University of New England (Australia)

University of New England
Latin: Universitas Nova Anglia
Former names
New England University College of the University of Sydney
(1938-1954)
Motto Ex sapientia modus
Motto in English
Out Of Wisdom Comes Moderation
Type Public
Established 1938
Chancellor James Harris
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Annabelle Duncan, PSM
Administrative staff
1,308
Undergraduates 13,968
Postgraduates 6,441
Location Armidale, New South Wales, Australia
30°29′12″S 151°38′35″E / 30.4867°S 151.6430°E / -30.4867; 151.6430Coordinates: 30°29′12″S 151°38′35″E / 30.4867°S 151.6430°E / -30.4867; 151.6430
Campus Rural
Affiliations RUN
Website http://une.edu.au/

The University of New England (UNE) is a public university in Australia with approximately 21,000 higher education students. Its original and main campus is located in the city of Armidale in northern central New South Wales.

The University of New England was the first Australian university established outside a state capital city.[1]

Each year, the University offers students more than $5 million in scholarships, prizes, and bursaries and more than $18 million for staff and students involved in research.[2]

History

The University of New England was originally established in 1938 as the New England University College, a College of the University of Sydney. It became fully independent in 1954.

The University of New England has undergone two major changes since 1989. The University of New England Act, 1989, created a network University consisting of: (i) a campus at Armidale, incorporating the former University of New England and the former Armidale College of Advanced Education; and (ii) a campus at Lismore, incorporating the former Northern Rivers College of Advanced Education. The following year the Orange Agricultural College joined the network University. The network also included the UNE-Coffs Harbour Centre, which provided courses from within academic departments of the Armidale and Lismore campuses.

The University of New England has been re-formed once again, with legislation (The University of New England Act, 1993 and the Southern Cross University Act, 1993) passed by both Houses of the New South Wales Parliament in November, 1993. This legislation had the effect of dismantling the network University. The University of New England from 1994 has only one campus, at Armidale. A new University (Southern Cross University) was created with campuses in Lismore and Coffs Harbour; the Orange campus was amalgamated with the University of Sydney.

The University of New England has, since 1989, included the former Armidale College of Advanced Education, which was amalgamated with the Armidale campus at the time of the creation of the network University. This process of amalgamation was complete by the time of the new legislation in 1993, and the dismantling of the network University had no effect on its status.[3]

The University was notified of plagiarism issues in November 2006. The University initiated several procedures, systems, and policies on 31 July 2007 to fortify its academic integrity. UNE Policies UNE New Policy.

In research, among many areas, it is particularly active in agricultural science, economics, linguistics and archaeology. The university averages approximately 700 PhD candidates at a given time.[4]

Campus

The University of New England is on several sites in Armidale. The northern campus is five kilometres to the northwest of the city centre, in a rural and bushland setting. Part of this campus includes the original property presented by T R Forster to the University of Sydney for the establishment of a University College. This property comprised the old homestead, 'Booloominbah', with several other buildings and 74 hectares of land. Since the original gift, other generous benefactors have presented properties to the university, whose Armidale site now comprises some 260 hectares.[3]

Boolominbah Homestead at night

Booloominbah and the Vice-Chancellor's residence Trevenna were designed by architect John Horbury Hunt.

The Newling campus of the university includes the Newling Centre, home to the New England Conservatorium of Music, and other buildings associated with the former Armidale College of Advanced Education.

The university possesses rural properties close to the campus, providing facilities for teaching and research. In addition, there are the 'Tullimba' rural research property at Kingstown and the Douglas McMaster Rural Research Station at Warialda.[3]

The University of New England has one of the most extensive residential college systems in Australia. Around half of UNE’s on campus students live in one of the colleges.[5]

Distance and Online education

Since 1955 teaching off-campus students by distance education has been an important part of the University's activities. UNE is now Australia's longest continuous provider of distance education and with more than 15,000 external students, is one of Australia's major providers of awards to off-campus students.[6]

Because UNE has a long history of teaching in this mode, its distance education programs provide extensive support systems to overcome those challenges faced by distance students and students studying online.

Each subject (unit) requires approximately 15 hours of study per week, with the usual load for distance students being two units per semester.

Over 600 subjects offered by UNE are available by distance education and are predominantly online. The University has students all over the world studying by this mode.

