University of New South Wales

factoids

}}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, bio-medical engineering, sustainable development, HIV/AIDS research, and social justice and social policy research.(3) 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.(4) 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) 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.(6) Initially the University operated from the inner Sydney city campus at Ultimo. 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(7)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.(8) 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 1968weblink. 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)(9) 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 fundingweblink.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.In May 2007, the University announced its termination of all programs offered at its Asian campus in Singapore after only one semester, due to lower than expected student numbers and a reapraisal of its financial viability by the new Vice-Chancellor.(10)On June 25, Vice-Chancellor Professor Fred Hilmer announced the construction of a major new research facility on the UNSW campus, to be known as the Lowy Cancer Research Centre.(11)(12) The new centre, costing $100 million, will be Australia's first facility to research and perform clinical drugs trials into both adult and children's cancers under one roof.(13)

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.

Students and organisations

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 HSC students consistently make UNSW their first preference.(14) In 2000, 17 of the 22 students who achieved a perfect 100 on the University Admissions Index (UAI) decided to commence studies at UNSW.(15) 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.(16)In 2008, an analysis from Thomson Scientific, global research and development analysts, showed that UNSW is one of the top three institutions in the country for leading in particular fields, dominating in mathematics, psychiatry and psychology. In these areas, the top three institutions were The University of Sydney, The University of New South Wales and The University of Melbourne, respectively.(17) In 2008, UNSW received the highest level of funding in Linkage Grants from the Australian Research Council of any university in the country, including four grants worth more than $1 million.(18) The largest grant went to a team lead by Professor Martin Green to develop a new generation of low-cost silicon solar cells.In 2004, the Financial Times Global MBA ranking placed UNSW's Australian Graduate School of Management 53rd in the world, top among Australian Business Schools. In 2005 its position dropped to 84th. In 2006 it rose again to 75th, making it second nationally, following Melbourne Business School.(19) In 2007, the school again overtook Melbourne as the top full-time MBA program in the country. It was ranked at 49th worldwide, and is one of the two leading business-degree providers across the Asia-Pacific region.(20) In the same survey, the school's Executive MBA program was ranked 23rd.(21) It is also the only Australian business school featured in the rankings for 6 consecutive years. AGSM alumni achieved an average salary of US$133,768, an average increase of 74 percent after three years of graduation.(22)In 2007 the position had moved to 44th.(23)In this same survey, the university has been ranked 16th for Technology, 24th for social science, 40th for Science and 41st for biomedicine.In 1999, UNSW was ranked by AsiaWeek as 8th in the Asia-Pacific region and 1st among Australian universities by Asiaweek weblink. Its position moved to 10th in Asia and 2nd in Australia in 2000 weblink. The ranking has since been discontinued.

Faculties

The University has nine faculties:

• Arts and Social Sciences
• Australian Defence Force Academy
• Australian School of Business
• Built Environment
• College of Fine Arts
• Engineering
• Law
• Medicine
• Science

Campus

{{seealso|Venues at the University of New South Wales}} 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 Fowler's 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.Image:University NSW.JPG|Lower campusImage:Uniwalk.jpg|Main walkway on lower campusImage:UNSW stairs to the Scientia.jpg|Stairs to the ScientiaImage:Scientia at Night.jpg|The ScientiaImage:UNSW Library Lawn.jpg|Library Lawn on upper campusImage:UNSW Main Walk.jpg|UNSW Main Walk

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 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.

Notes

References

• BOOK, Willis, A.H., The University of New South Wales: The Baxter Years, 1983, ISBN 0-86840-057-2,

See also

• List of University of New South Wales people
• National Institute of Dramatic Art
• NICTA - national information and communication technology research centre, co-founded by UNSW
• Venues at the University of New South Wales

External links

• Official website University of New South Wales
• UNSW Australian Graduate School of Management
• Arc @ UNSW
• Campus map
• Audit report on the University of New South Wales
• Google Maps satellite image of the Kensington Campus

University of New South WalesUniversité de Nouvelle-Galles-du-SudUniversitas New South WalesUniversiti New South WalesUniversiteit van Nieuw-Zuid-Walesニューサウスウェールズ大学University of New South WalesУниверситет Нового Южного УэльсаУниверзитет у Новом Јужном ВелсуUniversity of New South Walesநியூ சவுத் வேல்ஸ் பல்கலைக்கழகம்Đại học New South Wales新南威尔士大学

(...as imported from WP)

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