The University of Auckland

Thursday, July 29, 2010

The University of Auckland
Te Whare Wānanga o Tāmaki Makaurau
Motto Latin: Ingenio et labore
Motto in English By natural ability and hard work
Established 1883
Type Public
Chancellor Roger France
Vice-Chancellor Stuart McCutcheon
Students 38,502 (2007) [1]
Postgraduates 9,008 graduate
Location Auckland, New Zealand
Campus Urban, 16 hectares
Affiliations Universitas 21, AMBA, EQUIS, AACSB. APRU
Website www.auckland.ac.nz

The University of Auckland (Māori: Te Whare Wānanga o Tāmaki Makaurau) is New Zealand's largest university and the top-ranked New Zealand university in the THE-QS World University Rankings (known from 2010 onwards as the QS World University Rankings). Established in 1883 as a constituent college of the University of New Zealand, the university is now made up of eight faculties over six campuses, and has more than 39,000 students at April 2006.[3] Over 1300 doctoral candidates were enrolled at the University of Auckland in 2004.

It offers a wide range of programmes including Arts, Business, Education, Music, Teacher Training and Special Education, Architecture, Planning, Nursing, Creative and Performing Arts, Theology, Science, Information Management, Engineering, Medicine, Optometry, Food and Wine Science, Property, Law, Fine and Visual Arts and Pharmacy.

It also provides the most conjoint combinations across the entire nation, with over 35 combinations available. Conjoint programs allow students to achieve multiple degrees in a shortened period of time.

History

Early history

The University of Auckland started out as a constituent of the University of New Zealand, founded as Auckland University College, in 1883 on the 23rd of May. Stewardship of the University during the establishment period fell under the tenure of John Chapman Andrew (Vice Chancellor of the University of New Zealand 1885-1903). Housed in a disused courthouse and jail it started out with only 95 students and 4 teaching staff, but by 1901 this had risen to 156 students. Most of the students were training towards being law clerks or teachers and were enrolled only part-time. Although from 1905 onwards an increasing number of students enrolled in commerce studies.

However the University conducted little research until the 1930s, due to a spike in interest in academic research during the depression of the early '30s. During this time the college's executive council issued in several resolutions in favour of academic freedom after the controversial dismissal of J. C. Beaglehole, allegedly for a letter to a newspaper where he publicly defended the right of communists to distribute their literature, which helped encourage the college's growth.

Soon after, in 1934, four new professors joined the college; Arthur Sewell (English), H.G Forder (Mathematics), C. G. Cooper (Classics) and James Rutherford (History). The combination of new talent, and academic freedom, saw Auckland University College flourish through to the 1950s.[4]

Current events

Professor Stuart McCutcheon became Vice-Chancellor on 1 January 2005. He was previously the Vice-Chancellor of Victoria University of Wellington. He succeeded Dr John Hood (PhD, Hon. LLD), who was appointed Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford.

The University opened a new business school building in 2007, following the completion of the new Information Commons, to revitalize the School of Business. It has recently gained International Accreditations for all its programmes and now completes the "Triple Crown" (AMBA, EQUIS and AACSB).

On 1 September 2004, the Auckland College of Education amalgamated with the University to form the newest Faculty of the University (by merging the School of Education (previously part of the Arts Faculty) and the college). The faculty is based at the Epsom Campus of the former college with an additional campus in Whangarei

The North Shore Campus, established in 2001, was located in the suburb of Takapuna. It offered the Bachelor of Business and Information Management degree. At the end of 2006, the campus was closed and the degree relocated to the City campus.

Administration

University House, also known as the Old Synagogue (Auckland)

The head of the University is the Chancellor, currently Roger France, however this position is only titular (a figurehead). The actual chief executive of the University is the Vice-Chancellor, currently Professor Stuart McCutcheon.

Admission

Since eliminating open entry in 2009[5] all applicants must have a university entrance qualification. Domestic students are required to achieve the NZQA University Entrance Standard[6] while international students must achieve an equivalent approved qualification in their country[7], a full list of what is an approved equivalent university entrance qualification for most countries is available from the University of Auckland's international student admission page. Admission into the University of Auckland also requires applicants to meet the preset academic and English language entry requirements specific to the degree they are applying for - which are generally higher than the requirements to meet university entrance, meaning just achieving a university entrance qualification is not generally adequate to gain admission; a greater level of academic performance must be shown.[8] Some programs also have a preset number of places available within the degree, so students must compete to gain entry and achieving the entry requirements may not be enough to gain admission in some cases.

All students who did not complete their high school education or equivalent in English are also required to provide a valid IELTS score (minimum of 6.0) or equivalent.[9]

Accommodation

The University provides a range of accommodation options for students. Several hundred live in Residential Halls which provide food, accommodation, social and welfare services. Some of the Halls have developed a strong institutional personality over the years. This becomes self-perpetuating as applicants choose the Hall most suited to their own personality.

