Victoria University, Australia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This page is about an Australian university. For other universities with 'Victoria' in their name, see Victoria University (disambiguation).
|
Victoria University |
|
|---|---|
| Established | 1992 |
| Type | Public |
| Chancellor | Justice Frank Vincent |
| Vice-Chancellor | Elizabeth Harman |
| Undergraduates | c. 50000 (15000 higher education) |
| Location | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Campus | Urban, parks |
| Affiliations | ASAIHL |
| Website | www.vu.edu.au |
Victoria University, located in Melbourne, Australia, is recognised as one of Australia's most innovative universities[citation needed]. One of five 'dual-sector' universities, it offers a broad range of teaching and research programs across its three Higher Education Faculties - (Arts, Education & Human Development; Business & Law; and Health, Engineering & Science); and four Technical and Further Education, TAFE Schools - (Business & Service Industries; Engineering, Construction & Industrial Skills; Further Education, Arts & Employment Services; and Human Services, Science & Technology). These courses range from apprenticeship level training to postdoctoral research.
Victoria University is home to four Institutes, and carries out research through six Research Centres. It has active community links with the western region of Melbourne. Victoria University also runs short course and Victorian Certificate of Education courses.
Chosen by more than 50,000 students each year[citation needed], Victoria University has become one of Australia's largest universities, and is one of the five dual-sector universities offering both Higher Education and Technical and Further Education (TAFE). The composition of the 50,000 students consists of 20,000 higher education and 30,000 technical and further education students (TAFE).
Students at VU are represented by the Victoria University Student Union affiliated to the National Union of Students,the International Students Association affiliated to the National Liaison Committee and the Victoria University Postgraduate Association, a member of the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations. The University has relatively favourable entry requirements for Mature Age students. This makes it relatively popular with them.
Since the 1998 merger it has had responsibility for all government delivered tertiary education in Melbourne's Western Suburbs (except for the University of Melbourne agricultural facilities in Werribee). However, about half of its students did not come from this area in 2005. In that year, less Higher Ed students came from Melbourne's western suburbs than its other ones. Its TAFE students were predominantly from the west however. [1]
Additionally, in 2005 only 22% of successful western suburbs higher education seeking school leavers received offers from VU, most gaining entry elsewhere. [2] In 1999, only one third of all western suburbs residing higher education students went to VU.
In 2006, 42.7% of students were doing higher education courses, 53.1% were doing TAFE courses and 4.2% were doing secondary school courses (predominantly TAFE level "VET in Schools").
In 2004 Victoria University was the third largest TAFE in the state, by number of contact hours.
In 2004, 37.5% of all VU students were doing Business courses, 24.0% were doing Community & Society courses, 19.4% were doing Health & Environment courses, and 19.1% were doing Technology & Science courses. The university therefore was, and is, predominantly a business school; contrary to its previous name and many perceptions.
Contents
|
[edit] History
Victoria University of Technology was founded in 1991 by a merger of the Footscray Institute of Technology (1968-1991) and the Western Institute (1987-1991). It became known as "Victoria University" in 1998 when it merged with the Western Melbourne Institute of TAFE. It was officially renamed "Victoria University" in 2005.
The original concept of the Victoria University of Technology was of a CBD-Western Suburbs based University offering top level technical education to the entire state. It was to be a merger of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), Footscray Institute of Technology (FIT) and the Western Institute. However, at the last moment (in late 1990), RMIT pulled out.
The Foundation Vice Chancellor, Professor Jarlath Ronayne believed that the university could best serve the West by being a strong, teaching and research-based institution along traditional lines. He built partnerships that would support this in Europe and in eastern Melbourne. [3]
From the start of 1998, a "Personal Access Scheme" policy was in place. This guaranteed anyone that had finished Year 12 or had turned 21 a place at the university. It was expanded considerably in 1999. It was discontinued a few years later, officially due to lack of interest. The goals of the scheme were later aimed for with PPP - "Personal Portfolio Partnerships".
