University of Queensland

The University of Queensland

Coat of Arms of the University of Queensland
Latin: Universitate Terrae Reginensis
Motto Scientiā ac Laborē (Latin)
Motto in English "By means of knowledge and hard work"
Established 1909
Type Public
Chancellor Mr John Story
Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Greenfield
Students 40,512 (2009)
Undergraduates 29,226 (2009)
Postgraduates 10,643 (2009)
Location Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Campus Urban and Regional
Affiliations Group of Eight, Universitas 21, ASAIHL
Website UQ.edu.au

The University of Queensland (UQ) is a public university located in state of Queensland of Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the Australia. The main campus is located in the suburb of St Lucia, southwest of the Brisbane City Central Business District, with other major campuses in Gatton, Ipswich and Herston with a number of other satellite facilities. The University of Queensland is a member of the Australia's Group of Eight, and the international research-intensive universities network Universitas 21. UQ is colloquially known as a "sandstone university".

UQ is ranked among the top 4 universities in Australia and the top 100 in the world.[1][2][3]

Contents

History

The University of Queensland (UQ) was established on 10 December 1909 by the Queensland Parliament to mark the 50th anniversary of Queensland’s independence from New South Wales. The University's first classes in the Government house were held in 1911, with 83 commencing students. The development of the University was delayed by World War I, but after the first world war the university enrollments for education and research took flight as demand for higher education increased in Australia. Thus, in the early 1920s the growing University had to look for a more spacious campus as its original site at George Street, Brisbane has limited room for expansion.[4]

In 1927, Dr James O’Neil Mayne and his sister Mary Emelia Mayne, provided a grant of approximately £50,000 to the Brisbane City Council to acquire 274 acres (111 ha) of land at St Lucia and provided it to the University of Queensland as its permanent home.[5] Lack of finance delayed development of the St Lucia campus. Hence, the construction of the University's first building in St Lucia only began in 1938. It was later named the Forgan Smith Building, after the Premier of the day and it was completed in 1939. During World War II, the Forgan Smith Building was used as a military base and it served first as advanced headquarters for the Allied Land Forces in the South West Pacific.[4]

In 1990, Australia reorganized its higher education system by abolishing the binary system of universities and colleges of advanced education. Under this transition, the University merged with Queensland Agricultural College, to establish the new UQ Gatton campus. In 1999, UQ Ipswich began operation as one of the completely Web-enabled campuses in Australia.[4][6]

Rankings

According to the 2007 THE-QS World University Rankings, UQ is in the top 50 (ranked 33rd along with the National University of Singapore).[7] In 2009, the university was ranked 41st, after University of Melbourne (36), University of Sydney (36) and Australian National University (17).[8] In 2011, QS World University Rankings[9] placed the university in 48th (in 2010 Times Higher Education World University Rankings and QS World University Rankings parted ways to produce separate rankings).

The Shanghai Jiao Tong University's Academic Ranking of World Universities also placed UQ among the top 10 universities in the Asia Pacific Region.[3] UQ was also featured in 2006 Newsweek and 2009 Global University Ranking of the world's top 100 universities.[10][11]

The following publications ranked universities worldwide. The University of Queensland ranked:

Publications Ave. 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
QS World University Rankings[8] 43.625 49 47 45 33 43 41 43 48
Shanghai Jiao Tong University[12] 101-151 102-151 101-151 101-151 101-151 101-151 101-151 101-151 101-150 86
Global University Ranking[11] 85-87
Higher Education Evaluation and Accreditation Council of Taiwan (HEEACT)[13] 102.25 113 101 100 95 76
Newsweek[14] 91
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 51.625 49 47 45 33 43 41 81 74

Research

The University of Queensland consistently ranks in the top 1 percent of world university rankings: The Times Higher Education and QS tables rank UQ in the top 100 universities globally, and the Shanghai Jiao Tong University World Rankings names UQ as a top 20 Asia-Pacific institution.[15]

The Commonwealth Government's Excellence in Research for Australia 2010 National Report presents a comprehensive assessment of the research quality and research activity in Australia’s higher education institutions. Notable results were UQ being one of the nation's top two universities, measured on a combination of research quality and breadth; UQ research is above world standard in more broad fields than at any other Australian university (in 21 broad fields); more UQ researchers are working in research fields that ERA has assessed as above world standard than at any other Australian university; UQ research in biomedical and clinical health sciences, technology, engineering, biological sciences, chemical sciences, environmental sciences, and physical sciences was ranked well above world standard (rating 5).[16]

