Victoria University, Australia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Victoria University (VU) is a multi-sector tertiary institution (higher education and TAFE) offering teaching, training, research and scholarship.
VU offers short courses, as well as qualifications in vocational education (TAFE) and higher education. VU also offers learning pathways enabling you to move from a certificate course through to an advanced diploma, degree, or postgraduate qualification by coursework or research.
Facts & Figures
In 2009, VU has more than 50,000 students enrolled in vocational education (TAFE) and higher education courses across its onshore and offshore campuses.
In 2009 there are: - 12 campuses across Melbourne - Courses throughout Europe and Asia - 3000 dedicated research, teaching and general staff - 3920 onshore international students from approx. 90 countries - 7859 offshore international students - 39.4% of students come from a non-English speaking background - 42.2% of students are enrolled in higher education courses - 57.8% of students are enrolled in VE/FE (TAFE) courses
Structure
VU offers qualifications ranging from short course diplomas through to apprenticeship level training (TAFE), higher education degrees, postgraduate masters programs and postdoctoral research (PhD).
Within Higher Education, there are three faculties:
1) Arts, Education and Human Development The Faculty of Arts, Education and Human Development works at the frontline of cultural enquiry and social engagement, developing the social, physical and educative well-being of members of the community, and cultivating critical analysis and thought. The Schools within the faculty include: Communication and the Arts, Education, Sport and Exercise Science and Social Sciences and Psychology.
2) Business & Law Victoria University's Faculty of Business and Law is one of the largest business schools in Australia, with over 10,000 students studying at campuses spread across the city's west, as well as the state of the art city campus. The Schools within the Faculty include: Accounting, Economics and Finance, Hospitality, Tourism and Marketing, Law and Management and Information Systems.
3)Health, Engineering & Science In the Faculty of Health, Engineering and Science, learning is based on solving real problems through innovative Problem Based Learning. The Schools within the faculty include: Biomedical and Health Sciences, Engineering and Science and Nursing and Midwifery.
Within Vocational Education (TAFE) there are four areas:
1)Faculty of Technical & Trades Innovation The Faculty of Technical and Trades Innovation brings together trades, post-trades and para-professional education in areas of skills shortages including engineering, information technology, electrical, building and construction industries and personal services. The Schools within the faculty include: Engineering and Electrotechnology, Construction Industries, Industry Skills Training, Information and Communications Technology and Personal Services.
2)Faculty of Workforce Development Workforce Development provides high-level skills to new entrants and existing workers in the growing service industries including business, tourism, enterprise, health and creative media. The Schools within the faculty include: Business and Hospitality, Community Services, Creative Industries, Enterprise, Finance and Library, Health, Sport and Science.
3)VU College VU College provides a wide range of services and programs designed to support student access to all VU courses and programs. The College offers nationally-accredited courses, learning support, customised courses and career development services to all students on their journey into, through and beyond Victoria University to their future career.
4)TAFE Programs and Services TAFE brings together trade, post-trade and para-professional education through short courses, certificates (I to IV), diplomas and advanced diplomas. TAFE also provides a broad range of apprenticeships and traineeships.
History
In 1916, after considerable work and resources had been put in by the Footscray community, the Footscray Technical School first opened its doors. Initially a secondary school, Footscray Technical School soon expanded its brief and in 1920 began teaching diploma courses in mechanical and electrical engineering along with evening classes in subjects as diverse as art and office skills.
Over the next 30 years the school continued to grow rapidly. Hit briefly by the depression, by the mid 1940s enrollments had bounced back, reaching over 2500 students. The school also grew in physical size at this time with the opening of the Footscray Park Campus.
Exposed to a flurry of name changes over the decades, by 1968 the school was known as The Footscray Institute of Technology (FIT) and comprised three major sections; the secondary and tertiary courses housed at the Footscray Park Campus and the trade courses at the Footscray Nicholson Campus. The final marker of a complete change of identity for the Institute was the separation of the secondary school from the Institute in 1975. Footscray Institute of Technology was now a small player fighting for a place in the tertiary sector.
In 1990 Victoria University of Technology was established as an act of state parliament, formed out of an amalgamation of the FIT and the Western Institute. In 1998 the Western Melbourne Institute of TAFE merged with the University. The merger gave the University control of nearly all government tertiary institutions between Melbourne's CBD and the Werribee River.
With an expanded curriculum extending well beyond the technical focus of the institution’s earlier days, in 2005 the University became known as Victoria University. At the 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".
2005 also saw the university launch a new operational ethos embodied in the tagline - "A New School of Thought". The university uses this slogan widely in public communications.
Victoria University has now become one of Australia’s largest universities and is one of five dual-sector universities offering both higher education and TAFE courses. More than 50,000 students and 3000 teachers make up the greatest international mix of any Australian university including nearly 10,000 international students currently studying both onshore and offshore.
