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UNE plans to make 'global regional impact'

July 18, 2006

Pettigrew3.thumb.JPGThe University of New England has begun planning for a strong future with the release of a discussion paper outlining how the University can make a “global regional impact”. The vision presented in the discussion paper will form the basis of the UNE Strategic Plan 2007-2010.

The paper proposes that under a new plan, UNE would focus its research, learning, knowledge and graduate career outcomes on the “big space” of Australian and global regions.

To open the planning process, UNE’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alan Pettigrew (pictured here), distributed an open letter to staff and stakeholders, along with a discussion paper titled “Global Regional Impact – research, learning, knowledge, careers”. “UNE is acutely conscious that Australian universities now operate within a regulated and highly competitive environment, and Australia is only part of a very tough global competition," Professor Pettigrew said. “Student and research marketplaces, as well as policy-makers, are looking to higher education institutions to develop differences built on their strengths.”

The discussion paper outlines a proposed vision and strong positioning for UNE. The vision emphasises three fronts of development. The first, “powerful performance”, would see UNE in 2010 as a “successful, exciting, uniquely-positioned, modern and engaged” university. The University should have a strong discipline platform at the forefront of creating and delivering smart and relevant research, education and knowledge services into Australian and international regional marketplaces.

On the second front, UNE would build on its strengths by delivering social and economic outcomes in focused areas such as regional and rural business, culture, education, heath and sciences. UNE would provide more career-ready graduates, and higher-degree researchers with local-regional-global perspectives.

On the third front, UNE’s discipline platform and focused areas would be prominent in offering a strong Australian and international portfolio of research, education, business and community activity – all reaching out strongly from Armidale.

Professor Pettigrew said: “This University is well along this integrated path. We know we have a range of regional strengths, built from UNE work in the New England North-West, and across Australia, and extending well into Asian regions. UNE will earn recognition by further focusing research and teaching, building synergies, and producing quality outputs and impactful outcomes.”

The framework for this positioning and the associated developmental change will be discussed through wide consultation over the next few months, leading to a UNE Strategic Plan 2007-2010 to be completed by the end of the year.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at July 18, 2006 04:02 PM