The University was founded in 1949. Today it is recognised as one of Australia’s leading teaching and research institutions, and has developed a strong reputation in a number of fields, including renewable/alternative energy, quantum computing and nanotechnology, taxation reform, information and communication technology, digital media, electrical engineering, bio-medical engineering, sustainable development, HIV/AIDS research, and social justice and social policy research.
The University is a member of Australia's "Group of Eight" lobby group, and is also a founding member of Universitas 21, an international network of leading research-intensive universities.
History
The idea of founding the University originated from the crisis demands of World War II, during which the nation's attention was drawn to the critical role that science and technology played in transforming an agricultural society into a modern and industrial one. The post-war Labor government of New South Wales recognised the increasing need to have a university specialised in training high quality engineers and technology-related professionals in numbers beyond that of the capacity and characteristics of the existing University of Sydney. This led to the proposal to establish the Institute of Technology, submitted by the then New South Wales Minister for Education Bob Heffron, accepted on 9 July 1946. Instead of creating a completely new Institute, the government decided to have the existing Sydney Technical College operating at Ultimo substantially expanded.
The University, originally named the "New South Wales University of Technology", gained its statutory status through the enactment of New South Wales University of Technology Act 1949 (NSW) by Parliament of New South Wales in Sydney in 1949. In March 1948 classes commenced operation with its first cohort of 46 students pursuing programs including Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mining Engineering and Electronic Engineering. At that time the thesis programmes were innovative, in the sense that each course embodied a specified and substantial period of practical training in the relevant industry. It was also unprecedented for tertiary institutions at that time to include compulsory instruction in humanities.
Initially the University operated from the inner Sydney city campus at Ultimo (the current site of the University of Technology, Sydney). However, in 1951, the Parliament of New South Wales passed the New South Wales University of Technology (Construction) Act 1951 (NSW) to provide funding and allow buildings to be erected at the Kensington site where the university is now located.
In 1958 the University name was changed to the 'University of New South Wales' to reflect its intention to transform itself from a technology-based university to an all-rounded generalist university.
Campus
The main UNSW campus is situated in Kensington, Sydney. Two of the University's faculties are situated elsewhere. The College of Fine Arts, is located in the inner suburb of Paddington. The Australian Defence Force Academy is situated in Canberra. The University also has additional campuses and field stations at Randwick, Coogee, Botany, Little Bay, Dee Why, Cowan, Manly Vale and Fowler's Gap.
The main UNSW campus is divided geographically into two areas: upper campus and lower campus. These two are separated mainly by an elevation rise between the quadrangle and the Scientia building. It takes roughly fifteen minutes to walk from one extreme to the other.
Research
UNSW, a member of the Go8, is one of Australia's leading research intensive universities. While we conduct research across a wide range of disciplines, we are investing considerable resources in particular areas where we feel we can make a difference. This involves building on existing strengths, in fields where we are already a world leader, as well as identifying emerging problems and opportunities, and moving to meet the challenge. In the latest issue of Research@UNSW, we outline developments in climate change and sustainability, smart technology, creative media, social policy and life saving medical research.
For previous editions of the Research@ magazine and faculty research publications, visit the Research publications page. Research at the University is undertaken across all Faculties and Schools and in dedicated research centres. Resources & Units has information on resources for researchers and administrative units supporting research activities at UNSW.
Research Students has information for:
- Prospective research students, and
- Current research students.
Research Partnerships with UNSW has information on establishing research links with UNSW.
Academic competitions
UNSW is well known for its engagement with primary and secondary education, administering several national and international academic competitions for school age children. These include, among others, the Australian Schools Science Competition, the Australasian Schools Mathematics Assessment and the UNSW ProgComp (Programming Competition). Many thousands of students in the Australasian area, the Pacific and South Africa participate each year.
UNSW, through the Gifted Education Research Resource and Information Centre (GERRIC), and Grant and Research centre for Education and Scholarly Success (GRESS), also administers the Australian Primary Talent Search (APTS) and Australian Secondary Schools Educational Talent Search (ASSETS) tests to explore and assess the abilities of gifted children.
UNSW School of Computer Science and Engineering (UNSW COMPUTING) has developed specialised robotic workshops for school students. They focus on the use of the Lego NXT technology combined with the popular RoboCup Junior competition for schools. UNSW COMPUTING is also a National and NSW State sponsor of RoboCup Junior.
Reputation
UNSW consistently scores highly in a range of national and international rankings.
The University was ranked 45th in the world in the UK’s 2008 Times Higher Education Supplement (THES) World University Rankings with the Faculty of Engineering ranked 1st in Australia and 27th in the World.
The AGSM Program was ranked as the leading full time MBA in Australia and among the top 40 MBAs worldwide in the Financial Times (UK) 2008 rankings.
UNSW's accounting research was ranked first out of 1087 institutions worldwide in the June 2007 edition of the international journal Accounting and Finance.
UNSW rated ahead of all other universities in Australia under this fund for excellence and improvement.
The Fund awards scores across four discipline groups. UNSW ranked number one for business, law and economics as well as for science, engineering, computing and architecture. UNSW also rated in the top A1 band for humanities, arts and education, and achieved an A2 ranking for health.
UNSW scored highly in the 2009 Good Universities Guide and was awarded the maximum five-star rating for ten key performance indicators, including research grants, research intensivity, student-staff ratio, staff qualifications, graduate starting salary, student success in gaining employment, teaching quality, acquisition of generic skills, cultural diversity and positive graduate outcomes.
Faculties
The University has nine faculties:
Arts and Social Sciences
Australian Defence Force Academy
The Australian School of Business
Built Environment
College of Fine Arts
Engineering
Law
Medicine
Science
University of New South Wales, Australia was ranked 45th in the 2008 THES World University Ranking
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