On July 1, 1998 VUT was forced to merge with the Western Melbourne Institute of TAFE (WMIT) by the Victorian state government. This decision was against the wishes of Professor Ronayne. [4]
The merger gave the university control of nearly all government tertiary institutions between Melbourne's CBD and the Werribee River. It now began to call itself "Victoria University".
In both 2003 and 2004 Victoria University had the top TAFE student in the country (Australian Vocational Student of the Year).
In 2004, a four year Strategic Plan was released.
Also in 2004 it was revealed that a small group of staff had defrauded the University of $10 million, up until 2001, mainly by awarding tenders at elevated rates, and them receiving back a portion from the money from contractors. Legal proceedings against those responsible are continuing in 2006.[5] The corruption had existed in WMIT before the merger, and had continued within VU. [6]
In April 2005, the University applied to the Victorian government to have the name "Victoria University" formally recognised in legislation (although the name had already been widely used for seven years). [7]
At this time, Vice Chancellor Elizabeth Harman said of the word "technology", "The word reflects the past, not the future and it suggests we are a narrow specialist when in fact we are a broad educational provider".
A change of name was said to help the Uni "position itself for the future in ways that are not about an old technology specialist label or traditional approach - we are not trying to be Cambridge on the Maribyrnong River, either." [8]
2005 also saw the university launch a new tagline - "New School of Thought". [9] The university uses this slogan widely.
[edit] Rankings
The Australian Good Universities Guide publishes an annual rating of the status and standing of Australian universities.
Victoria's status and standing for each criterion was:
| Criteria | 2000 | 20011 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 20072 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prestige | 1/5 | n/p* | ||||||
| Student Demand | 1/5 | 2/5 | ||||||
| Non-government Earnings | 1/5 | 3/5 | ||||||
| Research Grants | 2/5 | 2/5 | ||||||
| Research Intensivity | n/p | 1/5 | ||||||
| Total Score | 5/20 | 8/20 |
.* n/p - no publication available.
1.Source: THE AGE: The Good Universities Guide, 2001 edition.
2.Source: The Hobson Guides to universities: The Good Universities Guide, 2007 edition and previous editions.
Research produced by the Melbourne Institute in 2006 ranked Australian universities across seven main discipline areas: Arts & Humanities, Business & Economics, Education, Engineering, Law, Medicine, and Science.
For each discipline, Victoria was ranked[1]:
| Discipline | R1* | No. | R2* | No. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arts & Humanities | 28 | 38 | 24 | 35 |
| Business & Economics | 23 | 39 | 21 | 34 |
| Education | 33 | 35 | 30 | 32 |
| Engineering | 24 | 28 | 21 | 28 |
| Law | 20 | 29 | 21 | 28 |
| Medicine** | _ | _ | _ | _ |
| Science | 32 | 38 | 31 | 31 |
.*R1 refers to Academics' rankings in tables 3.1 - 3.7 in the report. R2 refers to Articles and Research rankings in tables 5.1 - 5.7. No. refers to the number of institutions compared with Victoria.
.**Victoria University does not have a medical school.
World rankings produced by Shanghai Jiao Tong University [2] or the Times Higher Education Supplement[3] did not list Victoria University in their rankings.
[edit] PAS to PPP
Personalised Access and Study (PAS) was a core policy of the University. It came into practice from January 1, 1998 - six months before the merger of VUT and WMIT. Under PAS, any student that had passed Year 12 or was 21 or over was guaranteed a place. Potential students and a councillor formed a formal "Student Compact" committing both sides to a series of learning goals. This could lead to employment, further education or other outcomes - it was up to the student.
Anyone in Victoria applying through Victoria Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) could put this program as their last preference, and be assured that they would get into something.
In 1999, after the many TAFE courses at WMIT became available, the scheme was expanded considerably.
After a few years, the scheme was dropped. The stated reason was lack of interest. Instead, Personal Portfolio Partnerships (PPP) were developed for students at western suburbs secondary schools. Under this program, school students from eligible schools can apply for courses using a portfolio of work instead of their study score. This is almost exclusively used for entry to higher education courses, and it bypasses VTAC.
