News Archive

The publication of this issue of UWA News coincides with the final days of our spring graduation season. These 2,000 graduating students join more than 100,000 who have left our University over almost a century.

One hundred thousand represents a huge community of men and women who have taken what they have gained here and put it to good use. That number also represents a massive commitment from teachers and support staff along the way, all of whom have helped to contribute to the development of the State and the nation.

Last month, I was fortunate to attend alumni gatherings in Melbourne and Singapore. It was great to see so many of our valued alumni at these events. They are the reflection of our University’s commitment to education, research and lifelong learning – helping to direct and encourage future generations to aspire to a degree from The University of Western Australia.

From our governing body – the Senate – to our on-campus activities, to our international alumni chapters across the nation and around the globe, our alumni have played an integral role in the life and work of our University for almost 100 years. And of course, it is staff, student and alumni success in all walks of life that makes our University great.

We are working to enable more people to benefit from a UWA education and from the enriching experience of being part of the campus community. Through schemes such as Aspire, Broadway and Fairway, we are aiming to raise aspirations among secondary school students who may be attending schools that are currently underrepresented on our campus.

This policy is in keeping with our University’s long-standing tradition of commitment to equity. In fact, it was recognised almost a century ago in its founding Act: ‘it is desirable that special encouragement and assistance should be afforded those who may be hindered in the acquisition of sound knowledge and useful learning by lack of opportunity or means’ (Preamble to University Act 1911).

In my family, I was the first to attend university. The experience offered up a world of possibilities for me – as I hope it will do to our Aspire students, whose principals visited recently. We know, and our partner schools know, that education offers a pathway to an inclusive and productive society.

For us, raising participation levels of disadvantaged students is a priority. We know that the transformative power of education doesn’t stop with the individual – it provides a better future for families and communities and equips our industries and businesses with the skilled graduates needed to compete in an increasingly complex global economy.

Researchers in Britain and the United States examined the social benefits generated by university graduates and found that they were tangible and widespread. Having a population that is highly educated means increased political participation and stability, increased innovation, improvements to the environment, improved consumer decision-making, better health and lifestyle choices and better education choices for children. And these benefits have a lasting effect down through future generations.

Congratulations to our graduates – and congratulations, too, to their tutors, lecturers and research supervisors and to those involved in schemes such as Aspire that will enable more young people to join that special band of UWA alumni.

Paul Johnson

Vice-Chancellor

Published in UWA News , 17 September 2012