The University of Adelaide 2020 ANNUAL REPORT adelaide.edu.au 02 Foreword from the Chancellor 04 From the Vice-Chancellor and President 06 2020 at a glance 10 COVID-19 response 14 By the numbers 22 Awards and achievements 34 Governance 45 Council Members’ Report 50 Financial statements Cover image: The Wangu Poles featured on the front cover were designed by Kaurna and Ngarrindjeri artist Paul Herzich. 2020 ANNUAL REPORT Report of the University of Adelaide Council for the period 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2020 To the Hon. John Gardner, MP, Minister for Education. I have the pleasure to transmit to you the University of Adelaide Council’s report for the period 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2020, furnished in compliance with Section 25 of the University of Adelaide Act 1971 (10 October 2017). The Honourable Catherine Branson AC QC Chancellor 2020 Annual Report 1 FOREWORD FROM THE CHANCELLOR In 2020, the University of Adelaide and its entire community faced challenges beyond anything we could have predicted. Our attention at the start of the year was In May 2020, the University’s Chancellor, focused on the national bushfire crisis. Staff Rear Admiral the Hon. Kevin Scarce, and students rallied to the cause of helping AC, CSC, RAN (Rtd), brought forward communities, wildlife and industries affected his retirement; the following day, it was by fires. But we were soon required to shift announced that then Vice-Chancellor our focus in response to the emerging threats Professor Peter Rathjen, AO had taken of the COVID-19 pandemic. indefinite special leave. In the same week, South Australia’s Independent I am proud of the way in which our staff and Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC) students dealt with the very real difficulties revealed he was conducting an investigation posed by the pandemic. Adapting quickly to into allegations of misconduct by Professor working and studying remotely, they helped Rathjen and the University’s handling of keep themselves, their friends and families, those allegations. and the wider community safe. These events helped demonstrate the It was especially pleasing to see the way in importance of good governance structures which the University engaged with students – and a strong senior leadership team. including our overseas students both onshore With the office of Chancellor vacant, the and offshore, the Adelaide University Union Statutes of the University required me, as (AUU), the Student Representative Council the then Deputy Chancellor, to assume the (SRC) and others – to ensure that their responsibilities of the office of Chancellor. academic needs were met and their wellbeing I am grateful to my colleagues on Council was treated as a priority. The generosity for their unwavering support as we together of our entire community, including staff, made the governance decisions necessary alumni and members of the public, in to keep the University operating smoothly. providing financial and other support for I also express my deep gratitude to the students, was wonderful to see. then Provost, Professor Mike Brooks, who Amid dealing with the biggest pandemic accepted our request to become Acting the world has experienced in almost 100 Vice-Chancellor. Under his leadership, years, the strength of our University’s senior the critical work of the University’s senior leadership and governance arrangements leadership team also continued without were put to the test. significant disruption. 2 The University of Adelaide In July 2020, I was honoured to be appointed values and culture already being overseen the issues raised by the survey. That work has the University’s 17th Chancellor following by the Council’s People and Culture continued in 2021. a selection process in which, of course, I standing committee. The year 2020 has taught us much about took no part. I accepted this appointment As our senior leadership continued to our abilities to respond to adversity. Despite recognising that the manner in which I and manage the financial impacts of COVID-19, many challenges, our governance structures the entire Council handled the challenges including implementing the Enterprise have proved resilient and our leadership we faced, including the challenge of leading Agreement Variation (EAV) voted on by team strong. We have remained focused on cultural change at the University, would be staff and working through the Voluntary our mission as an academic institution that critical to the University’s ongoing success. Separation Scheme (VSS), Council continues to play a critical role in the lives Professor Rathjen resigned as Vice- turned its attention to the recruitment of of so many and in the prosperity of our Chancellor at the end of July. In late August, a new Vice-Chancellor and President. This State and our nation. ICAC made a public statement of its findings extensive process included consultations This Annual Report encapsulates many against Professor Rathjen which included with our staff and students and utilised achievements from a year that will be