April 2010 News on Campus @ Bond University
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COMPUTER GAMES DEGREE TAKES WICTOR TO THE INDUSTRY LEADERS
Fresh from graduating with his Bachelor of Computer Games in October last year, Wictor Hattenbach has landed a job with one of the world’s leading independent video game publishers.
Relocating to Paris to take on his new role, Wictor has been appointed Assistant Lead Test Designer for Ubisoft whose world-wide best-selling franchises include Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six®, Rayman®, Petz® and Assassin’s Creed®. With studios established in 28 countries and 17 multimillion unit-selling brands in their portfolio, Ubisoft turned over €1.058 billion in sales for the 2008/09 financial year, making it the third largest independent games publisher in the world (outside Asia).
For Wictor, however, it wasn’t the size that attracted him to Ubisoft: “I was actually more interested in the innovative intellectual property they have developed in the past and their potential for future developments in this area,” he said. “My ultimate goal is to create programs that bring true emotion into videogaming and Ubisoft are making huge advances towards this.”Wictor relocated from Sweden to study computer gaming at Bond and says that “Everything!” he learnt is proving to be relevant in his new role.
“Every day at Ubisoft is different with new tasks – or ‘adventures’ as I like to call them,” he said. “My role involves designing quality control and assurance tools – we’re currently working on a AAA project, Ghost Recon: Future Soldiers, which is part of Ubisoft’s most successful Tom Clancy franchises. “In reality, this encompasses every aspect of the programming and design process: One day, you could be working closely with the gameplay programmers or maybe the engineers, and the next day, you’re with the game designers.
“You have to be prepared to utilize all your knowledge and be innovative at all times, and my degree has given me the broad framework which I have been able to consolidate in my everyday assignments.” Adding to the mix is the challenge of starting a new life – yet again – in a new country. “It has been quite intense – especially as I am just beginning to learn French,” said Wictor.
‘BEST INTERNATIONAL MOOTER' AT INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT TRIAL COMPETITION
Bond University has won ‘Best International Mooter' for the second year running at the prestigious International Criminal Court Trial Competition in The Hague. Mooter Ashleigh Light won Best Oralist of the competition, outshining speakers from 17 other universities around the world, including Yale University in the United States, Osgood Hall in Canada and Queens University in Belfast. Ms Light, together with fellow students Daniel Ryan, Rowan Kendall, Sarah Bond and Hannah Maher, made up the Bond team that also took home the award for Best Defence Counsel. Bond Law is making quite a name for itself in the competition, with Bondy Kate Mitchell (now an Alumnus) having won the coveted international speaking prize last year. Congratulations to the team and their coach, Senior Teaching Fellow Joe Crowley.
CAMERON'S MONKEY BUSINESS AT TROPFEST
Bond University’s Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences presented A Night at the Movies. An evening was spent in the crazy claymation world of Cameron Edser, Tropfest 2010 runner-up and 2005 BUFTA (Bond University Film and Television Awards) winner.
Cameron showcased three of his films that represent his journey from school yard talent to successful film maker, and will discuss his process, his inspiration and how his Film and Television studies at Bond helped him sharpen his skills and gain insight into the film and television industry.
Film and Television Alumnus Cameron Edser admits being presented second prize by Toni Collette at the Movie Extra Tropfest Final is “all a bit of a blur”. “All I know, from watching the replay, is that I had the biggest grin I’ve ever seen on my face. I guess I was pretty happy!” Edser said. And happy he should be. Scooping second prize at the world’s largest short film festival has catapulted Edser and his Co-Director Michael Richards into the spotlight. “Already we’re starting to see doors opening for us. Overnight we went from relative unknowns to, well, not famous, but significantly more prominent within the film industry,” he said.
PHYSICAL THERAPY STUDENTS RETURN FROM CLINICAL PLACEMENT IN TANZANIA
In November 2009, two high-achieving final year Doctor of Physiotherapy students - David Bosker and Joshua McKim - journeyed to the small town of Moshi, Tanzania to undertake a clinical placement at the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre.
