The University of Western Australia

In our quest for international excellence we are striving to develop our strengths across all areas. A selection of our major achievements in 2008-09 are summarised below.

1. Staff and student successes
2. Research
3. Teaching and learning
4. International engagement
5. Major gifts and corporate support
6. Community resource
7. Staff appointments 

Staff and student successes

Staff from across the University were recognised at state, national and international levels in 2008.  Achievements included:

• Professor Jorg Imberger, Director of UWA's Centre for Water Research, 2008 Scientist of the Year
• A team of UWA scientists developing colour vision for advanced infrared sensing, Eureka Prize for Outstanding Science in Support of Defence or National Security
• Professor Antonio Buti, Senior Law lecturer, for his biography of Sir Ronald Wilson, Premier’s Prize

The 2008 Rhodes Scholarship was won by engineering and science student John McAnearney. Other students recognised included:

• Gemma Johnston, Indigenous People’s Medical Scholarship
• Tarrant Elkington, Matthew Landers, Andrew Cornejo, Minerals and Energy Research Institute of WA scholarships.

Back to top

Research

The University confirmed its standing as a leading research-intensive university. Among the highlights were:

• $20 million for UWA to host International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research
• Australia Research Council funding of $14.9 million for various projects
• $1 million for dementia research.

Back to top

Teaching and learning

The University’s Senate has given approval for planning to begin for a new Future Framework for undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Other achievements included:

• Ms Violet Bacon, School of Social and Cultural Studies and Dr Peter Whipp, School of Sport Science, Exercise and Health, received teaching awards
• Uniskills' first year programs won an Award for Programs that Enhance Learning
• $2.4 million to improve University access for disadvantaged students from the outer Perth metropolitan area and the Pillbara
• 3364 students enrolled in first semester 2009. 

Back to top

International engagement

The University aims to join the top 100 universities in the world by 2013. Several activities advanced the University international aspirations in 2008/09. It became the 17th university to join the exclusive Worldwide Universities Network. In addition, the quality of the Business School was recognised when it received accreditation under the European Quality Improvement System and a trilateral agreement with China’s Zhejiang University and Japan’s Kobe University will enhance scientific links between the universities.

Back to top

Major gifts and corporate support

Generous support for the University by individuals and corporate entities included:

• Bequest of 400 works by Australian female artists from Sir James and Lady Sheila Cruthers
• $25 million raised from corporate and private supporters for UWA Business School
  
• Licopodium, Clough Limited and Apache Energy supported the teaching of engineering.

Back to top

Community resource

• UWA’s Zadko Telescope has been housed in the Gravity Discovery Centre in Gingin
• Equitable employment strategies attracted a 2008 Diversity at Work Large Business Champion award
• Save the Children WA White Flame Award recognises UWA’s longstanding record of progressing the rights of children.

Back to top

Staff appointments

Winthrop Professor Bill Louden replaced Professor Margaret Seares as Senior Deputy Vice Chancellor on her retirement in 2008. Other senior appointments were:

• Winthrop Professor Tony O’Donnell, Dean Natural and Agricultural Sciences
• Professor Krishna Sen, Dean Arts Humanities and Social Sciences
• Winthrop Professor David Smith, Dean Engineering, Computing and Mathematics
• Winthrop Professor Helen Wildy, Dean Graduate School of Education.

Back to top