2007 Annual Report | Part One Annual Review
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The University of Adelaide 2007Annual Report Part One: Annual Review Life Impact | The University of Adelaide From the Chancellor I am pleased to report that, once again, the University experience at the highest levels of business has been recorded a strong fi nancial result in 2007 and that of enormous benefi t to the University and I congratulate the ambitious North Terrace Development Strategy, Mr Adler on his appointment. Mr Adler succeeds launched in 2006, is well underway. The refurbishment wine industry leader Mr Brian Croser AO, who served of the 10 Pulteney Street tower is nearing completion on Council for nine years, eight of them as Deputy and in March, Council approved the construction of a Chancellor. Mr Croser has contributed greatly to the new nine-level Engineering Building on the Lower Level University during his time on Council and I thank him for Campus to replace the Mathematics Building. Work his invaluable work. commenced in December and the new building is Finally, I would like to acknowledge the work of all scheduled to be completed by fi rst semester, 2010. members of Council and its Sub-Committees who gave At the Scholarships Presentation Ceremony held in their time voluntarily. It has been a privilege to work Bonython Hall in February 2007, I had the pleasure of with such a dedicated group of individuals and I look presenting 15 new University of Adelaide students with forward with pleasure to the year ahead. the inaugural South Australian Merit Scholarship, a $1 million initiative by the University aimed at retaining the Report of the Council of brightest students in South Australia from every urban the University of Adelaide and rural school in the state. Also at the Ceremony, some 100 students were presented with a range of For the period 1 January 2007 scholarships to study at the University of Adelaide. to 31 December 2007 I congratulate them all and wish them well in their chosen areas of study. To His Excellency, Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce AC CSC RANR In April, I attended the offshore graduations ceremonies Governor of South Australia. in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. It was pleasing to see some 130 graduands receive their degrees in front May it please Your Excellency, I have the honour of family and friends. The University’s association to transmit to you the Report of the Council of the with Singapore and Kuala Lumpur spans over half-a- University of Adelaide for the period 1 January 2007 century and the two respective Alumni Chapter dinners to 31 December 2007, furnished in compliance with provided yet another opportunity to forge stronger ties Section 25 of the University of Adelaide Act 1971 with our overseas graduates. (1 June 2007). At its December meeting, the University Council unanimously voted to re-appoint me as Chancellor for a third two-year term. My current term was to end in July 2008 and this has now been extended to July 2010. Once again, I am both honoured and humbled by Council’s decision. South Australian business leader and arts patron, Mr Ross Adler AC, was appointed by Council in March as the University’s new Deputy Chancellor. Mr Adler has been a member of the University Council since 1998 The Hon John von Doussa QC and is Chair of the Finance Committee. His broad Chancellor ii 2007 Annual Report | Part One Annual Review Table of ontents – C Part One: Annual Review From the Vice-Chancellor and President 2 Mission, Vision and Values 3 2007 at a Glance 4 Some news highlights of 2007 4 Student Statistics 6 Research Activity 6 Staff Statistics 7 Financial Performance 7 Higher Education Environment 8 Governance 10 Planning and Quality 14 Learning and Teaching 16 Research and Research Training 26 Internationalisation 40 Community Engagement 50 Property and Infrastructure 62 Financial Overview 64 The University’s Financial Statements can be found in Part Two: Financial Statements The University of Adelaide Annual Report is printed using vegetable based inks on Mega Recycled FSC Silk paper, made from 50% recycled post consumer waste and 50% FSC Certifi ed fi bre. Mega Silk is manufactured under the environmental management system ISO 14001. 1 Life Impact | The University of Adelaide From the Vice-Chancellor and President I look back over 2007 with considerable pride and state-of-the-art Engineering Building. The Building pleasure in the University’s signifi cant achievements Life Impact strategy is a signifi cant investment in and with much anticipation and excitement over the the continuous improvement of our facilities and steps put in place for the years ahead. infrastructure with $400 million to be invested over the next four years. The program will signifi cantly enhance Throughout 2007 the University held numerous the University’s learning and teaching environment, workshops, forums and meetings to develop its new strengthen its research capacity, and contribute to its Strategic Plan 2008-2012, Building