From the Vice Chancellor: Some things change, some stay the same

INSIDE UNISA

You might have heard me say recently that the University of South Australia is now a university of one. Just me.

Of course, that’s only true on paper – or more specifically, on the payroll.

Every other UniSA staff member has now officially transitioned employment to Adelaide University. A quiet milestone, perhaps – no fireworks, no parade – but a moment worth pausing to reflect on.

Technically, this means that UniSA’s work is now wholly outsourced (except for mine).

However, what’s actually changed? UniSA has always been much more than its name or its CRICOS number. It’s an attitude. A way of thinking – and doing. It’s about people who roll up their sleeves and get things done. People who collaborate meaningfully across disciplines and with industry to make sure what we do is innovative and relevant, and what we deliver genuinely meet the needs of our communities. People who believe that excellence and inclusion aren’t mutually exclusive, but partners. That education is a tool for real-world change.

This mindset – enterprising, grounded, and focused on impact – has not, and will not, change. It lives on in all of us and is critical in helping to shape Adelaide University, which is of course, based on these very same values.

Because even when enormous change happens, some things remain remarkably constant.

That sense of continuity is also evident with the recently re-elected Labor Government. It’s heartening to see further investment in education on the horizon by way of cuts to student loan debt, reform to the HECS-HELP repayment system and funding for more university places. These measures speak to the heart of what UniSA has always worked toward, and are central to the vision of Adelaide University – ensuring the prosperity, wellbeing and cohesion of society by addressing educational inequality.

It’s certainly not all positive on the policy front – there’s much to be done and not enough space here to address all of that – however I’m hopeful the progress that’s been made on the Australian Universities Accord is able to build and continue, and that universities’ constructive relationship with the Government will see the return of the stability and certainty the sector urgently needs.

While we have a vision for our future university, what exactly this new institution will become is still unfolding. That’s the nature of major change. But if the past is anything to go by, I’m confident that the spirit and purpose that defined UniSA will continue to make a mark – not by force of branding, but rather through the way our people work and the values we carry.

It is our enterprising spirit that’s made UniSA distinctive, and it’s what will continue to influence the future of higher education in this state – and far beyond.

So, while I may be the last official employee of UniSA (which makes team meetings very efficient), the enterprise of UniSA – the energy, the values, the drive – lives on in every lab, lecture, and initiative that will soon unfold under the Adelaide University banner.

That’s no small thing.

When you create something new, there’s always the risk of losing something valuable in the process. But what we’re seeing – and what I take real pride in – is that the best of what UniSA has stood for isn’t being lost. It’s being carried forward by the people who lived it, shaped it, and now continue to grow it.

Whether you’re an academic or professional staff member, a current student, a graduate, a partner, or a long-time friend of the university – that story is part of your story too. You’ve helped build something enduring. And while the logos may change, the impact doesn’t.

So here we all are, not at the end of a journey, but mid-stride in one that’s evolving. And while I may be alone on paper, I’m at one with thousands who share the UniSA spirit – a legacy that’s woven into our being, that we’re carrying forward together, creating something different, yet in many ways the same ... and brighter than ever.

Professor David Lloyd
Vice Chancellor and President

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