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The University of Western Australia's induction into a major group of research-intensive universities has begun with a presentation today by the Worldwide Universities Network (WUN) Acting CEO, Ms Louise Heery.

UWA recently joined the WUN, a select group of 17 international universities which have agreed to carry out research and research training on a collaborative basis.

UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Alan Robson said membership to the WUN would provide new opportunities for international collaboration and exposure for researchers.

"The University and ultimately the State of Western Australia will benefit from this network which will bring together researchers from around the world who are leaders in their fields," Professor Robson said.

"Together we will be able to work towards developing solutions to problems that are common to all our countries, drawing on each other's research strengths and expertise."

Ms Heery and WUN coordinators from the universities of Bristol, Leeds and Sydney are visiting UWA today (Thursday) and Friday to meet Professor Alan Robson and other key staff from various Schools and Faculties.

Associate Professor Tim Colmer of UWA's School of Plant Biology has already benefitted directly from the UWA-WUN partnership. WUN provided $20,000 to consolidate and expand his research into flooding tolerance of plants, with collaborators at the University of Utrecht.

Through its Research Mobility Program, WUN supports personal and academic growth, enabling postgraduate students and staff to work at member universities. The Network enhances learning and internationalises curricula through the development of e-learning theory, practice and programs and organises regular online seminars delivered by leading WUN academics with themes and topics ranging across the research spectrum.

UWA will encourage its researchers to benefit from the association with WUN by providing funding on a competitive basis to support staff and postgraduate students to initiate, expand and maintain collaborative research projects with Network partners.

WUN currently comprises the Universities of Alberta; Bergen; Bristol; California, San Diego; Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; Leeds, Nanjing, Pennsylvania State; Sheffield; Southampton; Sydney; Utrecht; Washington, Seattle; Wisconsin, Madison; York; Zhejiang and the University of Western Australia.

Media references

Sally-Ann Jones (UWA Public Affairs) (+61 8) 6488 7975 / (+61 4) 20 790 098