Biomedicine

In 2009, the Australian Cancer Research Foundation reported that UQ have taken the lead in numerous areas of cancer research, having awarded almost $10 million in grants over a three year period.[17]

The Queensland Bioscience Precinct on the St Lucia campus houses scientists from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation and the Institute for Molecular Bioscience. The Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, the Diamantina Institute for Cancer, Immunology and Metabolic Medicine and the Queensland Brain Institute are located close by and together, along with the Queensland Institute of Medical Research, form one of the largest biomedical research clusters in Australia and the world.[18]

Events and Traditions

Three Minute Thesis

In 2008, the university originated the Three Minute Thesis competition for students completing a higher degree by research. Three Minute Thesis is now held annually at universities across Australasia. It challenges participants to present their research in just 180 seconds, in an engaging form that can be understood by an intelligent audience with no background in the research area. This exercise develops presentation, research and academic communication skills and supports the development of research students' capacity to explain their work effectively.[19]

Great Court Race

Based on the University of Cambridge Trinity College Great Court Run, the University of Queensland organises an annual 636m sprint race around the UQ sandstone Great Court.[20][21][22]

Market Day

During Orientation week and the first week of each semester, Market Day is organised throughout Campbell Place and the Great Court at the St Lucia Campus. The UQ Union and clubs and societies have stalls and organises social activities.[23]

Careers Fair

The UQ Careers Fair is an annual event that brings together university students and major employers from across the country.[24]

Campus

The University of Queensland maintains a number of campuses and facilities throughout Queensland.[25][26]

St Lucia campus

UQ was established on 10 December 1909, with Sir William MacGregor as first chancellor (with Reginald Heber Roe as vice-chancellor) and was originally situated in Brisbane's downtown area on George Street.[5] In 1927, the land on which the St Lucia campus is built was resumed by the Brisbane City Council using money donated by James O'Neil Mayne and his sister Mary Emelia Mayne to replace the less spacious city campus. The city campus is now home to the Gardens Point campus of the Queensland University of Technology. Construction of the new university began at St Lucia in 1937.[5]

The University has its main campus in the suburb of St Lucia in Brisbane. Its other campuses include Ipswich, Gatton, Herston, and Turbot Street. It is situated on a point of the Brisbane River. At its centre is the heritage-listed Great Court — a 2.5 hectares (6.2 acres) open area surrounded by sandstone buildings with grotesques of great academics and historic scenes, floral and faunal motifs and crests of universities and colleges from around the world.[5] This central semi-circular quadrangle features a connected arcade so students could reach any section under cover.

The 274 acres (111 ha) also includes sporting fields, gardens, duckponds, and cycling tracks. The athletics centre features 21 floodlit tennis courts and Olympic-standard swimming pool, a three-level gymnasium and a multi-purpose indoor centre.

The university is served by a CityCat wharf, two bus stations and is also served by the Eleanor Schonell Bridge providing pedestrian and bus access across the river to Dutton Park.

2009 saw the opening of the $2.5 million Advanced Concepts Teaching Space (ACTS) lecture theatre which enable students to use mobile technology to aid classroom learning.[27]

Culture

The University of Queensland Art Museum is located in the James and Mary Emelia Mayne Centre on the St Lucia campus. The Art Museum was established in the Forgan Smith Tower in 1976 to house the artworks collected by The University of Queensland since the 1940s, relocating to its present site in 2004. Today, with more than 3,000 artworks, the University’s Art Collection is Queensland's second largest public art collection.[28]

The Schonell Theatre is an open to the public theatre and cinema complex at the St Lucia Campus operated by the University of Queensland Union. The theatre is also used for live theatre productions, university lectures, and can be booked for special screenings and events. It has four multi-purpose function rooms with a capacity of up to 500 guests.

The University of Queensland Club provides licensed facilities for members and their guests, and offers honorary membership to visiting Australian and overseas academics. Services include function rooms and catering for events ranging from weddings to seminars and conferences. Catering for events elsewhere is also available.[29]

The UQ Anatomy Museum is operated by the School of Biomedical Sciences at the St Lucia Campus and was established in 1996 as a resource for undergraduate and postgraduate students enrolled in anatomy courses. Its self-learning facilities include radiological images, computer-based study programs, and a large collection of anatomical models, posters, and plastinated and potted specimen exhibits.

