Page 1113 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 6 May 2014
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The University of Canberra has maintained strong enrolment levels, with 11,300 equivalent full-time students in 2013. This represents growth of 33.6 per cent since 2009. On campus international student numbers have increased 52 per cent from 2009 to 2013, growing to include students from 110 countries. The university also performed well in student satisfaction, having ranked sixth in the national graduate ratings for good teaching, with an overall satisfaction score of 81 per cent.
On top of this, UC received five stars for getting a job and positive graduate outcomes from the Good Universities Guide in 2013. In the latest QS world university rankings, UC scored in the top five per cent of universities in the world and placed Canberra amongst the top 50 student cities.
Turning to developments on campus, the UC and ACT government reached agreement for the new UC public hospital in 2013. This subacute hospital will continue the expansion of health and hospital services in the ACT and deliver an innovative approach to health, education, training and research. The hospital will be the focus of an emerging health precinct on the UC campus which will also include the $15 million health hub. Work began on the UC health hub during the year. In partnership with Ochre Health, the building hosts general practitioners, a pharmacy, pathology labs, radiology, psychology services and UC’s student-led allied health clinic.
Also in 2013 UC finalised its agreement for the relocation of the UC Brumbies to the campus and began construction of the new sporting common. The $16 million project will provide new facilities for education, research, and sport at community and elite levels. In science, the university’s new laboratory building opened in 2013, boasting six laboratories and state-of-the-art science teaching facilities which can accommodate up to 244 students at any one time.
Looking to the future, UC launched its development prospectus for the Bruce campus in late 2013, inviting outside parties to approach the university with opportunities where innovative partnerships can be formed. Developments will deliver long-term benefits to the university and the community and contribute to the campus environment in a way that is conducive to excellence in learning and research.
Some of the other highlights and achievements of the year included the University of Canberra’s participation in celebrating the Centenary of Canberra. This ranged from competitions to design a new Lodge and create a typeface, to concourse displays and pop-up spaces. Complementing the ACT government’s C100 program, the university ran over 30 events to mark the occasion, attracting an estimated 25,000 people.
A team of four UC students took out the top prize at the ACT innovation awards in 2013 for their app “sign on site”, which allows construction workers to sign on or off site using their smart phone. The app holds substantial potential for application in the industry and feeds into the priorities of the government around increasing productivity and ensuring worker safety on site. Achievements such as this show the level of innovation and entrepreneurship coming out of our universities and the government is pleased to support them.
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