Monash University in Australia has conducted postgraduate programs in each stream since 1985. In 1998, they were integrated to offer progression through Graduate Certificates (open to non-graduates), to Graduate Diploma to a Masters degree. Some hundreds of people have completed the programs, and their feedback is overwhelmingly positive. This article describes the development and operation of the programs. They are now offered in North America through collaboration with the maintenance and Reliability Center of the University of Tennessee (www.engr.utk.edu/mrc)

MONASH UNIVERSITY AND DISTANCE EDUCATION

Monash (www.monash.edu.au) is Australia’s largest university, with about 43 000 students on 10 campuses and centers in Melbourne (population 3.5M), overseas, and in Gippsland, about 100 miles east of Melbourne. Local industries in this rural area include mining, power generation, forestry, paper and pulp, timber processing, and smaller activities, even small aircraft manufacture.

Gippsland has huge lignite deposits first exploited for power generation in 1924. Sir John Monash, a distinguished engineer and citizen soldier (World War 1 Lt-General), was the foundation General Manager of the State Electricity Commission. At its peak nearly 23 000 people were employed in mining, power generation, transmission and distribution, with 10 000 of these in Gippsland. The power assets have now all been privatized, and companies from the UK and USA are major shareholders.

Monash University’s Distance Education Centre at Gippsland Campus provides study materials for 85 courses of study, totaling over 400 subjects. In 2000, there were 7500 students in over 50 countries.