The UQ Anthropology Museum is operated by the School of Social Science at the St Lucia Campus and houses a significant collection of ethnographic material, numbering 19,000 artefacts and 5000 photographs. It is the largest university collection of ethnographic material and visual culture in Australia and includes unique and rare items. Just under half of the collection comprises things created by, or relating to, Aboriginal Australian culture groups and individuals. An equally large section of the collection is derived from, or concerned with, diverse Pacific peoples. There are also smaller complementary collections from Africa, South-East Asia and China.

The UQ Antiquities Museum exhibits artefacts from the ancient worlds of western Asia, Egypt, Greece and Rome. The collection supports University teaching and research and studies by school students, interest groups and individuals.

The Marks-Hirschfeld Museum of Medical History is operated by the School of Medicine and is a collection of medical memorabilia, medical and surgical instruments.

The UQ Physics Museum was opened in 1988 and displays optical, electrical, acoustical and other scientific equipment plus books, catalogues and instruction manuals. Many date from the University's first year of teaching in 1911. Near-antiques of brass and mahogany sit beside newer but equally obsolete items like electron tubes, spiral slide rules, a computer card punch and sheets of computer magnetic core memory.

Sport

The UQ Aquatic Centre is operated by UQ Sport and consists of two pools; a 50 metre, outdoor heated pool and a small enclosed heated teaching pool. The main pool is a 50m lap pool with a minimum of three lanes dedicated to public lap swimming throughout our opening hours.[30]

The UQ Athletics Centre is operate by UQ Sport and maintains an Olympic standard 8 lane synthetic track and grandstand able to accommodate up to 565 spectators.[31]

The UQ Sport and Fitness Centre is a multi-purpose indoor facility comprising a three level weights gym, including four Olympic lifting platforms and a power lifting area, an air-conditioned cardio studio, a RPM stationary bike cycle studio, an indoor sports pavilion, a martial arts gymnasium, a multipurpose area, and five squash courts.[32]

The UQ Tennis Centre is the largest tennis centre in both Brisbane and Queensland. Featuring 21 floodlit courts and a shop the centre hosts various fixtures and coaching programs for all ages and skill levels.[33]

The UQ Playing Fields and Ovals are operated by UQ Sport. There are a total of eight ovals at the St Lucia campus. The majority are designated for use by particular sports including cricket, rugby and soccer. These ovals are also used for recreational activities and lunchtime social sport.[34]

Gatton campus

The UQ Gatton Campus is a 1068-hectare campus which is located in Gatton, Queensland about 90 km west of Brisbane on the Warrego Highway. The campus was opened in 1897 next to the site of the Queensland Agricultural College which was then amalgamated with UQ in 1990.[4] UQ Gatton is the core campus for research, learning and teaching activities and facilities in agriculture, animals, veterinary science and the environment.[35]

It is the site of the School of Agriculture and Food Sciences and the School of Veterinary Science. The Veterinary Medical Centre, Veterinary Teaching Laboratories and Clinical Studies Centre as well as the Centre for Advanced Animal Science which conducts animal research in the areas of animal growth, adaptation, welfare, health and vaccines are located at Gatton. The Native Wildlife Teaching and Research Facility has also been purpose built to house native endangered species. There are also a number of nursery and glasshouse facilities which are used to support the plant breeding activities of the Centre for Native Floriculture which conducts research and industry development to strengthen the business of native floriculture in Australia and internationally.

The UQ Gatton Student Association affiliated with the UQ Student Union provides student representation and various services. The Gatton Halls of Residence, the oldest and largest residential operation associated with UQ established in 1897, provides residence for the students in 430 rooms. The Regional Collaborative Learning Centre and the Gatton e-Learning Laboratory provide learning support.

There are currently plans to possibly move plant scientists to the Gatton campus, thereby boosting its research profile as well as ensuring both plant and animal scientists are co-located at the one campus.

Ipswich campus

The Ipswich campus, opened in 1999, after State and Federal government backing is the newest campus, made up of nearly 20 buildings and more than 5001 students on nearly 25 hectares (62 acres)[36] Courses offered include: arts, business, medicine and social sciences as well as Interaction design.

It is located near central Ipswich, Queensland, just south of the CBD. Nearby landmarks include Limestone Park, The Workshops Railway Museum and the RAAF Base Amberley.

