University of Canberra

Infobox University
name = University of Canberra


caption =
latin_name =
motto = Australia's Capital University
tagline =
established = 1990
type = Public
endowment =
staff = 853
chancellor = Prof. Ingrid Moses
vice_chancellor = Prof. Stephen Parker [cite web|url = http://www.canberra.edu.au/university/about/executive-staff/stephen-parker|title = Professor Stephen Parker|accessdate = 2007-08-02|publisher = University of Canberra]
students = ~9,000
undergrad =
postgrad =
doctoral =
profess =
city = Bruce, Canberra
state = ACT
country = Australia
campus = Urban convert|290|acre|km2|1|lk=on (Bruce campus)
free_label =
free =
colours =
mascot =
nickname =
affiliations = ASAIHL, New Generation Universities
footnotes =
website = [http://www.canberra.edu.au/ www.canberra.edu.au]
address =
publictransit =
telephone =
coor =
The University of Canberra, also known as UC, is a university located in Canberra, ACT, the capital of Australia. UC is the second largest tertiary institution in Canberra. There are approximately 9,000 students and more than 800 staff. Fact|date=August 2007 This was ranked 8th in Australia for teaching and learning and survey showed that its graduates are among the highest paid in Australia.fact|date=July 2008

History

The University of Canberra was founded in 1967 as the "Canberra College of Advanced Education", and was accredited as a university on January 1 1990 following the Dawkins reforms. It was initially sponsored by Monash University until 1993. [ [http://www.dest.gov.au/archive/highered/eippubs/eip9701/appenda.htm appenda ] ] In 2008, UC is celebrating its 40th anniversary.

Campus

The University of Canberra (UC) is set on convert|120|ha|acre|0|lk=on. Located in the suburb of Bruce, 10 minutes drive from the city centre, UC is a single campus with student residential services, teaching and library facilities all within walking distance.

Academic structure

The University teaches in many disciplines including law, journalism, information technology, advertising, health, biological sciences, forensics and design.

As of January 2008, the university's teaching functions are delivered by eight academic faculties:
* [http://www.canberra.edu.au/faculties/business Faculty of Business and Government]
* [http://www.canberra.edu.au/faculties/ise Faculty of Information Sciences and Engineering]
* [http://www.canberra.edu.au/faculties/law Faculty of Law]
* [http://www.canberra.edu.au/faculties/design-creative Faculty of Design and Creative Practice]
* [http://www.canberra.edu.au/faculties/comm-international Faculty of Communication and International Studies]
* [http://www.canberra.edu.au/faculties/education Faculty of Education]
* [http://www.canberra.edu.au/faculties/health Faculty of Health]
* [http://www.canberra.edu.au/faculties/science Faculty of Science]

Notable staff and students

Alumni

Notable alumni, include:

* Wil Anderson, comedian
* Simon Corbell, ACT Minister and former President, Students' Association
* Scott Fava, Western Force rugby union player
* George Gregan, former Captain, Australian national rugby union team
* Justin Heazlewood, aka The Bedroom Philosopher, comedian/folk singer
* Kelly Hoare, member of the Australian House of Representatives
* Hayley Jensen, singer
* Garth Nix, author
* Wayne Sievers, former police officer, trade union official, social justice campaigner and political figure
* Petria Thomas, Olympic swimmer and multiple gold medal winner [ [http://www.celebrityspeakers.com.au/brspeaker_bio.asp?Speaker_Index_Text=434 Petria Thomas : Olympic, Sport, Keynote Speaker, Motivation ] ]
* Alan Tongue, Canberra Raiders Rugby League player
* David Vernon (writer), writer
* Adam Boland, producer Sunrise, Weekend Sunrise and The Morning Show - Channel Seven.
* Jonathan Uptin, weekday presenter of National Nine News in Darwin.
* Kate Taylor, journalist and co-host breakfast program, FM 104.7 Canberra
* Ursula Stephens Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector

taff

Notable staff members have included:
* Arthur Hoyle, historian
* Ingrid Moses, Chancellor
* Susan Ryan, one-time Labor government Minister
* Donald Horne Australian journalist, writer, social critic, historian and public intellectual

Foundation stone and Stone Day

At the end of the year, after classes finish but before exams, Stone Day is usually held, a music festival with local bands, which lasts several days. The day before it is known as Stone Eve. It started as a celebration held annually to mark the placing of the foundation stone by Prime Minister John Gorton on 28 October, 1968. This founded the Canberra College of Advanced Education, which became the University of Canberra in 1990.

