| The University of New South Wales | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Latin: Universitas Nova Cambria Australis | |
| Motto | Scientia Manu et Mente ("Knowledge By Hand and Mind") |
| Established | 1949 as the New South Wales University of Technology. Can be traced back to the Sydney Mechanics Institute (established 1843) |
| Type | Public |
| Endowment | AUD $1.0082 Bn[1] |
| Chancellor | David Gonski |
| Vice-Chancellor | Professor Fred Hilmer |
| Staff | 6,014[2] |
| Students | 46,302[3] |
| Undergraduates | 24,485 |
| Postgraduates | 12,304 |
| Location | Kensington Paddington Campbell, Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Australia 33°55′4″S 151°13′52″E / 33.91778°S 151.23111°E 33°53′02″S 151°13′13″E / 33.88394°S 151.22032°E 35°17′38″S 149°09′50″E / 35.29389°S 149.16389°E |
| Campus | Urban, parks, 38 hectares (0.38 km²) |
| Former names | Sydney Mechanics Institute (1843) New South Wales University of Technology (1949) |
| Colours | Black & Gold |
| Affiliations | Group of Eight, Universitas 21, Australian Defence Force Academy |
| Website | www.unsw.edu.au |
The University of New South Wales, also known as UNSW or colloquially as New South, is a university situated in Kensington, a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
The University was founded in 1949. Today it is recognised as one of Australia’s leading teaching and research institutions, and has developed a strong reputation in a number of fields, including renewable/alternative energy, quantum computing and nanotechnology, taxation reform, information and communication technology, digital media, electrical engineering, chemical engineering, biomedical engineering, sustainable development, HIV/AIDS research, and social justice and social policy research.[4]
The University is a member of Australia's "Group of Eight" lobby group, and is also a founding member of Universitas 21, an international network of leading research-intensive universities.
History
The idea of founding the University originated from the crisis demands of World War II, during which the nation's attention was drawn to the critical role that science and technology played in transforming an agricultural society into a modern and industrial one.[5] The post-war Labor government of New South Wales recognised the increasing need to have a university specialised in training high quality engineers and technology-related professionals in numbers beyond that of the capacity and characteristics of the existing University of Sydney.[5] This led to the proposal to establish the Institute of Technology, submitted by the then New South Wales Minister for Education Bob Heffron, accepted on 9 July 1946. Instead of creating a completely new Institute, the government decided to have the existing Sydney Technical College operating at Ultimo substantially expanded.
The University, originally named the "New South Wales University of Technology", gained its statutory status through the enactment of New South Wales University of Technology Act 1949 (NSW) by Parliament of New South Wales in Sydney in 1949. In March 1948 classes commenced operation with its first cohort of 46 students pursuing programs including Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mining Engineering and Electronic Engineering.[6] At that time the thesis programmes were innovative, in the sense that each course embodied a specified and substantial period of practical training in the relevant industry. It was also unprecedented for tertiary institutions at that time to include compulsory instruction in humanities.[7]
Initially the University operated from the inner Sydney city campus at Ultimo (the current site of the University of Technology, Sydney). However, in 1951, the Parliament of New South Wales passed the New South Wales University of Technology (Construction) Act 1951 (NSW) to provide funding and allow buildings to be erected at the Kensington site where the university is now located.
In 1958 the University name was changed to the 'University of New South Wales' to reflect its intention to transform itself from a technology-based university to an all-rounded generalist university. In 1960 it broadened its curriculum and student base with the establishment of a Faculty of Arts and a Faculty of Medicine, soon to be followed by the Faculty of Law in 1971[8]
The university's first director was Arthur Denning (1949–1952), who made important contributions to the foundations of the university. In 1953 he was replaced by Professor Philip Baxter, who continued on as vice-chancellor when this position's title was changed in 1955.[9] Baxter's dynamic authoritarian management was central to the University's first twenty years. His visionary - but at times controversial - energies saw the university grow from a handful to 15,000 students by 1968 [5]. He also pioneered new scientific and technological disciplines against an external background of traditionalist criticism. Growing staff levels, recruited both locally and overseas, conducted research which soon established a wide international reputation. By the time of Sir Philip Baxter's retirement in 1969 the University had made a unique and enterprising mark on Australia. The new Vice-Chancellor, Professor Rupert Myers (1969–1981), brought consolidation and an urbane management style to a period of expanding student numbers, demand for change in University style, and challenges of student unrest.