The opportunity to experience physiotherapy practice in a third-world country developed out of an innovative advocacy project established by Bond’s physiotherapy students in 2007 within the Leadership Management and Advocacy subject.
Since the inception of the Tanzanian Project, Bond students have raised over $6000 to support the university fees and living costs of numerous physiotherapy students attending the Tuimaini University in Tanzania and, in November 2009, David and Joshua were chosen to see the benefits of Bond’s support in action.
“It was a fantastic cultural experience, to develop, understand and experience a third world country and their health care system” said David. ”It allowed me to consolidate my knowledge by performing treatments on patients who are in desperate need of physiotherapy and develop new ways to communicate effectively to patients when there are communication barriers and cultural differences.”
For Joshua, it also “highlighted the role that we need to play in developing our profession as physiotherapists in a country where the industry has only existed for 10-15 years.” Selection for the clinical placements in Tanzania was based on overall academic achievement. The students were not provided with any supplementary funding and were required to self-fund all aspects of their journey.
The Faculty’s Physiotherapy Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education, Pam Teys, accompanied David and Joshua to Tanzania to provide supervision during their placement and to deliver daily lectures to the local physiotherapy staff and students.
“It was satisfying to think that I might have inspired the students to proceed with their chosen career path and advance the physiotherapy profession within Tanzania,” she said. “I could see they have a long way to go to catch up to the western world in their ability to provide similar standards of service. This is not necessarily because of the standard of their educational program, but the lack of funding for equipment and maintenance of what is already available. “
A recognised goal of The World Confederation of Physical Therapy is to support human resource deficiencies in developing countries. A project is also underway at present to develop and resource a 40-bed adult and paediatric rehabilitation unit at the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre.
MY EXPERIENCE WITH BOND
Verena Hermelingmeier, Germany
Studying in Australia has always been a dream of mine and I decided on Bond University mainly because of its good reputation. My expectations of it are more than satisfied.
The campus is just amazing and offers all the facilities you can think of including the latest high-tech facilities, several cafes and restaurants and a huge variety of sports facilities. The classes are very small and create a personal atmosphere in which discussions and teamwork are a common way to treat contents. The staff members, ranging from the lecturers to the administration, are always helpful and concerned about the students’ needs. The student body is very diverse concerning nationality, interests and age which makes it enriching to be part of it.
The Gold Coast with its stable weather conditions, its great variety of free time activities and its beautiful beaches is the perfect location and makes studying very enjoyable.
Dr Sellers completed her Bachelor of Science (Honours) and Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom followed by a Postgraduate Certificate (Learning and Teaching) at the Sheffield Hallam University.
She has since forged a distinguished academic career teaching at leading hospitals and universities in the United Kingdom and has developed an impressive research profile.
Focussing on the physiological and pharmacological function of smooth muscle, Dr Sellers has collaborated with fellow research scientists to relate her findings to medical disorders such as overactive bladder function and the complications of diabetes.
FORGING THE WAY IN DEVELOPING MALAYSIA’S SPORTS INDUSTRY
Assistant Professor of Sports Management, Dr Popi Sotiriadou, is one of only three Australian consultants who have been selected to work on the Malaysian Government’s Sports Development Master Plan for the state of Sarawak.
The project is an initiative of the Malaysian Government’s Ministry of Social Development and Urbanisation, working in conjunction with the Australian Business Centre. “The aim of the project is to develop a vibrant sports environment in Sarawak by encouraging greater participation in sport at all levels, improving social and health outcomes, and providing a wider range of opportunities for children to participate constructively in sport across the state,” said Dr Sotiriadou.
As a member of the appointed consultancy team, Dr Sotiriadou spent a week in Sarawak during February, touring the state to audit the current sporting associations and facilities. During her visit, she also attended the project launch, along with several Malaysian Government ministers and officials, and delivered a keynote address on high performance sport.
“Sarawak used to be very successful in sports at the state and national level,” said Dr Sotiriadou. “Our role is to investigate how they can regain their standing and re-emerge as the sporting powerhouse of Malaysia.”