  • O'Rorke Hall
  • Grafton Hall
  • International House
  • Parnell Student Village
  • Number 14 Whitaker Place
  • Park Road Student Flats
  • Huia Residence

The university ceased leasing Railway Campus in November 2008.[10]

In 2011 Elam Hall will open, which will become the largest catered accommodation facility on campus.

Campuses

The University of Auckland is spread across 7 different campuses which are all situated in Auckland Region and Northland Region in the upper North Island of New Zealand.

  • City Campus

The City campus, in the Auckland CBD, has the bulk of the students and faculties. It covers 160,000 m².[citation needed]

  • Tāmaki Campus

The Tamaki campus, established in 1991, covers 320,000 m² in the suburb of Glen Innes, 12 km from the City campus. The degrees available here are based on Health, Sports Science, Environmental Science, Wine Science, Information Technology, Communications and Electronics, Materials and Manufacturing, Food and Biotechnology and Information Management.

  • Grafton Campus

The Medical and Health Services Campus, established in 1968, is located close to the City Campus in the suburb of Grafton, opposite Auckland City Hospital. The Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Department of Optometry are based here.

  • Epsom Campus

The Epsom Campus is the main Faculty of Education campus, offering programmes in teacher education and social services. Established in September 2004, this faculty comprises the University's former School of Education, and the former Auckland College of Education.

  • Tai Tokerau Campus

The Faculty of Education offer courses at the Tai Tokerau Campus, Whangarei.

  • Leigh Marine Laboratory

The Leigh Marine Laboratory is effectively the “marine campus” of The University of Auckland which offers opportunities for postgraduate teaching and research at the Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Marine Reserve (Goat Island), near Warkworth. Situated on the northeast coast of New Zealand, about 100 km north of the city of Auckland, it has access to a wide range of unspoiled marine habitats.

  • The University of Auckland at Manukau

Some courses under the Faculty of Education are offered at Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT). Visual Arts students also have their home away from home at MIT. Located in Otara, South Auckland, the Institute provides full amenities for students, including cafés, health services, a library, and limited parking.

Faculties and institutes

Schools and faculties

Part of the Medical School buildings at Grafton.
  • Faculty of Arts[11]
  • School of Business and Economics[12][not in citation given]
  • The National Institute of Creative Arts and Industries (NICAI)[13]
  • Faculty of Education[14]
  • Engineering[15]
  • Faculty of Law[16]
  • Medical and Health Sciences[17]
  • Faculty of Science[18]
  • School of Theology[19]

Research institutes

  • The Liggins Institute
  • Auckland Bioengineering Institute (ABI)

Faculty

Until his death in 2009, the longest serving staff member was Emeritus Professor of Prehistory, Roger Curtis Green, BA BSc (New Mexico), PhD (Harv.), FRSNZ, MANAS. He had been on the staff 1961-66 and from 1973 onwards. The longest serving, non-'retired' staff member is Bernard Brown, ONZM, LLB (Hons) (Leeds), LLM (Sing.). He has been a full-time senior lecturer in the faculty of law 1962-65 and 1969 onwards. William Phillips, the influential economist largely famed for his Phillips curve, taught at the university from 1969 until his death in 1975.

Auckland UniServices

Auckland UniServices Limited is the commercial research and knowledge transfer company for the university.[20]

Rankings

THE - QS World University Rankings

The University of Auckland was the only New Zealand institution ranked in the top 50 in 2007 of the THE-QS World University Rankings (known from 2010 onwards as the QS World University Rankings), ranked at number 50. It was ranked at number 61 in 2009.

PBRF rankings

The University of Auckland is a research-led University, and had the second highest ranking in the 2006 Performance Based Research Fund (PBRF) exercise conducted by the government that evaluated the quality of researchers and research output of all tertiary institutions in New Zealand. With only 18% of PBRF-eligible staff in New Zealand's 33 tertiary institutions Auckland has 33% of the country's A-rated researchers and gained 30% of PBRF funding.[21]

In the previous PBRF evaluation in 2003, when the University was ranked the top research university in New Zealand, the Commission commented: “On virtually any measure, the University of Auckland is the country’s leading research university. Not only did it achieve the highest quality score of any TEO [tertiary education organisation], but it also has by far the largest share of A-rated researchers in the country.” [22]

Students' association

The Auckland University Students' Association (AUSA) represents students at the University. AUSA publicises student issues, administers student facilities, and assists affiliated student clubs and societies. AUSA also produces the student magazine Craccum and runs the radio station bFM. The name of the alumni association is the University of Auckland Society.

CECIL

CECIL (CSL, short for Computer Supported Learning) is the university's learning management and course management system and was developed in house. It has more than 44,000 logins per day (2008 April). Cecil support staff work with academics on research into cheating detections during online assessment,[23] productivity improvement using a learning management system (LMS),[24] and effectiveness of tools in LMS.[25] Cecil contains many of the features of similar systems such as Sakai Project and WebCT. Cecil also provides interactive tools for collaboration and other tools specific to the University.[26] A plan was put in place starting in 2010 for Cecil to be replaced with a Microsoft SharePoint-based system but this was never undertaken.[citation needed]

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