The stabilising techniques of the 1980s managed by Vice-Chancellor Professor Michael Birt (1981–1992)[10] provided a firm base for the energetic corporatism and campus enhancements pursued by the subsequent Vice-Chancellor, Professor John Niland (1992–2002). The 1990s saw the addition of a Fine Arts dimension to the University and further development of the public and community outreach which has characterised the University from its beginnings. At present, private sources contribute 45% of its annual funding [6].
The University established Colleges in Newcastle (1951) and Wollongong (1961), which eventually became two independent universities in 1965 and 1975 respectively, namely the University of Newcastle and the University of Wollongong.
The University is home to the Lowy Cancer Research Centre, one of Australia's largest cancer research facilities. The centre, costing $127 million, is Australia's first facility to bring together researchers in childhood and adult cancer.[11][12]
Governance
The University is governed by a Council of 22 members including parliamentary and ex-officio members, members elected by staff, students and graduates of the University, and members appointed by the Minister for Education or by Council itself. It is responsible for acting on the University’s behalf to promote its objectives and interests. The governance of universities has come under increasing scrutiny nationally in recent years, and UNSW and its Council are committed to meeting this scrutiny by demonstrating the highest standards.
The principal academic body is the Academic Board which receives advice on academic matters from the Faculties, College (Australian Defence Force Academy), and the Boards of Studies. It is responsible for academic policy setting, academic strategy via its eight standing committees, approval and delivery of programs, and academic standards. The Board comprises 56 members, including the Chancellor and Deputy-Chancellor, members of the SMG, Deans and Faculty Presiding Members, 24 members elected from the academic staff and four from the student body. Membership also includes ‘such other persons’ approved by Council. The Academic Board advises the Vice-Chancellor and Council on matters relating to teaching, scholarship and research and takes decisions on delegation from Council. Its purpose is to make academic policy; approve courses and programs; further and co-ordinate the work of the Faculties and other academic units; and support teaching, scholarship and research.
The Faculties and boards are responsible for the teaching and examining of subjects within their scope and the Academic Board co-ordinates and furthers their work.
The chief executive officer of the University is the Vice-Chancellor and President. The Deputy Vice-Chancellors and Pro-Vice-Chancellors are responsible for academic operations, research policy, research management, quality assurance and external relations including sponsorship.
In June 2004, then Vice-Chancellor Rory Hume resigned as a result of the Bruce Hall controversy, a series of events in which former Professor Bruce Hall was found guilty of academic misconduct in medical research.[13][14][15] As a result of his handling of the affair, which drew criticism from the media[16] and within the university, Professor Hume was pressured by the Chancellor and others to resign.[17] Professor Hume officially resigned on 30 June 2004 after a breakdown in his working relationship with the University's governing council.[18] Professor Mark Wainwright was appointed Vice-Chancellor in July 2004, having been Acting Vice-Chancellor following Professor Hume's resignation.
Ranking and performance
The University was ranked 47th on the 2009 THE-QS World University Rankings (known from 2010 as the QS World University Rankings), ranking fifth among Australian universities. The annual rankings of the leading 200 universities are based on six factors: academic and employer surveys, staff-student ratios, research citations and the proportion of international staff and students.[19]
UNSW has ranked well for many years in the Good Universities Guide, and 2008, UNSW received the maximum five-star rating for nine key performance indicators, well above any other Group Eight University, in the 2008 Good Universities Guide. In total points across all categories, UNSW was the national leader, outrating all other universities. It achieved a top score for student demand, graduate starting salaries, research grants, research intensivity, student–staff ratios, cultural diversity, gender balance, and international enrolments.[20]
UNSW was the most cited Australian university in Computer Science, Engineering, Maths, and Psychology from 2002 to 2009 according to the Thomson Reuters-Indexed Journals. In 2008, an analysis from Thomson Scientific, global research and development analysts, showed that UNSW is one of the top three institutions in Australia for leading in particular fields, dominating in mathematics, psychiatry and psychology. In these areas, the top three Australian institutions were the University of Sydney, UNSW and the University of Melbourne, respectively.[21]
In 2010, UNSW was the top performer in ARC Linkage grants, receiving $11.36 million for 28 projects involving collaboration with industry partners, and the largest share of grants ($47.8 million) went to UNSW as the lead institution in the country.
UNSW had the top score for both excellence and improvement in computing, engineering, science and architecture in the 2009 Australian Government's Learning And Teaching Performance Fund. UNSW also achieved the top score for excellence in business, law and economics.