[edit] Campuses
Victoria University currently has 12 campuses. These are City Flinders, City King, City Queen, Echuca, Footscray Nicholson, Footscray Park, Melton, Newport, St Albans, Sunbury, Sunshine and Werribee.
The Melba Conservatorium of Music is an independent body affiliated with the University that delivers courses at its main Richmond campus and also at the Sunbury VU campus.
Additionally, its courses are delivered by a number of affiliates in Asia. In 2006, these offshore students made up 10% of the student body and 15% of the university's income. [10] The university's largest such affiliate (in terms of numbers, hours and fees) is Sunway University College in Malaysia. Liaoning University is the largest in China.
In the past, the university also taught courses at South Melbourne, Williamstown and Yarraville. It presently delivers courses at an Echuca campus, however this situation is slated to cease in the near future. The university's antecedents had campuses in a wide variety of other places.
[edit] Footscray Park
Footscray Park is the primary campus, delivering the most contact hours and student services. It also has the greatest number of commercial outlets. The campus delivers almost exclusively higher education courses.
The campus has its own bar. It also has a gym and 25 meter lap pool.
The campus is only a short walk to Footscray railway station, though most take the 82 tram or 406 bus.
It was main campus of the Footscray Institute of Technology (FIT) when VUT was created.
[edit] St Albans
St Albans is the next largest campus by EFT students taught, and delivers both higher education and TAFE courses. It is located on Jones Creek on the site of a decommissioned army base and later explosives works. It was the main campus of the Western Institute.
The main courses taught there are psychology, nursing, arts and biomedical science.
The St Albans campus began in Princess Arcade, St Albans in 1986. It then moved to the portable buildings at the front of the current campus in 1987, before the main buildings behind it where built.
[edit] Footscray Nicholson
Footscray Nicholson is slightly smaller than St Albans. It delivers TAFE, VCE and short courses. It is located in central Footscray. It was the main campus of the Western Metropolitan Institute of TAFE when that became part of VU, and was earlier the original campus of FIT.
The campus offers a Year 10 equivalent course on the ToTEM House site at 113 Albert Street, Footscray.
[edit] History
The campus began in March 1916, when the Footscray Technical School began teaching here. In July 1958, it was renamed "Footscray Technical College". On 25 September 1968, it was renamed "Footscray Institute of Technology" (FIT).
On 1 July 1972 the secondary education part of the Institute was separated and named "Footscray Secondary Technical School". It continued to operate on this site until May 1980. Today it is known as Footscray City College.
On 23 October 1973 the trade section of the Institute was renamed "Footscray Technical College". It was based at this campus. This college was renamed "Footscray College of TAFE" in April 1982. It separated from FIT on 30 June 1982, taking with it this campus.
This college remained independent until 1991, when it merged behind-the-scenes with the Newport College of TAFE. From 1992, the merged entity operated as "Western Metropolitan College of TAFE". It was renamed "Western Melbourne Institute of TAFE" (WMIT) in 1996. This merged with VUT in 1998.
[edit] City
This collection of campuses each has a specialised focus. They share some resources, and in some respects are treated as a single campus.
[edit] City Flinders
City Flinders was originally for postgraduate students working in the CBD. However, it has more recently been expanding its focus. Since 2006, it has been the base for the university's visual design courses.
The Flinders Lane building focuses on Osteopathic Medicine. This qualification is different to the American version of Osteopathic Medicine. Also offered courses on this campus are Masters courses within the Faculty of Business.
The 300 Flinders St building was built by Floyd Podgornik. [15]
[edit] City King
City King is home to the university's department of Personal Services, and primarily teaches massage, hair and beauty TAFE courses. Its secondary focus is short courses, its central location assisting access to the general public.
[edit] History
The institution that became this campus began as the "Melbourne School of Hairdressing" in 1964, on another site. In 1975 it was renamed "Melbourne Technical College of Hairdressing". This became known as "Flagstaff College of TAFE" in 1984, due to its proximity to the Flagstaff Gardens.