a Great Research environmental sustainability. University, culminating in the plan’s approval by University Council at its meeting on 3 December. Another signifi cant highlight for 2007 was the launch It is fi ve years since we launched our last Strategic of the University of Adelaide’s Confucius Institute in Plan and the University has achieved, and in some partnership with Shandong University. This report cases exceeded, the objectives set out in that Plan. contains many other examples of the way the University We are now in a far stronger position to pursue even is strengthening its ties with China. higher aspirations, leading towards our establishment The high reputation in which our staff and students internationally as a great research university. are held was refl ected in 2007 with a high number of In 2007, the University of Adelaide continued to build prestigious state, national and international awards and on the outstanding results achieved over the past scholarships. The University’s excellence in teaching few years. and learning was again recognised in the Carrick Awards for Australian University Teaching with eight Our success in winning competitive research funding staff members receiving Citations and others gaining continued, with more than $57 million in new Federal fi nancial awards under the Learning and Teaching Grant grants from the National Health and Medical Research and the Programs that Enhance Learning schemes. Council, the Australian Research Council and the Grains Research and Development Corporation. This highlights I want to thank and congratulate our academic and the strong nature of the University’s research expertise professional staff for their committed contribution and its continuing position as the premier research towards our success in 2007. We move forward into university in the State. 2008 and beyond, ready to build on this platform of achievement, and with confi dence in the future. The University continued its strong growth in student numbers and, in 2007, was awarded 235 new Commonwealth-supported places, more new places than any other University in the country, including places for the state and national priority areas of health and engineering, and for the new School of Veterinary Science. The School of Veterinary Science has been one of 2007’s brightest highlights. As well as student places, the University won Federal Government support of $15 million and State Government support of $5 million in capital funding for the new School, with the University to invest $10 million in capital works. In 2007, the University commenced its most ambitious James A. McWha building program in many years, led by the fl agship, Vice-Chancellor and President 2 2007 Annual Report | Part One Annual Review Mission, Vision andValues Mission To be recognised internationally as a great research university and an Australian leader in research and teaching excellence, committed to the positive impact we can have on the lives of our students, staff and alumni as well as the local, national and international communities. Vision The University of Adelaide will build upon its tradition of innovation through high- impact research and excellent teaching across a broad range of disciplines and professions. It will be a growing, internationally focussed and fi nancially sustainable institution, enterprising in its approach to new opportunities and clear and consistent in its essential directions. It will provide a vibrant intellectual environment that will be satisfying for staff, rewarding for students, as well as engaging the community, creating a sense of pride in our contribution to society. Values 1. We will pursue excellence in all that we do. 2. We will act with fairness, integrity and responsibility. 3. We will respect the rights and responsibilities of freedom of inquiry and expression. 4. We will engage with the local, national and international communities. 5. We will encourage innovation, creativity and breadth of vision. 3 Life Impact | The University of Adelaide 2007 At a Glance Some news highlights of 2007 University makes 4500 fi rst-round offers to potential students. Breakthrough for Pharmacology researchers in treatment of heroin addiction. January Cardiology researcher Dr Bobby John wins major international award for his work on rheumatic heart disease. University signs strategic collaboration with UK’s Cranfi eld University for research and courses in defence and security. World-class wind tunnel and a laboratory for the production and analysis of visual digital February media win funding from Premier’s Science and Research Fund. More than 100 of South Australia’s outstanding students awarded scholarships for the University of Adelaide at presentation ceremony in Bonython Hall. Confucius Institute launched at the University of Adelaide. Business leader and Arts Patron Mr Ross Adler AO appointed new Deputy-Chancellor. March Research Tuesdays public lecture series inaugurated. Research Institute for Climate Change and Sustainability established with State Government support.