With the completion of the audit and inception report, the next phase of the project will involve identifying future research needs for the long-term study which is targeted for complete implementation by 2020. “Changes in sport don’t take place overnight,” said Dr Sotiriadou. “Some of our recommendations may be implemented sooner than others, but sustainable improvement in sports systems such as this take time.”
Dr Sotiriadou will visit Kuala Lumpur in the coming months to meet with high performance managers and interview coaches and athletes.
ROBINA HOSPITAL UPDATE:
Construction of the Bond University Centre for Clinical Education Research Centre is currently underway. The facilities will have provision for six tutorial rooms, a lecture theatre and clinical skills area to be used by Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine students.
This project, which is scheduled for completion in 2011, represents a partnership between Bond University and Queensland Health, with the facilities to be co-shared by the two organisations.
FACULTY MONTHLY SEMINARS
The Faculty of Law presented the following seminars during April.
2010 Research Seminar Series - China and the Global Financial Crisis. Presented by: Greg Yang Peking University & Tsinghua University, China
2010 Research Seminar Series - Researching Teachers Series -More than a Nexus: The Research of Teaching and Teaching of Research - Administrative Law in an Avatar World - Presented by: Mr Rick Snell University of Tasmania
The Humanities & Social Sciences Faculty presented a seminar by Professor Alan Hájek
Professor of Philosophy Research School of the Social Sciences, Australian National University on the topic “A Plea for the Improbable”
Professor Hájek's research interests include the philosophical foundations of probability and decision theory, epistemology, the philosophy of science, metaphysics, and the philosophy of religion. His paper "What Conditional Probability Could Not Be" won the 2004 American Philosophical Association Article Prize. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities and is currently the President of the Australasian Association of Philosophy
RUGBY UNION & AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL(AFL) UPDATES
Bond Rugby unlucky to lose the opening game
In a game that was not quite the result that the Bond University Rugby Club (BURC) was hoping for in their opening game of the season, the boys went down to the Hinterland Celtics 15-7 at Bond Rugby Fields last Friday night.
The match was a physical one, reflecting both teams’ desire to finally kick-off the season after an extended pre-season training regime. The first 10 minutes saw Bond applying the pressure and were unlucky not to translate their efforts on the line into a try.
The momentum switched in favour of the Celtics, with their larger forward back rolling down the field with the Bond boys getting a defensive test early in the season. A try in the first half left Bond trailing 5 to nil at half-time, and a player in the sin bin.
The Celtics lost no time in continuing their momentum in the second half, barnstorming their way into two tries in quick succession. However, some foul play from the Hinterland boys saw one of their men sent to the sin bin.
Bond saw the opportunity and seized it with gusto. The forwards spoiled a lineout, giving the back the opportunity to rip through some gaps in a tired Celtics defence line. A beautiful passage of play from the backline saw Kieran Farr scoring Bond’s first and only try and topping it off with a neat conversion. Bond fully realises it is time to go back to the drawing board, but there are many positives to be taken from the opening game. .
AFL
Gutsy Bullsharks show promise against Robina Roos
In their first competitive match outside of university sport, Bond’s AFL team narrowly lost by less than two goals to neighbourhood rivals, Robina Roos last week. The see-sawing match saw both teams with all to play for in the last quarter, but last year’s second division AFLQ premiers were too strong for Bond.
Clearly disadvantaged in height and power, Bond looked towards using their fast midfield to land the first blows against Robina, up by two goals at quarter-time before leaking several late goals up until halftime. Inspired by Coach Robert Libeau, the Bullsharks responded with a dominant showing post the half-time break. Howver, they could not land the knock-out blow to Robina with their physical presence too much in the final minutes of the game.
While the result went against them, it is the first positive step for Bond as they look at permanency within the AFLQ structure from 2011.
