Director of MRGS

Professor Max King, the Monash Research Graduate School's director, is currently chairman of the university's Research Graduate School Committee and Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research and Research Training).

Over the last 20 years he has supervised 40 postgraduate researchers. In 1993 he was runner-up in the Monash Postgraduate Association's Supervisor of the Year competition and in 1996 won the Vice-Chancellor's Award for Postgraduate Supervision.

Professor King believes there must be a strong departmental culture of caring about postgraduate research candidates.

"In this way the students are given office space, access to departmental resources and quickly become part of the department. Over time they find they have an important role to play in the research and teaching process, with their views often being sought by their more senior colleagues", comments Professor King.

"We have just conducted our fourth survey of all postgraduate research students seeking their views on the quality of supervision and departmental/school/faculty support. Past surveys were conducted in 1994, 1998 and 2002. We have noticed a significant decline in the level of dissatistaction expressed by students from survey to survey which is very heartening."

As Director, Professor King sees the Monash Research Graduate School in a supporting role, co-ordinating and enhancing the work of individual faculties and academic units. As a vehicle for discussion and debate on research training issues, Professor King runs a twice yearly forum of departmental graduate studies co-ordinators, supervisors, academic and administrative staff. He also leads a number of supervision training workshops during the year.