Curtin University

Curtin University
Motto	Look Ever Forward
Established	1966
Type	Public
Chancellor	Dr Jim Gill AO
Vice-Chancellor	Professor Jeanette Hacket
Academic staff	3 020
Undergraduates	35 365
Postgraduates	9 625
Location	Bentley, W.A, Australia
Campus	Urban
Organisations	Australian Technology Network
Affiliations	ASAIHL
Website	www.curtin.edu.au

Curtin University - Building 408, with adjacent 3.8 megalitre thermal energy storage tank

Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer Control in Perth

Curtin University is an Australian university based in Perth, Western Australia, with additional campuses in regional Western Australia and at Miri (Sarawak, Malaysia), Sydney and Singapore. It was established in 1966 as the Western Australian Institute of Technology, and its present name, adopted in 1987, honours John Curtin, the Prime Minister of Australia between 1941 and 1945.

As at 2010, the university had a student enrolment of 46,634 with a FTE of 33,509, of whom 19,872 were onshore or offshore international students, and employed a staff of 3,020 (exclusive of casual and sessional academic staff).^[1]

History

Prior to 1985, Curtin University was called the Western Australian Institute of Technology (WAIT). WAIT was formed in 1966. Its nucleus comprised the tertiary programs formerly conducted in the Perth Technical College which opened in 1900. In 1969, three more institutions were merged with WAIT: The Western Australian School of Mines (originally opened in 1902), the Muresk Agricultural College (dating from 1926) and schools of physiotherapy and occupational therapy in operation since the 1950s at Shenton Park.^[2] By 1976, it had expanded from 2,000 to more than 10,000 students.^[3]

On 1 January 1987, the institute became the Curtin University of Technology under provisions of the WA Institute of Technology Amendment Act 1986.^[4]

In June 2005, Curtin University and Murdoch University were engaged in a feasibility study into the possibility of a merger.^[5] However, on 7 November 2005, both institutions issued a press release that such a merger will not be undertaken.^[6]

In 2009 Curtin University became the first university in the Australian Technology Network to be listed on the Jiao Tong rankings of research universities.^[7]

As the university had moved well beyond its original scope, Curtin University dropped the "of Technology" suffix in 2010.^[8]

University rankings

The Times-QS World University Ranking^[9]

Category/Year	2011	2010	2009	2008	2007	2006	2005
Overall	258	274	244	232	235	156	156
Arts & Humanities	312	N/A	N/A	N/A	223	N/A	N/A
Natural Sciences	256	278	252	255	211	N/A	N/A
Engineering & IT	162	179	195	186	197	N/A	N/A
Social Sciences	249	249	238	187	166	N/A	N/A
Life Sciences	N/A	N/A	260	232	282	N/A	N/A

Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU)^[10]

Year	2011	2010	2009
Rank	401-500	401-500	402-501

Overview

Curtin University is a member of Australian Technology Network (ATN Network), and is active in research in a range of academic and practical fields,^[11] including (but not limited to) Resources and Energy (e.g. petroleum gas), Information and Communication, Health, Ageing and Well-being (Public Health), Communities and Changing Environments, and Growth and Prosperity. It is the only Western Australian university to produce PhD recipients of the AINSE gold medal, which is the highest recognition for PhD-level research excellence in Australia and New Zealand.^[12]

Curtin is ranked within the top 300 universities by QS World University Rankings 2011/12.^[13] The University is also ranked in The Academic Ranking of World Universities, 2010 (ARWU) as one of the top 500 world universities.^[14] Curtin's Graduate School of Business's MBA programmes, which are accredited by the London-based Association of MBAs (AMBA), were ranked 58th out of 113 amongst renowned business schools worldwide by the Economist magazine.^[15]

Curtin has become increasingly active in research and partnerships overseas, in particular in mainland China. It is involved in a number of business, management and research projects, particularly in supercomputing, where the university participates in a tri-continental array with nodes in Perth, Beijing and Edinburgh.^[16] Western Australia has become an important exporter of minerals, petroleum and natural gas.^[17] The Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visited the Woodside-funded hydrocarbon research facility during his visit to Australia in 2005.^[18]

Curtin has over 90 exchange partnerships with universities in more than 20 countries.^[19]

Faculties

Robertson Library in Bentley campus.