The match also marked the first of six games across the 2010 football calendar against Robina for Bond, a chance for the team to build match fitness and experience before pitting their skills against other Gold Coast AFLQ teams.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND ACCOLADES
This month we congratulate FIONA BEAVERSON (ALUM 07)
PROFILE
At Bond, we often ask students to imagine where they could be in five years’ time – but for Fiona Beaverson, the journey has been just as exciting as the destination. Fiona enrolled in Bond’s Bachelor of Property and Sustainable Development program in 2007, having taken a gap year after her HSC to gain some work experience and travel overseas. “I’d always wanted to study property development or economics and I heard about the new property degrees being offered at Bond through friends,” she said. “I was particularly impressed with the small community feel at Bond and the industry connections that the Faculty had established.”
Fiona’s experience in just over two years at Bond exemplifies how those industry contacts and our boutique learning environment enrich the educational process. Getting involved with the Sustainable Development Students’ Association and the Bond Investment Group – and ultimately being voted President of both organisations – put Fiona in direct contact with some of Australia’s and the world’s most high profile business achievers. Barely six months into her course, she welcomed Sir Richard Branson when he landed his helicopter on campus and addressed a packed audience at the Cerum Theatre.
Through the Bond Investment Group’s ‘Titans of Industry’ series, she met Australian Stock Exchange chairman David Gonski, Pacific Brands CEO Sue Morphett and a host of other business leaders. And, in 2008, she travelled to Dubai and Abu Dhabi with the School of Sustainable Development’s very first undergraduate study tour, where she and her classmates were given a behind-the-scenes insight into the construction and planning practices, visiting iconic developments in two of the world’s fastest growing cities. The corporate connections Fiona made at Bond, coupled with her impressive list of achievements, (including being awarded the Faculty Services prize) has now helped her secure a position with one of the world’s leading property construction and management groups – Lend Lease.
Following her graduation ceremony in January, Fiona relocated to Sydney to take up a graduate position with the Investment Management Group in Lend Lease’s head office – one of only two such positions offered Australia-wide. “The connections that the Faculty and the various student representative bodies have established with major corporate entities are unmatched anywhere,” said Fiona. “Being part of those associations and getting involved in every aspect of campus life made a huge difference to my university experience and have definitely contributed to my gaining employment.”
VISITORS TO CAMPUS
Roundtable - The European Focus Group of the International Law Section of the Law Council of Australia and Bond University co-hosted a Roundtable discussion on COMMON AND CIVIL LAW DIALOGUE “ Unmanageable Discovery ”
The speaker: Dr Wolfgang Babeck, Adjunct Professor and MillhouseIAG Distinguished Scholar, Bond University and Co-convenor, European Focus Group
Commentators:
Judge Judith Gibson, Member of the Conseil Scientifique for the Fondation pour le Droit Continental
Dr Frédéric Venière, Rudd Peters Lawyers
The details of keynote speakers for the Symposium "The Global Financial Crisis:
The Way Forward”, their affiliations and topics for discussion include:
Professor Ronald McKinnon, Stanford University (USA) Keynote address: The Global Credit Crisis and China’s Exchange Rate
Jane Diplock, AO, Chair Person, Securities Commission New Zealand and IOSCO: The work of IOSCO and the Financial Regulatory Framework
Dr Jeffrey Carmichael, Promontory Financial Group (Singapore): Regulatory Lessons from the Crisis
Bill Evans, Chief Economist Westpac Banking Corporation: Industry Response to the Crisis.
Professor Allan Fels, The Australia and New Zealand School of Governance: Executive Remuneration
Steven Bardy, Senior Executive, International Strategy, ASIC: Beyond the Crisis – Issues and Challenges
Wayne Byres, Executive General Manager, APRA: Balancing National and International Interests
Professor Mohamed Ariff & A/Prof Ahmed Khalid, Bond University: Origins, Consequences and Cost of the Crisis
Professor John Farrar, Bond University and University of Auckland: The Global Financial Crisis and the Governance of Financial Institutions
Professor Kevin Davis, The University of Melbourne: The Role of Capital Adequacy
Professor Tony Makin, Griffith University: Fiscal Response to Crisis: An International Perspective
Prof Anis Chowdhury, University of Western Sydney: Financial Sector Regulation in Developing Countries: Reckoning after the Crisis