UNE and in particular, the Vice Chancellor Professor Jim Barber, have been the centre of growing debate in Armidale over the future direction of UNE and some would say, the Vice Chancellor’s preference towards growing distance education courses at the expense of the on-campus experience.
With the recent release of UNE’s Strategic Plan and the subsequent launch last Thursday at NERAM, the message is clear. Eighty per cent of UNE’s student population consist of external students, therefore bringing with it a significant revenue stream. This needs to be protected and enhanced so that money can be invested on-campus.
“It boils down to two propositions,” said UNE Vice Chancellor Jim Barber at the breakfast launch of the UNE Strategic Plan last Thursday.
“Proposition number 1, we intend to grow margin and volume by distance, online education.
“Proposition number 2, to invest the proceeds from distance education in our on-campus experience, focused on our colleges.
UNE intends to grow margin and volume off-campus by growing UNE’s market share and expanding. UNE is already embarking on partnerships both with other universities and with commercial partners, that are already showing gains in on-campus student numbers. UNE is looking to increase its footprint, initially in Western Sydney where 20 per cent of the distance education students live, by opening a Future Campus to expand UNE’s reach in Western Sydney as well as partnering with the University of Western Sydney to become their distance education provider.
“The other way we intend to grow volume and margin is by innovating in educational technology,” said Mr Barber.
“We intend to lead the nation in online learning.
“My view is that online education, not just in Australia, but around the world, seriously lacks imagination.
“We want to exploit the technology of the NBN; this expansion of bandwidth provides tremendous oppor-tunities.”
The surplus created by distance, online education will be focused on improving research and the on-campus experience.
“The thing that knocked me over when I came to Armidale was the colleges,” said Mr Barber.
“The Strategic Plan states the UNE Colleges are a national treasure, they are my words and that is my view.
“I don’t think there is anything like our college system anywhere in Australia.
“Our view is that this is something we should promote across the country, not to grow much more, but to focus on the quality of those experiences.
“There is a place in Australia for a Princeton, a residential university college in a small rural town.”
Innovation in teaching, opening new markets and investing in modern infrastructure and skills, are the key features of the University of New England’s Strategic Plan 2011-2015.
“The Strategic Plan 2011-2015 clearly spells out the priorities of the University and the strategies we are going to implement to achieve our vision as we move into the uncertain new policy environment for higher education in 2012,” said UNE Chancellor Richard Torbay.
However does it address enough the symbiotic relationship that UNE has with the city of Armidale and the many residents and businesses who rely on the very existence of UNE in the Armidale region? UNE and the UNE Council will no doubt be judged over the course of the Strategic Plan.
Story: Jo Harrison
