Annual Report 2008 the University of New South Wales ANNUAL REPORT 2008 Volume One
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The University of New South Wales REPORT 2008 ANNUAL The University of New South Wales Annual Report 2008 Volume One www.unsw.edu.au Scientia manu et mente Contents Knowledge by hand and mind The University’s motto encapsulates its central philosophy of balancing the practical and the scholarly. 02 At a glance 03 Message from the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor 04 Year in review 06 Snapshot 08 Leadership and governance 14 Research 20 Student experience 26 Community engagement 32 Capabilities and resources 38 Appendix REPORT OF THE COUNCIL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES For the period 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2008 In pursuance of the Annual Reports (Statutory Bodies) Act 1984 (NSW), the Council of the University of New South Wales presents to the Honourable Verity Firth MLA, Minister for Education and Training, the following report of the proceedings of the University for the year ended 31 December 2008. Mr David Gonski AC Professor Frederick Hilmer AO Chancellor Vice-Chancellor and President 2008 ANNUAL REPORT www.unsw.edu.au 01 MESSAGE FROM THE CHANCELLOR AT A GLANCE AND VICE-CHANCELLOR UNSW now has more than 42,000 Strategic objectives With the higher education sector under a record six awards. Our broad range The University students enrolled in a comprehensive major review, 2008 was a signifi cant year of achievement was also illustrated in the range of undergraduate and • Be among the top three Australian for Australia’s universities. It was also prestigious Archibald Prize for portraiture, of New South postgraduate programs, and 5,000- universities in research performance a diffi cult year, with the impact of the awarded for the second year running to Wales is one of plus staff working across two Sydney concentrating on defi ned strengths global fi nancial crisis and a need for major a COFA graduate. injections of new capital into the system, campuses and the Australian Defence • Be the destination of choice for It was pleasing to see UNSW judged the despite some welcome increases in Australia’s leading Force Academy (UNSW@ADFA) students with the highest potential top university in the country under the government funding. in Canberra. irrespective of background Federal Government’s 2009 Learning and international UNSW in its submissions to the various Teaching Fund. The quality of our student UNSW is a founding member of the • Be a valued partner with key reviews focused on advocating a new experience was also refl ected in the prestigious Group of Eight (Go8) communities, making an impact on universities, funding model for the sector, as well as latest Good Universities Guide, where we research-intensive universities, and contemporary issues renowned for one of only three Australian founding a substantial increase in overall funding. achieved the maximum fi ve-star rating members of Universitas 21, an • Improve underlying leadership and We benefi ted from initiatives such as the for 10 key performance indicators. operational capabilities Federal Government’s Better Universities its research and international alliance of premier research Our objective of attracting students Renewal Fund as well as NSW institutions. It is consistently ranked with the highest potential, regardless of • Maximise the availability of resources Government and private philanthropic teaching, and as one of the best universities in the background, was advanced in a number and the assignment of resources to support for major projects. But with Asian region and in the world’s top 100. of ways. The Aspire Program, which the quality of priority areas the outcome of the reviews and major Philanthropic donations increased in UNSW is a major recipient of competitive encourages students from low socio- funding announcements not due until 2008. Among our many supporters, Sir research grants from government economic backgrounds to pursue higher its graduates. 2009, this was a year for consolidating William Tyree generously bequeathed and industry. Guiding principles education, began workshops with 10 achievements and building on strength. $10 million towards the new engineering local schools. There was a record intake The University’s aspiration, strategic • Academic freedom precinct and $12.5 million was raised in The strategic objectives set out in B2B to Nura Gili’s Winter School Program, objectives and guiding principles are support of the Centre for Social Impact. Blueprint to Beyond, approved by the which assists Indigenous students to outlined in its statement of strategic • Leadership University Council in 2007, were once prepare for tertiary studies. We continued The University ended 2008 with an intent: B2B Blueprint to Beyond. • Innovation, initiative and creativity again the touchstone for our efforts to develop fl exible entry programs and operating loss, refl ecting the impact of the relating to core activities – research, offered Australia’s fi rst Supplementary global fi nancial crisis on our investments Aspiration • Recognition of merit and excellence the student