News Archive

Throughout the year, the role of our University in the world beyond the campus is emphasised by a huge range of events and activities. There are many aspects to this, but a number of recent events stand out.

Meetings in Shanghai of the Worldwide Universities network last month included fruitful discussion with other national and international university networks including the Russell Group and China's C9 group of top research intensive universities.

Such engagement provides new opportunities for research and teaching at our university as well as doing much to continue to raise the profile of The University of Western Australia on the world stage.

We were also pleased to host - through the UWA International Centre - a major event for international university leaders and UWA alumni at the global educational NAFSA conference in Vancouver, Canada. The conference was for those involved in all aspects of international education and exchange. During the conference, a reception was held to mark the centenary of the Act of Parliament establishing The University of Western Australia. The high esteem in which our university is held, both by those who have studied here and those international partners learning more about us, was striking.

At the same time on campus, we continued our role to foster informed public debate about the matters that concern local, national and international communities. The most recent example of this would be the visit of the Federal Government's chief climate change adviser, Professor Ross Garnaut, who presented a public lecture only two days after releasing his report containing recommendations for action on climate change.

This follows other recent opportunities to discuss major global issues such as health, a world perspective on water, the status of Australian financial services and the growing gap between rich and poor. These are all topics on which we have encouraged or led discussion and debate in recent months.

If it is a university's duty to provide forums where the issues of the day can be the subject of informed debate, it follows that it is also a university's duty to lead by example. This can be through our research, teaching and community service, as well as our own internal policies and practices where we can demonstrate the benefits of being a work and study place where people from a variety of cultural backgrounds, and with different lifestyles and beliefs, feel welcome and valued.

It has been shown that having a high proportion of university graduates in a community provide benefits to that community that positively affect future generations - such as increased political participation and stability, increased innovation, improvements to the environment, and better health and lifestyle choices.

And universities themselves also generate debate that can in itself contribute to improving society. Our University's motto is ‘Seek Wisdom' - and we take seriously our responsibility to share, discuss and engage with the wider local, national and international communities.

Vice-Chancellor Alan Robson

• UWA News 13 June 2011