The University of New England has been awarded $36.6 million by the Commonwealth Government in the latest round of the Structural Adjustment Fund (SAF).
The funding, over three years, is aimed at assisting universities make the transition to the new student demand driven system to be introduced in 2012.
Chancellor Richard Torbay welcomed the funding saying it demonstrated the confidence the Commonwealth Government had in the strategic direction of the University.
“Our SAF bid was bold, much like the recently released UNE Strategic Plan 2011-2015,”Mr Torbay said.
“This funding shows the Commonwealth Government supports our strategic vision and now we need to get on with the job of making it happen.”
Two key projects to be progressed under this funding are the establishment of a Future Campus and the redevelopment of a UNE courseware for online delivery
Vice-Chancellor Jim Barber said UNE has a bold vision of opening Future Campuses in both metropolitan and regional settings to give students studying by distance education access to state-of-the-art learning technologies and opportunities to collaborate with peers and instructors
“The Future Campus concept is one of establishing an imaginative shop front presence in busy shopping precincts, where telepresence conferences can occur between educators, in Armidale and around the world, and students.”
The Future Campuses will also utilise online social networking to promote the collaboration among and between staff and students.
The SAF funding will also be used to redevelop UNE courseware for online delivery.
“Nearly 80 per cent of UNE students study via distance education and so it important that we can offer them the best online teaching experience possible.
“It also supports UNE’s aspiration to be Australia’s highest quality provider of online and blended learning,” Professor Barber said.
Mr Torbay said a proportion of the SAF funding will also go towards encouraging people from low-SES backgrounds to consider the option of higher education.
“UNE is dedicated to setting the standard for social inclusiveness and access for all to higher education.
“The University is continuing to work on novel partnerships with Universities and VET providers targeted at low SES students and the SAF funding allows us to continue that work,” Mr Torbay said.
