News Archive

UWA Business School
Globalisation has brought the world to our doorstep. Trade with Australia's top five partners alone is worth almost $250 billion. International trade is vital to the Western Australian economy with Western Australia contributing 35% of total Australian exports - more than any other state.  As a world-class business school located in the growing Asia Pacific region, we must look outwards and proactively build relationships across borders to build global influence and to equip our students with the skills and experience necessary to operate internationally.

At the UWA Business School, over half of our faculty members have international backgrounds, and we are committed to ensuring that our students graduate as culturally-aware global citizens. We have an internationally focused curriculum, more than 60 international student exchange partners in 19 different countries, and we offer exchange, study abroad and international study tour opportunities. In partnership with ANZ, we have recently launched the ANZ UWA Business School Asia Fellowships. These competitive fellowships will provide successful students with the opportunity to experience living, studying and working in another country. From 2012, UWA's new course structure will ensure that all undergraduate students complete broadening and culturally diverse units and provide greater incentives for study abroad.

The University is building global relationships to make a positive and lasting impact on the world stage. UWA is a member of the World Universities Network (WUN) and a founding member of the Matariki Network of Universities. Within these networks, our Business School researchers are providing thought leadership on climate change, international trade, and economic sustainability. We recently hosted the Stan and Jean Perron Visiting Professor in Ethics and Entrepreneurship, Tina Dacin, from Queen's School of Business in Canada, a member of the Matariki Network. During her visit, Professor Dacin encouraged lively discussion and debate with the University and broader community regarding pathways to social innovation.

UWA Business School graduates have the confidence, ability and skills to live, work and study abroad successfully in incredibly diverse situations. For example, one Bachelor of Commerce student has recently gained one of just 11 Summer internship positions with American investment bank Merrill Lynch. Meanwhile, Wadzi Katsidzira, who graduated in 2008, is now working in Kenya at Kwetu Training Centre for Sustainable Development.

Over the coming year, we will continue to engage with the world. Last semester we welcomed 1,000 international students to the UWA Business School with the events and activities of International Week. We now look forward to new and continuing research collaborations, and to our Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) team continuing to manage its first international project - improving the lives of disadvantaged women in Kenya through a microfinancing venture.

Perth is sometimes labelled the most geographically isolated capital city in the world. This cannot be an excuse for us to be insular; rather, a compelling reason for us to use our initiative, skills and talent to become more engaged with the world - for our students, our region, our world, and our future.