On 1 July 1993 Flagstaff College of TAFE merged with the Western Metropolitan College of TAFE. [17]. At this point, the old Flagstaff College campus merged with the adjacent campus of the Melbourne School of Decoration that had become part of the college six months before. The new "Flagstaff campus" operated in three buildings adjacent to William Angliss College:
- 528 Little Lonsdale St - Painting and Decorating
- 510 Latrobe St - Signwriting
- 553 Latrobe St - Wholesale, Retail and Personal Services
The two colleges shared some resources.
In 1996, the decoration courses moved to Sunshine, while the other courses moved to the current King St site.
The campus then became part of VU on July 1 1998.
[edit] City Queen
Located at the heart of Melbourne's legal precinct, the Queen Street campus teaches law.
It is also home to the Sir Zelman Cowen Centre for postgraduate legal education.
Its located in two Victorian-era buildings. The old Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages and the old Land Titles office
[edit] City South Melbourne
- 207 City Road, Southbank (earlier South Melbourne) [19]
- Opened 1885/198?
- Joined VU 1 July 1998
- Closed July 2006
The South Melbourne campus was a TAFE only campus. In its last days it offered sport, graphic design and business courses. The sport courses moved to Footscray Park. The graphic design courses moved to City Flinders. It shared some facilities with the Victorian Institute of Sport. It closed in 2006. It was sometimes known as "Kavanagh St campus" due to its location, and "JH Boyd campus" due to it's history.
The main buildings are heritage listed. The City of Melbourne is presently (2007) attempting to acquire the site from the state government for public use. [20]
[edit] History
The educational establishment on this site was first known as "State School No 2686". It was constructed in 1884-1885 to the design of the Education Department's Chief Architect Henry Bastow. It replaced "No. 222 St Luke's South Melbourne Church of England School" in Clarendon Street, Emerald Hill. In 1929 it was amalgamated with "Eastern Road State School No. 1852".
The building was reconstructed in 1930 by WH Bolger to become the "South Melbourne Girls' School" devoted to the training of girls in domestic arts. In 1932 it was renamed the "JH Boyd Domestic College" after its patron, a successful grazier, who bequeathed a large sum of money to establish a school of domestic science so 'that women should be taught to manage a home correctly'. It later became known as "JH Boyd Girls High School".
It was closed as a school in 1985 after 100 years of operation. Later, the Western Metropolitan College of TAFE took it over. The campus joined Victoria University in 1998, and left it in 2006.
[edit] Werribee
- Hoppers Lane, Hoppers Crossing [21]
- Main campus
- Opened 1992
- Industrial Skills
- Opened 198?
- Joined VU 1998
This campus is in the beautiful surroundings of last really undeveloped area near Werribee.
The Werribee campus is located in the Werribee agricultural research/tertiary education precinct in two diagonally adjacent parts. The main part was envisioned as a Western Institute campus, though it only began once that institution had become part of VUT in 1992.
The other was a campus of Footscray College of TAFE that opened in the 1980's as it's "Hoppers Crossing" campus. It joined the Western Metropolitan College of TAFE in 1991, and was renamed "Werribee" campus in 1995. After an institutional name change, it became part of VU in 1998. The two diagonally adjacent "Werribee" campuses merged at this time.
[edit] Sunbury
The Sunbury campus is on the 22 hectare site of an old mental hospital (in its last days known as "Caloola"), on the top of a hill. It offers TAFE and Higher Education courses. It is the only VU campus with student accommodation on site - Sunbury Hall. It contains a campus-within-a-campus of the Melba Conservatorium of Music. It is also home to community radio station 3NRG [23].
[edit] Melton
- Cnr Rees and Wilson Roads, Melton South [24]
- Opened 1987
- Joined VU 1992
The Melton campus offers TAFE and higher education courses. It is adjacent to Staughton College, a government high school. Together they form the "Melton Learning Precinct".
In 1987, the Western Institute took over the Melton annex of the Footscray College of TAFE (founded in the mid 1980's). Later that year, they moved to the current Melton South site, sharing the library of the adjacent high school.