The site dates back to 1878 with the opening of the Ipswich branch of the Woogaroo Lunatic Asylum. Operations continued until 1910 when it became the Ipswich Hospital for the Insane.[36] In 1938 it was renamed the Ipswich Mental Hospital and in 1964 it was renamed again as the Ipswich Special Hospital. It was finally named the Challinor Centre in 1968 in honour of Dr. Henry Challinor, the ships surgeon on the Fortitude. From 1968 to 1997 the Challinor Centre served as an institution for people with intellectual disabilities. In late 1997 the Challinor Centre began its first stage of transformation as the new UQ Ipswich campus.[36]

The Past Students Association Museum, Gatton Campus maintains memorabilia collected over half a century by past students and staff forms the UQ Gatton Historical Collection, part of which is housed in the Past Student Association Museum. The museum has photographs and artefacts on display featuring the development of the campus and community under its identities as the Queensland Agricultural College, as well as its consolidation with The University of Queensland in 1990.

Herston campus

The UQ Herston campus is is the home of the UQ Mayne Medical School and is the core campus for clinical health teaching and research. The campus is situated in Herston and operates within Queensland Health system of the Royal Brisbane Hospital, Royal Children's Hospital, Royal Women's Hospital and the Queensland Institute of Medical Research. It is home to the School of Medicine, the School of Population Health, the Herston Health Sciences Library, the Centre for Clinical Research and clinical research and learning activities of the School of Nursing and Midwifery.[37][38][39][40]

Satellite facilities

There are other research and education facilities not attached directly to the three campuses. These locations are primarily for research which cannot be undertaken in the campus locales but also represent buildings which established pre-eminence in education before the creation of the current campuses.

Organisation

The University of Queensland is organised into a number of divisions for academic, administrative and logistical purposes.[48]

Governance entities

The Senate is the governing body of the University of Queensland and consists of 22 members from the university and community. The Senate is led by the Chancellor and Deputy Chancellor, elected by the Senate. The University of Queensland Act 1998 grants Senate wide powers to appoint staff, manage and control University affairs and property, and manage and control finances to promote the University's interests.[49][50]

The Vice-Chancellor is the University's chief executive officer and is appointed by and responsible to the Senate for the overall direction of strategic planning, finance and affairs of the university. The Vice-Chancellor is supported by an Executive to whom the University's organisational units report and provides advice on policy and administrative matters relating to their area of responsibility.

The Academic Board is the University's senior academic advisory body. It formulates policy on academic matters including new programs, teaching, learning and assessment, research, promotions, student academic matters, prizes and scholarships. An Academic Board member is elected annually as its President. The President is assisted by a half-time Deputy President.[51] Its members include the Vice-Chancellor's Executive, Executive Deans of Faculties, Institute Directors, Heads of Schools, Dean of the Graduate School, Directors of Central Service Units, the University Academic Registrar, the President of the UQ Student Union, and 5 Student Representatives.

Academic faculties

The university has six faculties in turned divided into schools.

Faculty of Arts

Faculty of Business, Economics and Law

Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology

Faculty of Health Sciences

Faculty of Science

Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences

Library system

The University of Queensland Library is the university's library network. It consists of 15 branches.[52]

Research institutes

The University of Queensland maintains a number of major research institutes and centres based on national, state, university, faculty and school levels.[53] With the support from the Queensland Government, the Australian Government and major donor The Atlantic Philanthropies, the University of Queensland has developed eight major research institutes:

Moreover, each Faculty and School maintains a number of research institutes, centres and groups.

Residential colleges

The University of Queensland has 11 residential colleges with 10 of these located on its St Lucia campus and one on its Gatton campus. The University of Queensland Intercollege Council is the organisational and representative body for the residential colleges which coordinates sporting and cultural events and competitions.

Support services

The University of Queensland maintains a number of support and student services. Each campus of St Lucia, Ipswich and Gatton have Student Centres which provide information and support services.

Student organisations

The UQ Union is the peak student representation body that coordinates various student services and activities.

Notable alumni and staff

Main article: List of University of Queensland people

The University of Queensland has produced a number of notable alumni including a Nobel Laureate, an Oscar winner and Governors-General of Australia.