In 2009, the Financial Times Global MBA ranking placed The Australian School of Business 32nd worldwide, and top in Australia, with an average alumni salary of US$127,474.[22] In the 2007 survey, the school's Executive MBA program was ranked 23rd worldwide.[23] It is also the only Australian business school featured in the rankings for 7 consecutive years.
In 2000, UNSW was ranked by AsiaWeek as 10th in the Asia-Pacific region and 3rd among Australian universities by Asiaweek [7]. The ranking has since been discontinued.
UNSW was first in the international RoboCup Standard Platform League in 2000, 2001 and 2003, and also second in 1999, 2002, 2005 and 2010.
Students and organizations
UNSW currently has approximately 40,000 students studying in 600 undergraduate and postgraduate academic programs. Over 5,000 full-time staff work in its 76 schools, 69 research centres, 6 institutes, 4 teaching hospitals, 8 residential colleges and many administrative departments.
It was reported in the 1990s that more than half of New South Wales' top Higher School Certificate students consistently make UNSW their first preference.[24] In 2000, 17 of the 22 students who achieved a perfect 100 on the University Admissions Index (UAI) decided to commence studies at UNSW.[25] In the same year, the NSW Board of Studies and the Universities Admissions Centre said that the University attracted 55 per cent of the top 1 per cent of performers.[25]
In 2007, the four previous student organisations, the UNSW Student Guild, Postgraduate Board, UNSW Union and COFA Students' Association were wound up and reformed as a new student organisation known as the Arc @ UNSW. This new student organisation is a major service provider on campus, running a number of retail outlets, student media such as Tharunka and the entertainment venue, the Roundhouse. The Arc Student Representative Council represents students to the university and nationally and fights for their rights. Arc also provides support and funding to university clubs and societies and runs student volunteer programs such as Orientation Week.
In 2008 the University of New South Wales Sports Association and UNSW Lifestyle Centre merged to become UNSW Sport and Recreation. It runs the UNSW Fitness and Aquatic Centre, provides health and fitness facilities and services, and supports the thirty UNSW affiliated sporting clubs that compete both at home and abroad.
Faculties
The University has nine faculties:
- Arts and Social Sciences
- Australian Defence Force Academy
- The Australian School of Business
- Built Environment
- College of Fine Arts
- Engineering
- Law
- Medicine
- Science
Campus
The main UNSW campus is situated in Kensington, Sydney. Two of the University's faculties are situated elsewhere. The College of Fine Arts, is located in the inner suburb of Paddington. The Australian Defence Force Academy is situated in Canberra. The University also has additional campuses and field stations at Randwick, Coogee, Botany, Little Bay, Dee Why, Cowan, Manly Vale and Fowlers Gap.
The main UNSW campus is divided geographically into two areas: upper campus and lower campus. These two are separated mainly by an elevation rise between the quadrangle and the Scientia building. It takes roughly fifteen minutes to walk from one extreme to the other.
The University has recently set up a high-grade Analytical Centre, which will co-locate major research activities for the Faculties of Science, Medicine and Engineering. It will be used to study the structure and composition of biological, chemical and physical materials.
The University has a number of residential colleges, including: Philip Baxter College, Basser College, Goldstein College, New College, Warrane College, International House, Shalom College and Creston College.
 Lower campus |  Main walkway on lower campus |  Stairs to the Scientia |  Library Lawn on upper campus |
 UNSW Main Walk |  Quadrangle Building |  Law Faculty building |  Chemical Sciences building |
 The Australian School of Business |  University Mall during O-Week |
Academic competitions
UNSW is well known for its engagement with primary and secondary education, administering several national and international academic competitions for school age children. These include, among others, the Australian Schools Science Competition, the Australasian Schools Mathematics Assessment and the UNSW ProgComp (Programming Competition). Many thousands of students in the Australasian area, the Pacific and South Africa participate each year.
UNSW, through the Gifted Education Research Resource and Information Centre (GERRIC), and Grant and Research centre for Education and Scholarly Success (GRESS), also administers the Australian Primary Talent Search (APTS) and Australian Secondary Schools Educational Talent Search (ASSETS) tests to explore and assess the abilities of gifted children.
UNSW School of Computer Science and Engineering (UNSW COMPUTING) has developed specialised robotic workshops for school students. They focus on the use of the Lego NXT technology combined with the popular RoboCup Junior competition for schools. UNSW COMPUTING is also a National and NSW State sponsor of RoboCup Junior.
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