From the Vice Chancellor
2004
has been a year of great achievement for UniSA. Years of hard work have been
rewarded, major developments have begun to take shape and the quality of the
work of our staff has been acknowledged. At the same time contentious issues
– a new enterprise agreement and the institutional response to national
policy changes in higher education – have been negotiated in a rational and
civilised way, the sign of an institution which manages change well.
Good news early in the year was the announcement of the establishment of a Chair in Child Protection at UniSA. The Australian Government will provide $1 million a year for the next ten years to support research into the causes and impacts of child abuse and the development of national education and training programs.
For many of us, the early months of 2004 were consumed with preparations for our Australian Universities Quality Agency (AUQA) Audit. After intensive self-assessment and preparation, the AUQA audit took place in late March over nine short days including visits to three countries to look at our offshore programs.
During the audit process, we received some excellent news which helped to confirm our quality assurance claims. Our Division of Business and Enterprise secured accreditation from the european foundation for management development (efmd) under its European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS). At the time, the Division was only the second business school in Australia to achieve EQUIS accreditation and the first to have its offshore operations accredited.
From July to August, our focus shifted to the heavens with the hosting of the 2004 Australian International Space University SSP Program. UniSA led a collaboration with the University of Adelaide and Flinders University to deliver the nine week intensive professional development program for space industry professionals. One hundred and fourteen participants from 27 different countries and more than 130 space industry experts from all over the world took part in the program, confirming South Australia‘s position as a centre for space education and training.
In September the long awaited results of the AUQA audit were released. The audit team found our institution to be innovative, dynamic, flexible, well-governed and sure of itself and its directions. It supported these conclusions with 16 commendations for good practice.
Not long after this significant success, the University won the Education Category of the 2004 Business SA Export Awards. UniSA has had three previous successes at these Awards which recognise South Australia‘s most innovative export companies. The University will represent the state at the National Export Awards to be held at the Gold Coast in December.
In August our Whyalla Campus won the Community Contribution category award at the 2004 Upper Spencer Gulf Export Awards, in recognition of the significant and tangible contribution the Whyalla Campus has made to the intellectual, social and economic development of the region.
Throughout the year work progressed on our $135 million Blueprint 2005 project. Staff, students and visitors alike patiently witnessed the construction of buildings on three of our metropolitan campuses, coping remarkably well with the disruptions that major construction inevitably causes. Thanks must go to the Property Unit for its outstanding management of the project for, despite the obstacles presented by Mother Nature, the project continues to remain on time and on budget. We look forward to celebrating the opening of the new buildings early next year.
As I told Council in October, the best sign we have that we are a successful institution is the high quality of applicants for positions in the University. We have made some outstanding appointments this year. People want to come to work here because they believe we are an institution going places, a place where good ideas are supported. In the end, it is the quality of our staff – academic and general – and their willingness to commit themselves to give their best which makes us successful. We already have great people who are doing great things and every month we recruit more!
I have outlined just a few of our achievements for the year. These should be celebrated in conjunction with the many other successes experienced across the University. My thanks and best wishes extend to all members of the UniSA community for helping to make 2004 such a memorable year. I hope you enjoy the festive season and look forward, as I do, to another successful and enjoyable year in 2005.