From 2007, the university's teaching and research is divided into five faculties (previously known as divisions).^[20] These are:

• Centre for Aboriginal Studies
• Curtin Business School
  • School of Accounting
  • School of Business Law and Taxation
  • School of Economics and Finance
  • School of Information Systems
  • School of Management
  • School of Marketing
  • Graduate School of Business
• Faculty of Health Sciences
  • Centre for International Health
  • School of Nursing and Midwifery
  • School of Occupational Therapy and Social Work
  • School of Pharmacy
  • School of Physiotherapy
  • School of Psychology and Speech Pathology
  • School of Public Health
• Faculty of Humanities
  • School of Built Environment
  • School of Design and Art
  • School of Media, Culture and Creative Arts
  • School of Education
  • School of Social Sciences and Asian Languages
  • Curtin English Language Centre
  • Centre for Human Rights Education
• Faculty of Science and Engineering
  • School of Science
  • School of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
  • School of Civil and Mechanical Engineering
  • School of Electrical Engineering and Computing http://www.computing.edu.au/
  • School of Agriculture and Environment (Muresk Institute)
  • Western Australian School of Mines
    • Department of Spatial Sciences http://spatial.curtin.edu.au/

Student Guild

Curtin Student Guild Complex on the Market Day.

The Curtin Student Guild is the guild representing students at Curtin University. The Guild started as the WAIT Student Guild in November 1968.

In addition to student representation the Guild manages most of the food outlets on campus. The Guild Second Hand Bookshop, Guild Concept Store, Curtin Student Guild Childcare Centre and the Copy and Design Centre. The Guild funds many of the student clubs and societies on campus. The Guild also runs a number of events throughout the year, most notably are the Beach Bash held in semester one and Oktoberfest held in semester two. The Guild publishes Grok, the campus magazine which has the largest distribution in the country. The Student Guild is governed by students through the Guild Council. Student representatives are elected to their positions by students in annual elections held in September and run by the Western Australian Electoral Commission. The official spokesperson of which is the Guild President. As of December 1, 2010 the Guild President is Joseph Quick.^[21]

Postgraduate students are represented by Curtin Student Guild Postgraduate Student Association. CUPSA is a department of the Guild. Other departments include ISC (International Students Committee), Women’s, Queer, Indigenous, and Part Time and Mature Age.

Funding to the Curtin Student Guild has been greatly reduced when the Voluntary Student Unionism legislation came into force on 1 July 2006. The Curtin Student Guild has already experienced State imposed VSU from 1994-2002.

Transport

Curtin has its own Bus Port, connected to the Transperth Public Transport Network. Many routes terminate/start at and run through this Port. With the 2007 completion of the Mandurah railway line, it has become easier to travel to Curtin. Students can alight at Canning Bridge Station, and then catch a bus, which goes directly to the university.

Other campuses

In addition to the main campus at Bentley, Curtin has two smaller campuses in the metropolitan area. The Graduate School of Business is located in the Central Business District at 78 Murray Street in the renovated former Government Printing Office - a listed building on the State Register of Heritage Places, and listed in the National Trust's List of Classified Places. The other campus is the Shenton Park Heath Research campus hosting NDRI (National Drug Research Institute).

The University Departments of Exploration Geophysics and Petroleum Engineering are located at the co-location research facilities of the Australia Resources Research Centre (ARRC^[22]) which also houses offices of CSIRO Earth Science and Resource Engineering ^[23] and National Measurement Institute.^[24] The ARRC is located in the Technology Park, Kensington, which is adjacent to the main Bentley campus. Some University staff, researchers and students on practicum work in other locations such as the Oral Health Centre of WA (OHCWA) in Nedlands ^[25] and at Royal Perth Hospital, amongst other organisations.

