News Archive

Recent references in the national media to our University's introduction of curriculum changes from next year has helped to focus public attention on these reforms - the biggest changes to our curriculum since our University's inception.

As most are aware, the fundamental shift is to offer new generalist undergraduate courses and move study of the professions (such as law, engineering, architecture and so on) into postgraduate degrees.

The reshaping of the relationship between undergraduate and postgraduate courses will mean that our students are better equipped to make a considered choice about their preferred vocational or academic specialisation, and have the breadth of knowledge needed in the modern workplace. It will also ensure UWA graduates remain competitive and highly-qualified in a changing world.

New Courses 2012 will focus on strengthening our students' capabilities in a wide range of areas. And, while competition among students wanting a place at UWA remains very strong, we also want to ensure that all students who have the capacity to benefit from the UWA experience, including those who are currently under-represented, have the opportunity to study here.

These courses will provide more flexibility, more emphasis on communication skills, and an international focus to prepare graduates for careers which are likely to have an increasing international flavour. We understand that our graduates are more likely to travel and work internationally, requiring a range of skills that extend far beyond the technical skills needed to qualify for a professional degree.

While some other Australian universities may take a similar path, our model is not suitable for all universities. In an increasingly diverse higher education sector, there is a need for differentiation and the types of degrees and professional pathways offered by universities such as ours will be Seeking wisdom in an international era appropriate for a certain type of student.

There will always be individual students who are undecided about their choice of a profession; and there will always be those who know from a young age exactly what their vocation will be. Our belief is that New Courses 2012 will arm the latter with a broad base from which to launch into their calling, and that the undecided will be provided with the fundamentals of a range of skills, including in research and communication, that may enable a better decision.

Our University has realised that we have to adapt for the benefit of our students and for the community locally, nationally and internationally. Graduates in the modern world need to know more than the limits of their own speciality - they need to be aware of the context of their decisions and to be equipped for life-long learning in a fast-changing world.

Our motto - Seek wisdom - implies service to the community and if our graduates are to continue to be able to make positive differences in the lives of people around the world, the way we prepare them has to be tailored to a world vastly different from the world of 1913, when we first opened our doors to students.

New Courses 2012 will produce graduates who are well rounded and well prepared to meet the challenges of the future, armed with the knowledge and the wisdom to make significant contributions to our modern society.

Vice-Chancellor Alan Robson

• UWA News 16 May 2011