University of Tasmania
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The University of Tasmania (also abbreviated as UTAS, UTas or Tas Uni) is a well-regarded Australian university, with three campuses in Tasmania. The university is one of the four original 'sandstone' universities in Australia, and has been established for over a century. It was founded in January, 1890, and is a member of the international Association of Commonwealth Universities. The university works with overseas universities to offer students an international experience, with exchange arrangements in place with over 40 institutions throughout Europe, Asia and North America.
Its two main campuses are the Sandy Bay Campus, about 5 minutes from the centre of the city of Hobart, and the Newnham Campus, about 10 minutes from the smaller city of Launceston. The third is the small Cradle Coast Campus, located in Burnie, which allows students from that part of the state to complete the first year of certain courses without moving away from home.
The university and The Australian Maritime College are the main institutions of higher education in Tasmania.
History
The University of Tasmania was officially opened on January 1, 1890. The first degrees to graduates admitted ad eundem gradum and diplomas were awarded in June 1890. Referred to as one of the original sandstone universities, it was the fourth university to be established in Australia, and today maintains a strong reputation as a small to medium-sized university. The first campus location was in the Queen's Domain near Hobart, but as enrolment numbers grew and study interests expanded, the new campus at Sandy Bay was developed in the early 1940s.The university was reorganised in 1991 when it merged with the Tasmanian State Institute of Technology, which became the Newnham Campus. The centre at Burnie was opened in 1995.
There is a sizeable international student population, and Professor Daryl Le Grew, the current vice-chancellor announced in 2004 that the university would not increase HECS (Higher Education Contribution Scheme) fees for the 2005 and subsequent academic years.
Faculty Organisation
Faculty of Arts
- Conservatorium of Music
- Riawunna (a centre for Aboriginal studies)
- School of Asian Languages & Studies
- School of English, Journalism & European Languages
- School of Government
- School of History & Classics
- School of Philosophy
- School of Sociology & Social Work
- School of Visual & Performing Arts
- Tasmanian School of Art
Faculty of Business
- School of Accounting & Finance
- School of Economics
- School of Information Systems
- School of Management
Faculty of Education
- School of Education
Faculty of Health Science
- School of Human Life Sciences
- School of Medicine
- School of Nursing & Midwifery
- Tasmanian School of Pharmacy
- Rural Clinical School
- Department of Rural Health
Faculty of Law
- Centre for Legal Studies
- School of Law
Faculty of Science, Engineering & Technology
- School of Agricultural Science
- School of Aquaculture
- School of Architecture
- School of Chemistry
- School of Computing
- School of Earth Sciences
- School of Engineering
- School of Geography and Environmental Studies
- School of Mathematics and Physics
- School of Plant Science
- School of Psychology
- School of Zoology
Teaching and Research
While the University of Tasmania retains a strong liberal arts focus, it is a comprehensive university covering most subjects in the arts and sciences. Academic strengths include Law, Medicine, Natural Environment and Wilderness Studies, Animal & Plant Science, Visual Arts, Journalism and Literature, Geography, Philosophy, Politics, Geology, Engineering, Sociology, Aboriginal Studies, Women's Studies, Psychology, Antarctic Studies, and Education.The university has a particularly notable and long-standing reputation in examining the practical and theoretical challenges involved in addressing social and environmental concerns.
In recent years the institutional focus has shifted substantially from a quality based service to an economically driven service. The recently adpopted 'primary goals' at the institutional level have been to increase enrolement numbers. This focus differs largely to the once traditionally favoured objective of providing high quality teaching service to students.
Student life
In Hobart, student life is largely coordinated by the Tasmania University Union or the TUU. The Student Association (SA) is the equivalent body on the Northern Campuses. The TUU is well-regarded for its organisational skills in creating a wide range and concentrated list of student-focused events, services, and activities. The recent abolishement of university student unionism (contribution fees), by the federal government has meant resulted in substantial funding reductions, ultimately diminishing the future level of services provided by the TUU.The President of the TUU and the President of the SA both sit on the University Council, which is the governing body of the University of Tasmania.
Residential Colleges
Sandy Bay Campus
Newnham Campus
- Kerslake Hall [link]
- Leprena [link]
- [Clarence House]
- [Investigator Hall]
External links
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