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Overview of UNE

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Our Mission
  • Regionally based and globally networked
  • Renown for the quality of our student experience
  • Excellence in our research specialisations
  • Providing a formative educational experience on campus
  • Bringing our research and teaching to the world through the latest communication technologies
Our Vision
  • Regionally based - globally connected
  • Know throughout the world for our:
  • Quality on-campus student experience
  • Accessible and flexible distance education
  • Focus on research of significance to rural and regional communities
  • By 2015 to be delivering teaching and learning of the highest quality to more students, no matter where they live
  • To be Australia's university of choice for reresearch into regional issues of global significance
Our Values
Formative Respectful Inclusive Flexible Innovative
Our Priorities and Strategies
  • Distinguish ourselves by the quality of our on-campus experience
  • Lead the nation in the innovative use of educational technology for distance education
  • Achieve international distinction in all our specialist fields of research
  • Set the standard for social inclusiveness and access for all to higher education
  • Foster business processes that maximise efficiency, promote a service culture and meet the needs of students and staff

It's important to become familiar with the UNE Strategic Plan 2011-2015 Learning Without Limits since this is central to the work all staff and work areas will be doing over the coming years.

Our Students
  • Gave UNE the maximum rating of 5 stars for their overall satisfaction in the 2011 Good Universities Guide (and have done for 8 of the last 9 years)
  • More than 80% are external students
  • Over half our students are aged over 29
  • About half of our on-campus students live in the colleges
  • Over 80,000 people now hold UNE qualifications
Focus on Distance Education
  • Our goal is to be Australia's highest quality provider of online and blended delivery courses
  • An expanding network of Study Centres
  • An increasing use of innovative technology for distance teaching, via the National Broadband Network (NBN)
  • UNE distance education dates back to 1955 - we are one of Australia's longest continuous providers of distance education
Living and Learning Environment
  • UNE offers a vibrant college community, providing networks of friends, academic support and social and cultural activities
  • Through the colleges, generations of UNE graduates have benefitted, not just from university education, but from the personal formation that college life provides
Governance
  • University of New England Act 1993
  • UNE Council - members include the Chancellor, Richard Torbay MP, the Deputy Chancellor, Scott Williams, Official members Prof Jim Barber, our Vice-Chancellor & CEO, and Prof Eilis Magner, Chairof the Academic Board. In addition, there are 5 members appointed by the minister, 1 by the Council, 3 members elected by staff and 4 members elected by graduates and students. See the Council Members webpage for names and contact details.
Background
  • First Australian university established outside a capital city
  • Our history extends back to the 1920s
  • 1938 - formed as the New England University College, part of the University of Sydney
  • 1954 - became a fully independent university
  • 1989 - incorporated the College of Advanced Education (formerly Armidale Teachers College, dating from 1928)
  • Includes the original property presented by T. R. Forster for the establishment of the University College, including the homestead 'Booloominbah'.