Campuses
Victoria University currently has 12 onshore campuses. They are:
1) Footscray Park, Ballarat Road, Footscray. Located within walking distance from the Footscray railway station, this campus occupies a seven-hectare site next to parklands along the Maribyrnong River. It is the administrative centre of the University and is the largest of all the campuses. Features include: Full gym and indoor 25m heated pool, cafes and restaurants, a student bar and a childcare centre.
2) Footscray Nicholson, Corner of Nicholson & Buckley Streets, Footscray. Located within walking distance from the Footscray railway station, this campus is situated in one of Melbourne's most culturally diverse centres and provides facilities for an extensive range of TAFE programs.
3) City Flinders, 300 Flinders Street, Melbourne. Overlooking Melbourne's historic Flinders Street Station, the Yarra River and the Southbank precinct, this is a contemporary 19 level building. The campus is home to the University's multimedia courses, postgraduate business courses, and a conference centre.
4) City Flinders Lane, 301 Flinders Lane, Melbourne. This five-level building is located close to shops, cafes and public transport. The campus is home to the university's International office, English Language Institute and Osteopathy studies clinic.
5) City Queen, 285 and 293 Queen St, Melbourne. The City Queen Campus occupies two heritage buildings in the heart of Melbourne's legal precinct. 295 Queen Street houses the University's School of Law, the Law Library, The Sir Zelman Cowen Centre for Continuing Legal Education, and Victoria University's Judicial Administration and Justice Studies Institute. The building also contains two moot courts, computer laboratories, lecture theatres and seminar rooms. 283 Queen Street houses some of the University's Business and Law activities, including postgraduate business programs, undergraduate law, and continuing legal education.
6) City King, 225 King St, Melbourne. Close to Southern Cross Station, this modern high-rise building provides training for a range of industries including hairdressing, health and beauty, office administration and retail.
7) Melton, Rees Road, Melton. Close to rail and bus transport, the 11 hectare Melton Campus features TAFE and higher education courses in single-level modern buildings set in a relaxing garden environment.
8) Newport, 80 Champion Road, Newport. Located close to rail transport and the historic Victorian Railways Workshops, this campus boasts four major buildings that are home to TAFE programs such as cabinet and furniture making and boat building.
9) St Albans, McKechnie Street, St Albans The extensive grounds of the 32 hectare St Albans Campus sit alongside Jones Creek and native grasslands dotted with sugar gums. The Campus consists of contemporary buildings encircling a large piazza. As well as arts and science programs, the Campus has state-of-the-art research centres, including a sleep laboratory and a 'wet lab' for marine studies.
10) Sunbury, The Avenue, Sunbury. Located on a hilltop with magnificent views, the historic buildings and gardens of Sunbury Campus have been restored to their former grandeur. The 22 hectare campus offers modern facilities including a computer centre, a wine tasting laboratory and a state-of-the-art restaurant and hospitality training facility.
11) Sunshine, 460 Ballarat Road, Sunshine. In the heart of Sunshine and opposite a new 'mega' shopping and entertainment centre, the Sunshine Campus hosts a broad range of business, trade and retail studies. It features two new and striking building complexes; and its Convention Centre is the premier conference centre of Melbourne's western suburbs.
12) Werribee, Hoppers Lane, Werribee. Situated in the Werribee technology precinct, the Werribee Campus is a major contributor to the local scientific community. Spread over 16 hectares, it features specialised facilities for teaching and research including major research centres for the Faculty of Health Engineering and Science; and a recently completed animal care and breeding facility.
Research
Victoria University has three institutes, six research centres, and a range of recognised research groups with specialist expertise and capabilities.
The research centres undertake ongoing research in fields that are recognised nationally and overseas. The expertise and capabilities of the research centres provide real benefits to the community and informs teaching and learning.
The six centers are:
- Centre for Ageing, Rehabilitation, Exercise and Sport Science (CARES) - Center for Environmental Safety and Risk Engineering (CESARE) - Centre for Strategic Economic Studies (CSES) - Center for Telecommunications and Micro-Electronics (CTME) - Center for Tourism and Services Research (CTSR) - Work-based Education Research Center (WERC)
Research Funding
The institutes' and centres' strategy is a key instrument for distributing research infrastructure within the University. Institutes and centres are provided underpinning funding from the central and faculty research budgets and report annually to a University research committee.
An additional funding component from the research budget is provided to each institute and centre in proportion to its success in gaining external funds, publishing results of its research and graduating Higher Degree by Research (HDR) students.
In 2005, VU Council agreed to earmark $15 million of University money for investment into a small number of Priority Research Innovation Projects (PRIPs) in order to build research strength and capability. The first tranche of this funding was committed in 2006. These projects are monitored quarterly and a major comprehensive review is undertaken annually and reported to Resources Committee of Council.
Faculty research units are managed within faculties and may receive funding from faculties' research performance funds.
Campus and Student Life
Victoria University provides students with a number of ways to engage with the University and each other through an extensive range of clubs and societies, sporting teams, art and essay writing competitions and volunteer programs.
Website
www.vu.edu.au