The stone is under glass, outside, near Building 1 at the University, and an inscription on it reads:

quote|This Stone was unveiled by the right honourable J.G. Gorton, M.P., Prime Minister of Australia, on 28 October 1968, to mark the establishment of the Canberra College of Advanced Education.

Over the years the Stone Day program has gradually become larger and larger, taking up a whole week and now Stonefest is one of Australia's most popular music festivals. The first foundation celebrations were held in 1971. In 1973 Stone Day celebrations were held over two days, which was expanded to take up a whole week in 1976. In the 1980s and 1990s Stoneweek became a popular Canberra entertainment event, which in 2000 became Stonefest.

Research centres

The university has a number of research centres relating to its areas of research strength. These are:

* Institute for Applied Ecology
* National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling (NATSEM) [http://www.natsem.canberra.edu.au]
* [http://www.ewatercrc.com.au eWater Cooperative Research Centre]
* Cooperative Research Centre for Sustainable Tourism
* Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre
* Centre for Labour Market Research
* Healthpact Research Centre for Health Promotion & Wellbeing
* Australian Institute for Sustainable Communities
* Centre for Customs & Excise Studies
* Centre for Developing Cities
* Centre for Research in Public Sector Management
* Centre for Tourism Research
* Communication & Media Policy Institute
* Corrosion & Spectrochemistry Laboratory
* Human Computer Communication Laboratory
* Learning Communities Research Area
* Lifelong Learning Network
* National Centre for Corporate Law & Policy Research
* National Institute for Governance
* Ngunnawal Centre
* Professional Management Programs
* Schools & Community Centre

Ranking

UC was one of nine universities recognised by the Australian government in 2006 for high achievement in learning and teaching [ [http://www.dest.gov.au/sectors/higher_education/policy_issues_reviews/key_issues/learning_teaching/ltpf/qa_learning_teaching_performance_fund_stage2.htm#Which_higher_education_providers_received_funding_in_the_2006_Learning_and_Teaching_Performance_Fund DEST Learning and Teaching Performance Fund, Canberra, 2007] ] [Rankings of Australian Universities] [ [http://study.itee.uq.edu.au/degree_programs/teach_rankings_05.htm Teaching Rankings] ] . In 2005 and 2006 rankings of the international standing of Australian universities by the Melbourne Institute, UC received 44 and ranked approximately two-thirds down the list [Rankings of Australian Universities] . In 2007, UC received 41 [ [http://melbourneinstitute.com/publications/reports/aus_uni/ Melbourne Institute's 2007 Ranking of Australian Universities] ] .

Recent history

In May 2007, the Vice Chancellor Stephen Parker announced a review of the university's administration that was expected to result in significant job cuts. [ [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200705/s1935204.htm University of Canberra staff overhaul continues. 28/05/2007. ABC News Online ] ] [ [http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/04/30/1910412.htm Job cuts loom at the University of Canberra - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) ] ] The Administrative Review was completed in March, 2008.

The Vice-Chancellor announced on 5 August, 2007, that UC had received a Workplace Productivity Programme Grant from the Federal Government to help fund improvements to systems and processes, in particular relating to student administration, academic decision-making, budget modelling and financial management. The grant is worth AUD$4.75m over the next three years. The Review of Courses and Disciplines and the Review of Academic Structure is now proceeding.

ee also

* Australian National University

References

External links

* [http://www.hotcourses.com.au/australia/providerReviews/University-Of-Canberra/895/10/1.html University of Canberra Reviews] (Hotcourses.com.au)
* [http://canberra.edu.au University of Canberra] (Official website)
* [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Canberra,+Australia&btnG=Search&t=k&ll=-35.238469,149.082853&spn=0.005819,0.012757&t=k University of Canberra on Google Maps]