Mal Logan
Encyclopedia
Malcolm Ian Logan, AC
is an Australian geographer and university administrator. He was Vice-Chancellor of Monash University
from 1987-1996.
Logan grew up in country New South Wales
, attending secondary school in the remote town of Tamworth
. He moved to Sydney to complete an honours degree in geography at the University of Sydney
, which he finished in 1951. After spending some time as a teacher in secondary schools, he returned to Sydney to complete his PhD and take up a position as Professor of Geography and Urban Planning. He then spent time at a range of universities overseas, living in the US and Nigeria. Later in his career, he became involved in both the World Bank
and the OECD as an adviser on urban planning.
In 1971, Sir Louis Matheson
, then Vice-Chancellor of Monash, invited Logan to take up a professorship at Monash. Although Logan knew little about Monash at the time, he wanted to return to Australia, and chose the University because it seemed "the liveliest and brightest place". Once there, he quickly raised through the administrative ranks, first as Pro Vice-Chancellor and then, in 1987, he was appointed Vice-Chancellor.
His leadership at Monash marked the most the most drastic expansion of a University in Australian history. Prompted by the Dawkins reforms, Logan aggressively pursued Monash's takeover of a number of tertiary institutions. He was attracted to the notion of a "multiversity", similar to the big state universities in the US, such as the University of California
and the University of Wisconsin–Madison
. Monash went from one campus in Clayton
with 20,000 students, to 6 Victorian campuses with 40,000 students. Through Logan's close personal relationships with members of the Hawke
and Keating
governments, Logan was able to obtain hundreds of millions of dollars in grants to develop the new campuses.
He also recognised that Australia's future lay in Asia. Consequently, he established a Monash teaching presence in Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia and Laos. He also oversaw the massive increase in international students at Monash, particularly from Asia. He established the university's link with the Sunway Group
, a relationship which led to the establishment of a Monash Malaysia Campus in 1998. With the increased inflow of international students, Monash's income increased dramatically, such that its annual reports were often discussed in financial newspapers. Reportedly, Logan was fond of citing the fact that Monash's annual budget was greater than the State of Tasmania
's. In the year that he retired, 1996, he became a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC
), the highest honour which can be awarded to an Australian citizen.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
is an Australian geographer and university administrator. He was Vice-Chancellor of Monash University
Monash University
Monash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
from 1987-1996.
Logan grew up in country New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, attending secondary school in the remote town of Tamworth
Tamworth, New South Wales
Tamworth is a city in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia. Straddling the Peel River, Tamworth, which contains an estimated population of 47,595 people, is the major regional centre for southern New England and in the local government area of Tamworth Regional Council. The city...
. He moved to Sydney to complete an honours degree in geography at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
, which he finished in 1951. After spending some time as a teacher in secondary schools, he returned to Sydney to complete his PhD and take up a position as Professor of Geography and Urban Planning. He then spent time at a range of universities overseas, living in the US and Nigeria. Later in his career, he became involved in both the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
and the OECD as an adviser on urban planning.
In 1971, Sir Louis Matheson
Louis Matheson
Sir James Adam Louis Matheson KBE was a British academic and university administrator, who was the first Vice-Chancellor of Monash University in Melbourne, Australia.- Early life :...
, then Vice-Chancellor of Monash, invited Logan to take up a professorship at Monash. Although Logan knew little about Monash at the time, he wanted to return to Australia, and chose the University because it seemed "the liveliest and brightest place". Once there, he quickly raised through the administrative ranks, first as Pro Vice-Chancellor and then, in 1987, he was appointed Vice-Chancellor.
His leadership at Monash marked the most the most drastic expansion of a University in Australian history. Prompted by the Dawkins reforms, Logan aggressively pursued Monash's takeover of a number of tertiary institutions. He was attracted to the notion of a "multiversity", similar to the big state universities in the US, such as the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
and the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
. Monash went from one campus in Clayton
Clayton, Victoria
Clayton is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 19 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Monash. At the 2006 Census, Clayton had a population of 14,332.-Overview:...
with 20,000 students, to 6 Victorian campuses with 40,000 students. Through Logan's close personal relationships with members of the Hawke
Hawke
-People:* Albert Hawke, ex-premier of Western Australia* Alex Hawke, Australian politician* Bob Hawke, ex-prime minister of Australia* Brett Hawke, Australian Olympic swimmer* Davis Wolfgang Hawke, U.S...
and Keating
Keating
-Places:Several places in the US:* Keating Township, Potter County, Pennsylvania* Keating Township, McKean County, Pennsylvania* East Keating Township, Pennsylvania* West Keating Township, Pennsylvania* Keating, Oregon-Miscellaneous:...
governments, Logan was able to obtain hundreds of millions of dollars in grants to develop the new campuses.
He also recognised that Australia's future lay in Asia. Consequently, he established a Monash teaching presence in Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia and Laos. He also oversaw the massive increase in international students at Monash, particularly from Asia. He established the university's link with the Sunway Group
Sunway Group
Sunway Group also known as Sunway Holdings Incorporated Berhad commenced operations in 1986, mainly to develop the Bandar Sunway township in Petaling Jaya...
, a relationship which led to the establishment of a Monash Malaysia Campus in 1998. With the increased inflow of international students, Monash's income increased dramatically, such that its annual reports were often discussed in financial newspapers. Reportedly, Logan was fond of citing the fact that Monash's annual budget was greater than the State of Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
's. In the year that he retired, 1996, he became a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
), the highest honour which can be awarded to an Australian citizen.