Curtin also has several campuses outside of Perth, notably those located in Kalgoorlie (Western Australia School of Mines), and Northam and Collie (Muresk Institute). The first two campuses reflect the university's traditional strength in mine engineering and agriculture and resources (Muresk). A number of micro-campuses exist in locations such as Esperance, Margaret River and Geraldton. Nursing is the only course offered in Geraldton.

Sydney campus

Curtin University Sydney (Curtin Sydney) was established on 20 June 2005. Initially, the campus was located in The Rocks area. It was later relocated to the suburb of Chippendale where it occupies the historic Berlei Building. Curtin Sydney offers diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate courses to students from all over the world.

Curtin Sydney's location is in the heart of the city, close to the Central Business District[1], Darling Harbour as well as many other of the city's attractions. It is conveniently close to transport, shopping, leisure facilities and cafes/restaurants.

Facilities

Curtin Sydney is located in the heart of the city near Central Railway Station, at 39 Regent Street, Chippendale. The campus has been extensively refurbished and offers campus-wide wireless internet access; E-Library with access to over 17,000 E-journals; latest IT setups in all classrooms. The campus has a large student lounge, study areas and a rooftop terrace.

As of March 2012, Curtin University is a non-smoking campus.^[26]

Undergraduate Programs

• Curtin College Diploma of Commerce

• Bachelor of Business Administration
• Bachelor of Commerce with majors and double majors in:

Accounting, Finance, Marketing, International Business, Finance & Management, Finance & Marketing, Management & Marketing, Accounting & Business Information Systems, Accounting & Finance, Management & Business Information Systems

Postgraduate programs

• Graduate Certificate of Professional Accounting
• Graduate Certificate of Finance
• Graduate Certificate in Project Management

• Graduate Diploma of Professional Accounting
• Graduate Diploma in Banking and Finance
• Graduate Diploma in International Business
• Graduate Diploma in Project Management

• Master of Accounting
• Master of Professional Accounting
• Master of Finance
• Master of International Business
• Master of Project Management

Additional services

Internship program: Available to undergraduate and postgraduate students, the programme places students in a local company for 12-16 weeks in a relevant role to their field of study.

Career preparation seminars: Held weekly on campus, and covering practical skills such as job seeking and interview skills, time management and goal setting, motivation and leadership, networking and Australian cultural sensitivities

Sarawak Campus

The campus in Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia, is a significant development for the university and, to date, is Curtin's largest international campus. Curtin's operations in Miri began in February 1999. In 2002, a purpose-built campus was opened as Curtin's first offshore campus and the first foreign university campus in East Malaysia. It currently has over 3,000 students from over 40 countries, as well as academics from more than 15 countries.^[27] Curtin Sarawak is the only approved CISCO Networking University in Miri and Brunei.^[28]

Singapore Campus

Curtin University opened a Singapore based campus on 23 November 2008.^[29][30] Curtin Singapore courses use the same structure and unit curriculum as those offered at the Bentley campus.

Notable alumni

Past Curtin attendees include:

• Natalie Barr, news presenter on Seven Network's Sunrise^[31]
• Carrie Bickmore, co-host of The 7PM Project
• John Butler, musician
• Michaelia Cash, member of Australian Senate
• Deanne Cheuk, Art Director
• Natalia Cooper, weather presenter for Seven News at thee Seven Network Perth^[32]
• Priya Cooper, Gold medal swimmer at the Sydney Paralympic Games^[33]
• Judy Davis, Golden Globe and Emmy Award winning actress
• Elissa Down, film director^[34]
• Martin Dougiamas, creator of moodle
• Amanda Higgs, producer of The Secret Life Of Us^[35]
• Brad Hogg, cricketer
• Claire Hooper, comedian
• Sheila McHale, former Cabinet minister in the Government of Western Australia^[36]
• Judith Lucy, comedian^[37]
• Frances O'Connor, actress^[38]
• Ljiljanna Ravlich, former Cabinet minister in the Government of Western Australia^[39]
• Colin Barnett, Premier of Western Australia (2 years)
• Tony Ronaldson, basketball player for the Perth Wildcats
• Tim Winton, author^[38]
• John Worsfold, coach of the West Coast Eagles^[40]
• Ben Templesmith, illustrator & author of 30 Days of Night