Gallery

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2011
  2. ^ Rating Major Disciplines in Australian Universities - Perceptions and Reality
  3. ^ a b "Top 500 World Universities (102–202)". Institute of Higher Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Archived from the original on 19 December 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20071219111514/http://www.arwu.org/rank/2007/ARWU2007_102-202.htm. Retrieved 20 December 2007. 
  4. ^ a b c d A Place of Light & Learning : the University of Queensland's First Seventy-five Years. 1985. 
  5. ^ a b c d Readshaw, Grahame; Ronald Wood (1987). Looking up looking back at old Brisbane. Bowen Hills, Queensland: Boolarong Publications. p. 62. ISBN 0864390327. 
  6. ^ University of Queensland History
  7. ^ "THES — QS World University Rankings 2007 — Top 400 Universities". Quacquarelli Symonds/THES. Archived from the original on 17 December 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20071217215715/http://www.topuniversities.com/worlduniversityrankings/results/2007/overall_rankings/top_400_universities/. Retrieved 20 December 2007. 
  8. ^ a b The Times Higher Education Supplement
  9. ^ http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2011
  10. ^ "The Complete List: The Top 100 Global Universities". Newsweek/MSNBC. http://www.ntu.edu.sg/home/eylu/univ/Newsweek_top100_2006.pdf. Retrieved 20 December 2007. 
  11. ^ a b The 1st hundred – Global universities ranking
  12. ^ Institute of Higher Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
  13. ^ 2008 Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers for World Universities
  14. ^ "The Top 100 Global Universities, Newsweek" Newsweek's ranking of Monash University.
  15. ^ UQ Research Fact Sheet
  16. ^ UQ Research Fact Sheet
  17. ^ "Queensland takes the lead on cancer research". Australian Cancer Research Foundation. http://www.acrf.com.au/plugins/newsfeed.cgi?rm=content&plugin_data_id=27540. Retrieved 20 July 2009. 
  18. ^ "Brisbane: Queensland Bioscience Precinct (Qld) (Profile — Location)". CSIRO. http://www.csiro.au/places/QBP.html. Retrieved 20 December 2007. 
  19. ^ . http://www.uq.edu.au/grad-school/three-minute-thesis.html. Retrieved 4 October 2011. 
  20. ^ UQ News Young meets old for UQ tradition
  21. ^ UQ Events 2010 Great Court Race
  22. ^ UQ Sport Great Court Race
  23. ^ UQ Market Day
  24. ^ UQ Events Careers Fair
  25. ^ University of Queensland Other campuses and facilities
  26. ^ University of Queensland About campuses and locations
  27. ^ Powell, Derek (18 March 2009). "New $2.5M UQ ACTS teaching space wows students". UQ News Online. http://www.uq.edu.au/news/?article=17658. Retrieved 4 August 2009. 
  28. ^ University of Queensland Art Museum
  29. ^ UQ Club
  30. ^ UQ Aquatic Centre
  31. ^ UQ Athletics Centre
  32. ^ UQ Sport and Fitness Centre
  33. ^ UQ Tennis Centre
  34. ^ UQ Playing Fields and Ovals
  35. ^ UQ Gatton About
  36. ^ a b c Ipswich History
  37. ^ University of Queensland School of Medicine Listing of Clinical Schools
  38. ^ University of Queensland School of Nursing and Midwifery Listing of Clinical Schools
  39. ^ University of Queensland Faculty of Health Sciences Herston Campus
  40. ^ University of Queensland School of Medicine
  41. ^ [1] University of Queensland School of Dentistry Listing of Facilities
  42. ^ Customs House website
  43. ^ Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre
  44. ^ [2] University of Queensland Faculty of Science Research Facilities
  45. ^ University of Queensland Heron Island Research Station
  46. ^ http://www.science.uq.edu.au/facilities/mbrs-about-us University of Queensland Faculty of Science Facilities
  47. ^ University of Queensland Goondiwindi Pastoral Veterinary Centre
  48. ^ University of Queensland Organisational Chart
  49. ^ University of Queensland Senate
  50. ^ Principal Officers of the University of Queensland
  51. ^ University of Queensland Academic Board
  52. ^ University of Queensland Library
  53. ^ University of Queensland Listing of Research Institutes and Centres
  54. ^ World Debating Website Rankings
  55. ^ UQ Sport website

External links

Academic Faculties

Faculty of Arts • Faculty of Business, Economics and Law (T. C. Beirne School of Law) • Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology • Faculty of Health Sciences (Mayne Medical School) • Faculty of Science • Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences
Research Institutes

The Diamantina Institute for Cancer, Immunology and Metabolic Medicine • Institute for Molecular Bioscience • Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology • Institute for Social Science Research • Sustainable Mineral Institute • Queensland Brain Institute • Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation • Global Change Institute • University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research • Queensland Institute of Medical Research
Residential Colleges
Campuses and Facilities

St Lucia • Gatton • Ipswich • Herston • Queensland Bioscience Precinct • University of Queensland Art Museum • UQ Playing Fields and Ovals • UQ Tennis Centre • UQ Sport and Fitness Centre • UQ Athletics Centre • UQ Aquatic Centre • University of Queensland Library • University of Queensland Club • Schonell Theatre • Customs House
People
Student Organisations
Publications
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