News Archive

It is pleasing to see how well our new course structure is being received in the broader community.

Our Prospective Students Office staff have been actively engaged in presenting information on New Courses 2012 to students, teachers, parents and members of the public. So far this year, more than 15,000 people all over Western Australia have been contacted and PSO staff have been greatly encouraged by people's warm reception to the changes.

In promoting New Courses 2012 on the world stage, our International Centre has been involved in communicating with agents, international schools and partner institutions. The rationale for our new courses aligns strongly with developments and reforms in major source countries such as Singapore and resonates with what is being done in North America and Europe. Agents have been overwhelmingly positive, also noting the benefits to student mobility in the new model.

We have also had positive feedback from our advertising. The key message has been that while we are changing our structure in line with world-class universities around the world, our fundamental principles have not changed. One of the great successes of the campaign has been the role of UWA staff, students and alumni in providing the UWA message. The campaign has been received very positively.

Our new Future Students website provides comprehensive undergraduate course and career information which has not been previously available to prospective UWA students. The site has had an impressive number of visitors already; and they are spending a significant amount of time on the site, an indication that they are finding the material informative and useful.

Our University's next opportunity to promote the advantages of New Courses 2012 is almost here: Open Day on Sunday 14 August. I urge as many of you as possible to volunteer your time on the day and I am sure you will be glad you did.

Open Day continues to be a highlight not only for our University calendar, but a popular event within the community. It takes on the atmosphere of a carnival, which is appropriate because teaching, learning and research are certainly most effective when undertaken in an atmosphere of enjoyment.

The success of our communication efforts will become apparent later this year when we know more about student preferences for next year and then again as they finalise enrolments in 2012.

Our New Courses will benefit all associated with the University - past, present and future - as we continue to build our reputation for excellence at international standards.

That is what New Courses 2012 is all about - making teaching and learning enjoyable as well as relevant to tomorrow's world.

Vice-Chancellor Alan Robson

• UWA News 8 August 2011