References

1. ^ Curtin University (16 March 2011). "Annual Report 2010". p. 39-41. http://about.curtin.edu.au/local/docs/ar2010/curtin_annual_report_10.pdf. Retrieved 16 October 2011. 
2. ^ History: WAIT to Curtin
3. ^ "Overview of WA universities". The information systems academic discipline in Australia. ANU E-Press. September 2008. ISBN 9781921313943. http://epress.anu.edu.au/info_systems_aus/mobile_devices/ch10s02.html. Retrieved 16 October 2011. 
4. ^ "Western Australian Institute of Technology Amendment Act 1986: Proclamation". Western Australia Government Gazette: p. 1986:4861. 19 December 1986. 
5. ^ "Curtin agrees to discuss merger". Curtin University Media Releases. 2007-06-23. http://announce.curtin.edu.au/release2005/c13605.html. Retrieved 2007-10-25. 
6. ^ "Curtin Murdoch merger proposal not to proceed". Curtin University Media Releases. 2007-11-02. http://announce.curtin.edu.au/release2005/c24405.html. Retrieved 2007-10-25. 
7. ^ "Dawkins reforms bear fruit at Curtin University". The Australian. 2009-11-04. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/dawkins-reforms-bear-fruit-at-curtin-university/story-e6frgcjx-1225794050227. Retrieved 2009-11-14. 
8. ^ "Our name change - Curtin University". Curtin.edu.au. 2010-07-07. http://www.curtin.edu.au/curtinmovesforward/. Retrieved 2010-09-26. 
9. ^ {{"Curtin University QS Ranking". http://www.topuniversities.com/institution/curtin-university-technology/wur. 
10. ^ {{"Curtin University ARWU Ranking". 
11. ^ "Research & Development at Curtin". Research.curtin.edu.au. 2010-08-02. http://research.curtin.edu.au/about/expertise.cfm. Retrieved 2010-09-26. 
12. ^ "AINSE Gold Medals". Ainse.edu.au. http://www.ainse.edu.au/home2/gold_medals. Retrieved 2010-09-26. 
13. ^ "QS World University Rankings® 2011/2012". http://www.topuniversities.com. http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2011?page=5. 
14. ^ "Academic Ranking of World Universities - 2010". http://www.arwu.org. http://www.arwu.org/Country2010Main.jsp?param=Australia. 
15. ^ "The Economist worldwide MBA rankings 2011". Economist.com. 2011-10-13. http://www.economist.com/whichmba/full-time-mba-ranking. Retrieved 2011-10-14. 
16. ^ "China signs WA gas deal". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2005-05-20. http://www.smh.com.au/news/next/curtin-reaches-out-to-break-chinese-gridlock/2005/08/15/1123957995098.html. Retrieved 2007-10-25. 
17. ^ Amanda O'Brien (1 September 2007). "China overtakes Japan in WA trade". The Australian. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22342007-643,00.html. Retrieved 16 October 2011. 
18. ^ "Chinese Premier visits Curtin to view innovative technology". Curtin University Media Releases. 2006-04-03. http://announce.curtin.edu.au/release2005/c05706.html. Retrieved 2007-10-25. 
19. ^ Curtin Outbound Studies - Destinations^{[dead link]}
20. ^ Curtin University (13 September 2010). "Our study areas". http://futurestudents.curtin.edu.au/student-life/study-areas/. Retrieved 16 October 2011. 
21. ^ "Curtin Student Guild structure". Guild.curtin.edu.au. http://guild.curtin.edu.au/go/about-us/student-reps/guild-executive. Retrieved 2010-09-26. 
22. ^ "Perth: Australian Resources Research Centre (WA) - Participating Institutions". Csiro.au. 2009-12-18. http://www.csiro.au/places/ARRC.html#1. Retrieved 2010-09-26. 
