Tuesday, 19 August 2008

The University of Western Australia has welcomed today's announcement by Great Southern Minister Kim Chance that a Labor government would commit $3 million towards a planned $6 million expansion of UWA's Albany campus.

University Vice-Chancellor Professor Alan Robson said the commitment would enable Albany to proceed with plans for a $6 million building that will provide additional classrooms, a science/medical library and resource room, a multipurpose practical science/medical teaching and research laboratory, and academic offices.

"The Albany campus is a leader in regional tertiary education facilities and has become an integral part of the city," Professor Robson said.

"The funding commitment will match $3million of Federal Government and University funding and enable our expansion plans to proceed, for the benefit of students in the south-west and the Albany community."

From its inception in 1999, the Albany campus has expanded to encompass the Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management (Albany-based) and offers full arts degrees and a science degree in restoration ecology.

It also runs a rural clinical school placement program for fifth year medical students and the ‘Uni Smart Start' programme - a bridging course introducing indigenous and disadvantaged people to further education.  The Albany campus is central to regional arts activities for the UWA Perth International Arts Festival.

"UWA supports the educational, cultural and social benefits that accrue to a community through having a viable and vibrant higher education centre based in the region," Professor Robson said.

Media references

Professor Alan Robson  (+61 8)  6488 2809
Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 5563  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716

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