[edit] Sunshine
The Sunshine campus offers TAFE courses. It is the site of the university's conference centre. An ambulance depot is surrounded by the campus. It is adjacent to Dempster Park, and 200 metres from Australian Technical College - Sunshine.
The campus began as "Sunshine High School". [26] This institution began in 1955, probably on this site. The Western Metropolitan College of TAFE or Footscray College of TAFE opened a campus here some time in the 1980s or 1990s.
[edit] Newport
The Newport campus offers automotive, carpentry and electrical TAFE courses. It is adjacent to the Newport rail yards.
The campus began operating as "Newport Technical School" on 1 March 1979. [28] It was officially opened on the 22nd October 1980 by the Governor of Victoria, Sir Henry Winneke. [29] The school was renamed "Newport College of TAFE" in April 1982, and in November that year it separated from FIT.[30]
After a behind-the-scenes merger in 1991, in 1992 the campus began operating as part of the new "Western Metropolitan College of TAFE".
[edit] Melba Conservatorium of Music (Richmond Campus)
This is the main campus of the Melba Conservatorium of Music. It offers TAFE and higher education courses in music. The Conservatorium was established in 1885 as part of the University of Melbourne, becoming independent in 1901. It operated on number of different sites before arriving here in 1983.
[edit] Echuca
- Echuca
- Opened 199?
- Closed 200?
The short lived Echuca campus was a small shop near the Echuca Bendigo Regional Institute of TAFE campus. It offered Nyerna Studies (Koori) courses.
[edit] Yarraville
- 11 Berry Street, Yarraville [32]
- Joined VU 1998
- Closed 200?
The Yarraville campus was a TAFE only campus. At the end of its life it offered courses in plumbing and gas fitting, furniture studies and boat building. The site was sold in 2004 for AU$4.9 million. [33] It has been converted into "Yarravillage", a housing estate [34] [35].
The campus was established as part of the Footscray College of TAFE. It was sometimes known as "Berry St campus" due to its location.
[edit] Old Williamstown Post Office Restaurant
- Cnr Cole and Parker Steets, Williamstown [36]
- Joined VU 1998
- Closed 199?
The university operated a teaching restaurant on this site for a few years. It was regularly included in lists of campuses at this time. The post office was built in 1860.
[edit] The Student Village
- Williamson Road, Maribyrnong [37]
- Opened 1989
- Joined VU 199?
Originally the Maribyrnong Migrant Hostel (later becoming the Midway and Phillip Migrant Hostels) [38], the 12 hectare site was converted to student accommodation in 1989. A consortium comprising FIT, the Western Institute, RMIT and the University of Melbourne originally owned the facility, however FIT and Western Institute descendent VUT took it over completely a few years later.
It is now home to up to 525 tertiary students. Its capacity was significantly reduced when Gilmore College ceased to be used in 2001.
Residents are housed in individual bedrooms in one of six colleges (listed below) and engage in many academic and social activities including study groups, meals, sporting competitions and the annual ball.
The site is located close to the Maribyrnong river and within a short distance of Highpoint Shopping Centre. It is adjacent to the Maribyrnong Detention Centre.
Although the majority of residents attend a Victoria University campus, there are also many students from RMIT and other institutions such as William Angliss Institute of TAFE and the Australian College of Natural Medicine.
List of Colleges
- Astley (green)
- Barton (royal blue)
- Chifley (yellow)
- Dalton (red)
- Endeavour (maroon)
- Falcon (navy blue)
Gilmore College was previously on the Phillip Migrant Hostel site. Some sections of the surrounding land are currently being redeveloped with housing.
[edit] Antecedents
[edit] Footscray Institute of Technology (1916-1992)
In March 1916, the Footscray Technical School began teaching at the currently used Nicholson St site. The land was previously owned by the Victorian Railways, and was and still is adjacent to the Footscray Mechanics Institute.
In 1943, a new campus was built on Ballarat Rd, on the edge of Footscray Park.
In July 1958, the school was renamed "Footscray Technical College". On 25 September 1968, it was renamed "Footscray Institute of Technology" (FIT). It was to keep this name until its end.
