary education has gone through a sustained period of change since the late 1980s which saw it transition from being publicly funded to being publicly supported. These changes have caused universities to grow and develop into large institutions by world standards - complex, multi-faceted, multi-million dollar enterprises. At the same time, vocational education and training has been the subject of continuous reform combined with a diverse range of governance arrangements across states and an explosive growth in private providers.
There are no indications, nationally or internationally, that the demands placed upon our tertiary institutions will abate, or that the student body or study patterns will become less complex. The LH Martin Institute was established, with the support of the Australian Government, to help leaders, professionals and academics gain an understanding of the rapidly changing sector and translate that knowledge into effective management strategies for their institution. In other words, we aim to improve management and leadership in the tertiary education sector by assisting its current and aspiring leaders in fulfilling their missions.
We do this by providing an integrated set of programs, events and research projects (all of which are listed on this website) that are tailored to the particular needs of the sector. They include
- postgraduate courses for senior level academic and administrative leaders offering practical skills for successfully leading and managing institutions,
- multi-module programs and short courses for professionals across all facets of tertiary education to gain further insight and renew skills in relation to their roles, and ways to optimise these in management and strategic planning,
- international study tours to learn first-hand about key issues and trends in higher education, research and innovation in other countries, and
- public lectures, conferences and seminars covering current topics of interest.
I invite you to further explore our website and hope that you will find its information useful and of immediate relevance to you and your institution.
On behalf of the LH Martin Institute, I look forward to working with you.
Professor V. Lynn Meek
Director
Our mission
We aim to improve management and leadership in the tertiary education sector by providing an integrated set of education, training and bespoke programs which are underpinned by research, and by holding forums and events which cater specifically to the sector.
What we do
See our 2011 Overview Brochure for a full outline of our current activities. Full details on current programs, events and projects can be accessed through the menu bar on the left of your screen.
We've also compiled a look back on our activities between 2008 and 2010 for your reference.
Looking ahead, our activities in 2012 and beyond will be framed by the outcomes of the Self Review and External Review of the Institute.
Who is L.H. Martin?
Professor Sir Leslie Martin was an eminent physicist who became a key higher education adviser to the Menzies government. Sir Leslie was Lecturer and Associate Professor in Natural Philosophy, and then Professor of Physics at the University of Melbourne (1927-59). After leaving the University of Melbourne in 1959, Sir Leslie became Chairman of the Australian Universities Commission, a position he held until 1966.
Sir Leslie oversaw a rapid expansion of Australian higher education, including the commencement of five new universities. In 1961, he became Chairman of a major inquiry into the future of Australian higher education - the Committee on the Future Development of Tertiary Education in Australia - which became known as the Martin Committee.
After leaving the AUC, in 1967 Sir Leslie became Professor of Physics and the first Dean of the Faculty of Military Studies at the Royal Military College Duntroon. He retired in 1971. The College established the Sir Leslie Martin Prize, which has been awarded every year since 1985, and from 1986 by the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA). The prize is awarded for 'distinguished performance by a First Year Officer Cadet in First Year Physics' from all streams, that is, all Physics, Engineering and Arts students who take Physics.
Among his many other posts was Commissioner of the Australian Atomic Energy Commission (1958-1968). Leslie Martin was knighted in 1957 to honour his outstanding contributions to science.