findings that he had sexually harassed two the services of a leading international remembered by all for different reasons. staff members. There were no findings search firm. The search culminated in the While recognising that we still have much against anyone else at the University, and the appointment in early 2021 of Professor Peter work to do, including work to improve our University’s Council committed to adopting Høj AC. The Council is confident that this University’s culture, I am proud to look the eight recommendations made in the will prove to be an outstanding appointment back over the numerous successes of 2020. ICAC statement. that provides strong leadership for our I congratulate our entire community on University over the coming years. As a result, we established the ICAC helping to set the stage for a bright future. Response Steering Committee. Chaired Towards the end of 2020, ICAC released by Professor Katrina Falkner (Executive the results of a separate University Dean, Faculty of Engineering, Computer Integrity Survey, which was aimed at better and Mathematical Sciences), the committee understanding perceptions, attitudes and comprises staff, students, alumni and experiences of staff at the three South external members. KPMG was appointed Australian universities in relation to matters as an independent consultant to support of integrity. It was gratifying that by the the University’s response. The work of time the survey results were published, The Hon. Catherine Branson AC QC this committee was complementary to our University already had a major body Chancellor, The University of Adelaide important work concerning University’s of work underway to address many of 2020 Annual Report 3 FROM THE VICE-CHANCELLOR AND PRESIDENT As difficult a year as 2020 was, the response of the University has been remarkable. 4 The University of Adelaide The University of Adelaide, like others, the South Australian Young Tall Poppy of the was exposed to the disruptive effects of the year and many other staff received awards or COVID-19 pandemic during 2020 and ascension to Australia’s Learned Academies. additionally to an unplanned and sudden Our North Terrace campus was enhanced by departure of our former Vice-Chancellor. the addition of the Kaurna Learning Circle – The circumstances leading to that were embedding Indigenous culture, language and profoundly disappointing and led many knowledge-sharing, and making our campus members of our community, and the broader grounds even more beautiful. community, to question our cultural settings. The University is sorry for this and has in Our research continues to be world-class earnest commenced a focussed journey to with the Academic Ranking of World become a better and stronger institution. Universities rating eight of our discipline areas in the top 50 globally, with 14 Even with these challenges, the University appearing in the global top 100, which is community, its staff, students, titleholders, a strong effort in a world with more than benefactors and volunteers, collectively and 10,000 universities. We also broke records with great agility turned a year that could for our highest ever research income and have been wasted for our young knowledge- philanthropic support in 2020, as detailed seekers into a year of strong attainment. I further in this report. want to acknowledge the dedication and excellence our staff exhibited to achieve The COVID-19 Student Support Appeal such success. Equally impressive has been was the most successful appeal in 2020, the effort and understanding of our students raising $1.45M. This great achievement and we greatly admire their commitment, evidences the deep commitment of our their dedication and their success. It is my University community to the support of sincere hope that our society will soon be our students. I acknowledge the generosity able to open up again and allow access to of our staff, students and alumni who everything we have to offer for our domestic donated to this appeal. and international students. These are remarkable achievements in any On commencing my role as Vice-Chancellor year, and I wish to sincerely thank Interim in February 2021, I quickly became aware Vice-Chancellor Professor Mike Brooks of the outstanding work by our staff to for his leadership in astutely steering the move courses online, to provide flexibility in University through such a challenging assessments and exams, to create innovative and complex year, another example of his blended modes of teaching, to maintain wonderful contribution to the University of student engagement, to continue vital Adelaide over more than three decades. research, and to show genuine compassion I also wish to thank the Council led by for our students in their time of great need. Chancellor the Hon. Catherine Branson, These efforts enabled our students to AC, QC for the challenging and critical continue their studies even if they couldn’t work they undertook in 2020, and for the physically be on campus, helping to set them privilege they have extended to me through up for future success.