The Honourable Daniel Andrews delivers dynamic student address to Politics, Philosophy and Economics students
Monash Arts alum, the Honourable Daniel Andrews, delivered a dynamic student address to over 200 Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics students where he addressed some of the economic, political, and ethical considerations involved in policy making.
In addition to sharing lessons learned from his time in politics, Mr Andrews encouraged students to be bold and make a difference.
“The single best thing leaders and policy practitioners can do is to be clear about what they stand for and to never waste a day by working really hard to achieve good outcomes,” said Mr Andrews.
Mr Andrews served as the 48th Premier of Victoria from 2014 to 2023, was the leader of the Victorian branch of the Australian Labor Party from 2010 and was a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for the district of Mulgrave from 2002 until his resignation in 2023. Mr Andrews is the longest-serving Labor premier and the fourth-most-tenured premier in Victorian state history.
Mr Andrews served during a period of significant historical events, including the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season which had devastating consequences in Victoria, and, of course, the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Mr Andrews received his undergraduate degree from Monash University in 1996, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Classics. He entered the Victorian Legislative Assembly in 2002, and was appointed to the Cabinet four years later, serving first as the Minister for Consumer Affairs, then the following year appointed as Minister for Health. Later, he was elected Leader of the Labor Party in Victoria.
“Monash Arts is incredibly proud of what Mr Andrews has achieved. He is one of our highly successful alumni who has had an extraordinary impact on contemporary Australian life,” said Professor Katie Stevenson, Dean of Arts, Monash University.
The Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics is an interdisciplinary degree that combines knowledge, perspectives, skills and critical theory drawn from three different disciplines. PPE students graduate in a unique position in Australia to be able to combine data-driven and modelling-based insights of economics with the ethical and moral understandings of philosophy, blended with the knowledge of institutional change, nation-building and geopolitics that comes from studying politics.
“Politics, Philosophy and Economics students have the know-how to transform big ideas into tangible results and to make real and considered change, here in Australia or wherever students end up working around the world,” confirmed Professor Katie Stevenson.
Mr Andrews concluded his address by acknowledging the invaluable skills that a Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics offers:
“After graduation you will have an invaluable competitive advantage in a range of private companies and non-governmental organisations due to your political, economic and philosophical analytical specialist skills,” said Mr Andrews. “You will be well placed to help guide and perhaps even help lead us through the challenges and opportunities of the future.”