23. ^ "CSIRO Earth Science and Resource Engineering". Em.csiro.au. http://www.em.csiro.au. Retrieved 2010-09-26. 
24. ^ "Home - National Measurement Institute". Measurement.gov.au. 2010-07-01. http://www.measurement.gov.au. Retrieved 2010-09-26. 
25. ^ "Oral Health Centre of Western Australia (OHCWA)". Health.wa.gov.au. 2007-09-18. http://www.health.wa.gov.au/services/detail.cfm?Unit_ID=931. Retrieved 2010-09-26. 
26. ^ "Curtin Uni to ban smoking on campus". thewest.com.au. http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/9009565/curtin-uni-to-ban-smoking-on-campus/. Retrieved 2011-05-19. 
27. ^ [http://www.curtin.edu.my/campusnews/mediarelease/2011/PR_11-37.htm
28. ^ Academy Connection - search for either Miri or Brunei
29. ^ Nicol, Julia (2008-03-26). "Curtin announces new Singapore Campus". Curtin News. Curtin University of Technology. http://campusnews.curtin.edu.au/mediarelease/index2.cfm?release=4163. Retrieved 2008-03-30. 
30. ^ Yeen Nie, Hoe (2008-03-27). "Australia's Curtin University of Technology to open Singapore campus". Singapore News. Channel NewsAsia. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/337393/1/.html. Retrieved 2008-03-27. 
31. ^ "Celebrity Speakers Biography: Natalie Barr". http://www.celebrityspeakers.com.au/brspeaker_bio.asp?Speaker_Index_Text=608. Retrieved 2008-02-15. 
32. ^ "Curtin Faculty of Humanities: Alumni". Archived from the original on 2008-03-07. http://web.archive.org/web/20080307020423/http://humanities.curtin.edu.au/alumni.cfm?id=33. Retrieved 2008-02-15. 
33. ^ "Curtin Alumni: Priya Cooper". Archived from the original on 2007-08-29. http://web.archive.org/web/20070829185219/http://www.alumni.curtin.edu.au/people/profiles/priya_cooper.html. Retrieved 2008-02-15. 
34. ^ "WA's catwalk star Gemma shines in her feature film debut". The West Australian. 2008-01-15. http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=54424. Retrieved 2008-02-15. ^{[dead link]}
35. ^ "Curtin Alumni: Amanda Higgs". Archived from the original on 2007-08-29. http://web.archive.org/web/20070829185711/http://www.alumni.curtin.edu.au/people/profiles/amanda_higgs.html. Retrieved 2008-02-15. 
36. ^ "Curtin Alumni: Sheila McHale". Archived from the original on 2007-08-29. http://web.archive.org/web/20070829185858/http://www.alumni.curtin.edu.au/people/profiles/sheila_mchale.html. Retrieved 2008-02-15. 
37. ^ "Funny girl". Sydney Morning Herald. 2003-07-12. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/07/11/1057783349263.html. Retrieved 2008-02-15. 
38. ^ ^{a b} "Communication & Cultural Studies - Graduate Achievements". Archived from the original on 2007-09-03. http://web.archive.org/web/20070903124317/http://humanities.curtin.edu.au/communication_and_cultural_studies_grad_achievements.cfm. Retrieved 2008-02-15. 
39. ^ "Ljiljanna Ravlich MLC Biography". http://www.ministers.wa.gov.au/ravlich/index.cfm?fuseaction=biography.main. Retrieved 2008-02-15. 
40. ^ "Curtin Alumni: John Worsfold". Archived from the original on 2007-08-29. http://web.archive.org/web/20070829185546/http://www.alumni.curtin.edu.au/people/profiles/john_worsfold.html. Retrieved 2008-02-15. 

External links

• Curtin University official website
  • Curtin University Sydney
  • Curtin University, Sarawak Campus
  • Curtin Singapore
  • Curtin Alumni

Coordinates: 32°00′17″S 115°53′39″E / 32.00469°S 115.89405°E / -32.00469; 115.89405