Research

UNE undertakes fundamental and applied research in many disciplines. Its scholars and scientists have established international reputations through their contributions in areas such as rural science, agricultural economics, educational administration, linguistics and archaeology. Collaborative research with other institutions includes projects with the CSIRO and the high profile Cooperative Research Centres. Through its research UNE seeks to assist in the economic, social and cultural advancement of Australia and in the advanced training of undergraduate and postgraduate students.[7]

UNE's principal research flagship is Animal Genetics and Livestock Breeding which is serviced by the Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit (AGBU)[8] and delivered commercially by the Agricultural Business Research Institute (ABRI).[9]

Other research flagships include: Rural Education which is undertaken by the National Centre of Science, Information and Communication Technology, and Mathematics Education for Rural and Regional Australia (SiMERR)[10] Rural Communities, Landscapes and Practices which is led by the Institute for Rural Futures (IRF).[11]

Other targeted areas of research include:[7]

Academic schools

The research and teaching staff of the University of New England, Australia, is divided into ten multi-disciplinary schools.

The university offers over 200 programs[12] in 23 discipline areas.[13]

Residential colleges

The University of New England has one of the most extensive residential college systems in Australia. Around half of UNE’s on campus students live in one of the colleges.[5]

Administration

Chancellors

Order Chancellor Academic qualifications Years Notes
1 Sir Earle Page, KCMG, QC MB.BS (Syd) 1954  1960 [14]
2 Dr Phillip Wright, CMG D.Sc. (Hons.) 1960  1970 [15]
2 Sir Frank Kitto, AC, KBE, QC BA, LL.B (Hons.) (Syd) 1970  1981
3 Dr Rob Robertson-Cuninghame B.Sc (Agri) (Sydney), PhD (Oxon) 1981  1993 [16]
4 Ms Pat O'Shane B.Ed, DipEd (Qld), LL.B (UNSW) 1994  2003 [17]
5 Mr John Cassidy B.Eng (Civil) (Newc.) 2004  2008 [18]
6 The Hon. Richard Torbay 2008  2013 [19][20]
7 The Hon. John Watkins LL.B, MA, DipEd 2013  2014 [21]
8 Mr James Harris 2014  present [22]

Vice-Chancellors

Student representation

UNE's student body began in 1940, and is currently encapsulated by the University of New England Students' Association.

Alumni

As of 2011 more than 75,000 people hold qualifications from UNE,[1] with many in senior positions in Australia and overseas. The UNE Alumni are active in networking and contribute greatly to the University enabling the institution to continue expanding its work and offerings.[25]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "web - About". UNE. 2008-11-07. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
  2. see http://www.une.edu.au/scholarships/undergraduate/index.php and http://www.une.edu.au/research-services/pgstudy/scholarships/
  3. 1 2 3 "web - History". UNE. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
  4. "About - About". UNE. 2009-01-15. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
  5. 1 2 "Accommodation - Accommodation: Living at". UNE. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
  6. "Distance Education". UNE. 2009-03-13. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
  7. 1 2 "Research@UNE - Research at". UNE. 2010-10-07. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
  8. "Agbu Site - Une". Agbu.une.edu.au. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
  9. ": ABRI - Agricultural Business Research Institute :". Abri.une.edu.au. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
  10. "UNE – SiMERR Home". Une.edu.au. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
  11. "The Institute for Rural Futures". Ruralfutures.une.edu.au. 2010-10-22. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
  12. "Course and Unit Catalogue 2011". UNE. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
  13. "Undergraduate Courses - Disciplines". UNE. 2009-08-17. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
  14. "Earle Page, Minister for Health 1949–56". Australia's Prime Ministers. National Archives of Australia. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
  15. Oppenheimer, Jillian (2002). "Wright, Phillip Arundell (1889–1970)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  16. "UNE Chancellor farewells ‘giant of a man’". Armidale Express. Retrieved 17 September 2010.
  17. "Governance". University of New England.
  18. Hare, Julie; Lane, Beranrd (8 July 2014). "Second UNE chancellor to face corruption watchdog". The Australian. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  19. "Richard Torbay, James Harris honoured by UNE". UNE News & Events. University of New England. 6 October 2007. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  20. Lane, Bernard (10 November 2008). "Richard Torbay named new UNE chancellor". The Australian.
  21. "John Watkins new UNE chancellor". Armidale Express. Fairfax Regional Media. 18 April 2013. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  22. "New England grazier James Harris named as UNE’s new Chancellor". University of New England. 20 November 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  23. UNE - Governance
  24. "University of New England - Alumni". Alumni.une.edu.au. Retrieved 1 March 2011.

External links

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