experience and community Transcript, which credits graduates for and superannuation obligations, as well as higher depreciation costs. We are engagement. extra-curricular achievements. UNSW’s aspiration is to be a leading • Integrity and high ethical standards pleased however that our underlying research-intensive university in the We continued to improve our research Community engagement continued to be operating result, excluding these Asia–Pacifi c region, focusing on • Equity, opportunity and diversity performance, with funding from Federal a priority. Free public lectures such as our signifi cant items, shows a moderate contemporary and social issues through Government research grants increasing BrainFood series gave the community the surplus broadly in line with foreshadowed • Mutual respect, collegiality and defi ned strengths in professional and by 14 percent on the previous year. opportunity to hear from leading policy results. scientifi c fi elds – a peer in good standing teamwork Among these was the University’s makers and researchers. The important In the realm of governance, the with the best globally. largest-ever single grant – $17.7 million work of entities such as the Kingsford • Professionalism, accountability productive relationship between Council to advance understanding of HIV and Legal Centre and the Human Rights and transparency and senior management continued to hepatitis C. Also, for the second Centre continued. New digital media support strategic objectives. We worked consecutive year, we achieved our best- initiatives also offered opportunities for • Safety closely together throughout 2008 to ever performance in NHMRC grants. the public to access talks and lectures. expand on the University’s statement of • Sustainability UNSW established a number of new UNSW’s fi rst postgraduate residence, strategic intent, B2B, and to more sharply New College Village, neared completion, • High service standards cross-faculty research centres in 2008, defi ne UNSW’s distinctive strengths. including the Centre for Energy Research and work was well underway on another The achievements of the University are and Policy Analysis. We received $75 major student village, due to open in These values are embedded in the based on the hard work and talent of its million from the Higher Education 2010. Construction progressed on the staff and students, as well as the support University’s policies, processes and Endowment Fund towards the $125 new $100 million Lowy Cancer Research of the Federal and NSW governments, the procedures. million cost of a carbon-neutral Energy Centre, the fi rst stage of the visionary University’s alumni and donors, and other Technologies Building, the fi rst stage of $400 million biomedical precinct. Also supporters. We take this opportunity to a major new engineering precinct. Linked under construction is the Centre for Eye thank you all for your contribution in 2008. to this initiative is UNSW’s participation Health, set to be the world’s fi rst ocular as one of three core partners in the $100 imaging centre to offer free services to million Australian Solar Institute, due to the general community. The Centre is a Mr David Gonski AC Professor Frederick commence operation in mid-2009. partnership between UNSW and Guide Chancellor Hilmer AO Dogs NSW/ACT, which will contribute Vice-Chancellor UNSW dominated the prestigious $40 million to its operation. and President Australian Museum Eureka Prizes with 02 THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES 2008 ANNUAL REPORT www.unsw.edu.au 03 YEAR IN REVIEW 2008 was a year of MARCH Three UNSW professors – Brett Neilan, JULY SEPTEMBER A major UNSW project to reduce the achievements, breakthroughs Michelle Simmons and Aibing Yu are number of patients harmed in Australia’s Sustainable architecture expert, named 2008 ARC Federation Fellows. The Governor-General Major General UNSW Scientia Professor Martin Green hospitals is awarded $8.4 million in and milestones for Professor Deo Prasad of the Faculty of UNSW was awarded more Federation Michael Jeffery launches the Centre named the inaugural NSW Scientist of funding from the NHMRC. the University. Fellowships in 2008 than any other the Built Environment, named Chair of for Social Impact at UNSW. The joint the Year. UNSW and other world-leading research the United Nations Global Civil Society research institution. venture aims to build the capacity of Among the highlights: recognition The Macquarie Group Foundation institutes form a new consortium, Forum for the Asia–Pacifi c region. Australia’s not-for-profi t sector. as the top university in Australia for Commerce student Gabrielle King wins donates $2 million towards an endowed Bionic Vision Australia, to fast-track learning and teaching; a record six UNSW wins more grants than any other Ben Lexcen Sports Scholarship, allowing The Faculty of Engineering launches chair in the UNSW-based Centre for development of a bionic eye. her to defend her world sailing titles Eureka prizes awarded to UNSW Australian institution in a special round of the Centre for Implantable Bionics – a Social Impact and $1 million for a Chair The ARC Photovoltaic Centre of while continuing her academic studies.