Dr Rufus Black, Master, Ormond College, University of Melbourne
After a spectacular career - a theologian, ethicist and ordained minister in the Uniting Church of Australia, Dr Black worked at McKinsey & Company for 9 years, where he was a partner and played leadership roles in the firm’s Organisation and Public Sector Practices in Australia and Asia.
He was appointed Master at Ormond College The University of Melbourne in 2009.
As one of our established residential colleges, Ormond knows the importance of higher education for a good society. Global competitiveness is a challenge that Melbourne University is addressing with the introduction of The Melbourne Model (now in its third year). Already most
successful with the Law School in the ‘Top 10’ globally and the Medical School not far close behind. Now with the introduction of more research facilities, additional grants and more graduate opportunities the University (& Ormond College) are attracting a greater number of top students than previously as well as an increase in International student enrolments.
Undergraduate life is little changed, but there is greater emphasis on the range of tutorials being provided. By world standards our universities are catering for much larger enrolments than many of our overseas counterparts – Harvard has about 7000 students compared to Melbourne which is approx. 35000.
Ormond is striving for academic excellence as well as giving their students a wide range of skills which will help prepare them to be contributing global citizens.
All new students undertake a 6 week Ethics program run by the Master of College. The range and depth of their Tutorial program is constantly under review and being updated. The College has a wide range of scholarships available for the benefit of almost 30% of the enrolment.
At least 40% of students take part in broad community services activities including mentoring secondary students from less affluent areas.
As an ethicist, Rufus has served on clinical and medical research ethics committees and he currently chairs the Human Research Ethics Committee of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute.
Before becoming Master of Ormond, he also served on various advisory boards including the McDonald Centre for Theology, Ethics and Public Life in Oxford and Teach for Australia.