Projects

Opportunities for collaboration among New Generation Regional Universities as a strategy to improve research and training outcomes
		The higher education environment has changed dramatically in Australia in recent years with a consolidation of community and public resources in the hands of the largest universities in metropolitan regions. In the long run this threatens the viability of the regional universities in the full range of university activities including research and higher education. In particular the newest regional universities, the New Generation Regional Universities (NGRUs) are the most threatened. This research project investigates the potential for employing the latest supply chain management technologies of collaboration in forming partnerships and joint ventures as a mechanism to improve outcomes for stakeholder groups which will promote ongoing NGRU development.

The demand for a professional Fleet Management Qualification
Fleet management can be defined as the management of a fleet of vehicles, using physical distribution and transportation technologies, information systems and planning tools, to improve operational efficiency and effectiveness. In a world where the costs of transport and distribution are becoming a major focus for strategic advantage via cost controls and demand chain management, appropriate control of fleet operations is essential. Indeed, the need for the emergence of a qualified fleet management profession seems paramount. This research project aims to establish whether there is indeed, the need for a professional fleet management qualification such as that offered at University Certificate and Diploma level, as well as detailing what would constitute the content of a fleet management training program.

Best practice: audio graphic delivery of supply chain management training (a case study of Elluminate)
SCU researchers Steve Rowe and Peter Vitartas		Some educational technologies, such as data projectors, are restricted to use within a single classroom and have a single purpose. Other educational technologies have a global reach and provide a suite of integrated tools. Elluminate Live! is one of a new generation of audio graphic software platforms that has the potential to revolutionize teaching and learning. It provides a real-time teaching and collaboration environment that can be used to deliver lectures, demonstrations, tutorials, coaching, and mentoring sessions and conduct meetings. Each participant links to the session via computer and Web browser and is able to interact via voice (VoIP), video (Webcam), graphics (shared whiteboard), multimedia files (eg PowerPoint) or shared applications (eg spreadsheet). Sessions can be recorded and replayed at any time. Southern Cross University is one of only three Australian Universities to have licensed this technology.
The WSRI Elluminate Project will collect, organise and disseminate best practice in teaching various Southern Cross University supply chain management units and courses using this new, integrated technology. The outcomes will provide guidelines to encourage increased interaction between staff and students, suggest new innovative ways of teaching (eg use of real time data, guest lecturers) and give students the flexibility to use different learning styles as well as increase the opportunity for collaborative learning. The use of this technology will also prepare students for the modern, global workplace.

Business Outlook Survey (BOS)
The aim of the BOS Project is to establish a monitor of the economic performance of industry in Australia by surveying enterprise managers as to change in their demand and supply conditions. Such a monitor would be helpful not only to policy makers but also business decision makers by providing a barometer of changing business conditions across and within industries. At its most basic, the BOS will collect sample data from enterprise managers across industries on a number of variables including new orders, production, inventory levels, order backlogs, prices paid, employment, and supplier delivery performance. Apart from providing useful data on these variables, the aggregate is a measure of ongoing economic activity.