On 1 July 1972 the secondary education part of the Institute was separated and named "Footscray Secondary Technical School". It operated on the Nicholson St site. However, its council was not established until early 1975, a new site (on Ballarat Rd) was not acquired until 1975 and was not ready for occupation until May 1980. Thus during this period it remained closely linked to the Institute. Today it is known as Footscray City College.
Also in 1972, FIT began to issue degrees.
On 23 October 1973 the trade section of the institute was renamed "Footscray Technical College". It operated on the Nicholson St site. This college was renamed "Footscray College of TAFE" in April 1982. It separated from FIT on 30 June 1982.
On 1 March 1979 "Newport Technical School" opened. It is renamed "Newport College of TAFE" in April 1982. It separated from FIT in November 1982.
These three departures left FIT with its most advanced courses, and the Footscray Park site.
In 1984, FIT became self-accredited. According to some definitions, it became a university at this point.
On 1 July 1990 Victoria University of Technology was established through the merger of Footscray Institute of Technology, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and Western Institute. These 3 merged entities continued to operate as separate legal entities until 1 January 1992, by which stage RMIT had pulled out.
[edit] Western Institute (1987-1992)
The Western Institute was founded in 1986, and began teaching in 1987. In 1991 it merged behind-the-scenes with FIT to become VUT, and began operating as such in 1992.
The Institute had campuses in St Albans and Melton, and was establishing one at Werribee when it became part of VUT. It also delivered courses at the University of Melbourne's Mount Derrimut campus. It planned to open a campus in Keilor, most likely near Calder Park.
[edit] Western Melbourne Institute of TAFE (1992-1998)
In 1990, the "Victorian Education and Training Act" became law. Previously, Victorian TAFE colleges were closely run by the "State Training Board". But now there were independent state owned businesses, and had many more freedoms.
On 1 May 1991 the Footscray and Newport Colleges of TAFE made use of this new-found freedom and amalgamated to form "Gellibrand College of TAFE", which on 1 August that year was renamed "Western Metropolitan College of TAFE".[39] The merged entity began operating as such on 1 January 1992. [40]
The merger brought together the two TAFE colleges that had succeeded from FIT in 1982.
On 1 January 1993 the Melbourne College of Decoration merged with the college. The Painting, Decorating and Signwriting departments became part of the college, while the Visual Merchandising and Interior Decoration and Design departments moved to RMIT. [41]
Six months later on 1 July 1993 Flagstaff College of TAFE merged with the college. [42] It's single campus was co-located with the decoration college, the two merging together to become the Flagstaff campus. William Angliss College was also on this site, [43] and the two shared some resources.
In 1994, the college had the following campuses: Footscray (Nicholson St), Hyde St annex (Footscray), Newport, Yarraville, Sunshine (Ballarat Rd), Sunshine (Morris St), Hoppers Crossing, South Melbourne, Old Williamstown Post Office Restaurant and Flagstaff.
The Morris St campus could be seen as a continuation of the Sunshine Technical School which was established in 1913.
On 1 January 1996 the college was renamed "Western Melbourne Institute of TAFE" (WMIT). [44] Also this year, the Flagstaff Campus moved into a new building at 255 King Street, becoming known as the "King Street campus".
In November 1996, the King Street campus' child care centre in West Melbourne was ceded to RMIT.
On 1 July 1998 WMIT was absorbed by VUT. At this time, VUT changed its public name to Victoria University. [45]
[edit] External links
Adelaide • Australian Catholic • Australian National • Ballarat • Bond • Canberra • Central Queensland • Charles Darwin • Charles Sturt • Curtin • Deakin • Edith Cowan • Flinders • Griffith • James Cook • La Trobe • Macquarie • Melbourne • Monash • Murdoch • New England • New South Wales • Newcastle • Notre Dame • Queensland • QUT • RMIT • South Australia • Southern Cross • Southern Queensland • Sunshine Coast • Swinburne • Sydney • Tasmania • UTS • Victoria • Western Australia • Western Sydney • Wollongong
