Highlights 2011|12 FRONT COVER// WIntHroP ProfeSSor MARK CASSIDY ARC FUTUre feLLOW AND DIrector OF THE centre for offSHore foUNDATIon SYStemS Highlights 2011|12 The University of Western The University confirmed its access to infrared technology and Australia continues to close reputation as a national leader in micro-electromechanical systems on its ambitious goal of being health and medical research when it fabrication processes for industry counted among the world’s was awarded more than $25 million and the broader Australian and top 50 universities by 2050. in funding for 53 grants through international research communities. In international Shanghai the National Health and Medical Jiao Tong World University’s Research Council. Other research Nodes for three national Centres Academic Rankings of World areas were included in $36.83 million, for Cooperative Research were Universities, UWA is now more than 70 per cent of annual established at UWA to provide ranked 110th in the world with competitive grants awarded by valuable input into national Life and Agricultural Sciences the Australian Research Council to research to meet emerging global 33rd in the world. Western Australian institutions. needs for Water Sensitive Cities, Plant Biosecurity and Polymer This ranking is not just about In 2011 we welcomed the start of manufacturing. prestige – it is about the benefits construction of major new $112 that flow from a highly regarded million medical research facilities Also important have been the many international research university, as part of the expansion of the QEII major individual achievements. UWA positively affecting the lives of people Medical Centre into one of the largest researchers again dominated the in our local, national and international medical, research and education list of finalists for the 2011 Western communities. facilities in Australia. Another centre is Australian Science Awards and were being built at the new Fiona Stanley again awarded Scientist of the Year Australia’s foremost non-Government Hospital south of Perth. and Young Scientist of the Year. This university rating body – The Good recognition reinforces the University’s Universities Guide – also confirmed The research hubs are the result position as the pre-eminent research the University’s growing national and of significant State and national and teaching institution in the State international reputation rating it as collaborations led by UWA and and is testament to the excellence of the State’s leading university and one its affiliate the Western Australian its academics and students. of the nation’s best. UWA was equal Institute for Medical Research. first in Australia on key performance measures of graduate starting The University also opened its salaries, positive graduate outcomes, new $24 million Centre of Excellence staff qualifications, student/staff ratio, in the History of Emotions – the research intensity, research grants biggest humanities grant made and student demand. by the Australian Research Council. The centre’s research aims to Another important milestone in better understand the culture of Paul Johnson 2011 was the launch by the Prime modern Australia. Vice-Chancellor Minister of the International Mining for Development Centre based at UWA, And there were many other which is part of a $31 million Federal significant events, such as the Government package to provide launch of the WA node of the education and training services to Australian National Fabrication developing countries. Facility providing 19 institutions with The University of Western Australia | 01 Strategic Directions 2010-2013 The University of Western Australia is recognised internationally for its excellence in teaching and research and as a leading intellectual and creative resource for the communities it serves. Mission ÌÌ research-intensive, with a strong our Review of Course Structures), To advance, transmit and sustain teaching and research nexus the University will ensure that in knowledge and understanding across all our disciplines; every academic field, the quality of through the conduct of teaching, ÌÌ internationally-focused, for both education provided will meet the research and scholarship at the the content and standards of our needs of 21st Century graduates at highest international standards, activities; the highest international standard. for the benefit of the Western ÌÌ technologically innovative, to Australian, Australian and maximise our flexibility; Strategic Priorities international communities. ÌÌ responsive, to meet the needs of The University has identified four the community, our students and priority strategic objectives of Values our graduates. particular significance to achieving The core values underpinning our international excellence over the activities are a commitment to: Achieving international excellence period 2009-2013: ÌÌ a high performance culture to as a comprehensive teaching ÌÌ Teaching and Learning – improve achieve international excellence; and research university calls for the quality of the student learning ÌÌ academic freedom to encourage fully funded growth to achieve experience; staff and students to engage in economies of scale. The University ÌÌ Research and Research Training the open exchange of ideas and has set a growth target to reach – improve the quality and impact, thought; 25,000 students by 2020 and to and productivity of research and ÌÌ continuous improvement through move towards a 65:35 ratio of research training; self-examination and external undergraduate to postgraduate ÌÌ External Relations – improve review; students. the University’s positioning and ÌÌ fostering the values of openness, A major step forward in positioning reputation, and develop strategic honesty, tolerance, fairness, trust the University as a world leader is a relationships and community and responsibility in social, moral reshaping of the relationship between engagement; and academic matters; our undergraduate and postgraduate ÌÌ People and Resources – develop ÌÌ transparency in decision making degrees. By implementing our New our people and resources. and accountability; Courses 2012 program (set by ÌÌ equity and merit as the fundamental principles for the achievement of the full potential of The University will engage in a The areas of emerging and seed all staff and students. number of strategic research areas priorities are: and emerging and seed priority areas ÌÌ Australian Literature and Defining Characteristics while continually improving the quality Post-colonial Cultures; The University of Western Australia of research discoveries, publications ÌÌ Bio-engineering and Bio-sensing; will be recognised by the following and research productivity. ÌÌ Economic and Regional defining characteristics: Development; ÌÌ high quality, as the pervading The research strengths are: ÌÌ Future Cities; criterion for all our activities; ÌÌ Plant Sciences and Sustainabe ÌÌ Measuring Science; ÌÌ comprehensive, with a broad Food Production; ÌÌ Medieval and Early Modern teaching and research profile ÌÌ Ecology, Evolution, and the Studies. in the arts, sciences, and Environment; professions; ÌÌ Energy and Minerals; ÌÌ selective, within a comprehensive ÌÌ Indigenous Knowledge; base, to develop particular ÌÌ Medicine and Health; areas of research strength and ÌÌ Mind and the Nervous System. emphasis; 02 | uwa.edu.au Paul Johnson Vice-Chancellor The University of Western Australia | 03 Australian Academy of Science Award One of the world’s most cited plant scientists, Winthrop Professor Harvey Millar, a Chief Investigator at the ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology at UWA, won the 2012 Fenner Medal for distinguished research in biology by a scientist under 40. The Fenner Medal is awarded by the Australian Academy of Science, which recognises excellence in diverse fields of science. 04 | uwa.edu.au Staff and Student Successes The building of a team of internationally recognised staff provides Dan David Prize the basis for recruiting high quality students. In 2011 this quality was recognised in many ways. Some highlights include: Rankings confirm Royal Society UWA’s reputation Two new independent rankings confirmed The University of Western Australia’s growing national and UWA graduate Professor Marcus international reputation. Feldman was awarded the prestigious Australia’s foremost non- 2011 Dan David Prize of $1 million for Government university rating body – his work in the evolutionary sciences The Good Universities Guide – rated and was elected to the American The University of Western Australia in Internationally recognised Philosophical Society. 2011 as the State’s leading university geotechnical engineer and research Professor Feldman, who and one of the nation’s best. leader at UWA’s Centre for Offshore graduated from UWA in 1964 UWA was equal first in Australia Foundation Systems, Winthrop with a Bachelor of Science on key performance measures giving Professor Mark Randolph, was (Hons) in mathematics and UWA five-star ratings for graduate elected to the prestigious Royal statistics, investigates the societal starting salaries, positive graduate Society placing him alongside the consequences of models of evolution. outcomes, staff qualifications, leading scientists, engineers and student/staff ratio, research intensity, technologists of his generation. Royal Historical Society research grants and student demand. In international Shanghai Jiao Prix d’Excellence award Tong World University Rankings, UWA is now