Community leaders talk uni's future

Friday, 31 January 2003

The University of Adelaide is engaging key members of the community in a major workshop today aimed at discussing the future of the university and its role in the community.

Around 20 members of the wider South Australian community, including members of the Adelaide City Council, State Government departments, industry, education and research sectors, DSTO and CSIRO are attending the workshop at the invitation of the University of Adelaide.

Called an Environmental Scanning Workshop, it aims to discuss the overall "environment" facing the university. This includes issues and challenges that may impact on the university, what the community's hopes and expectations are for the university, and how those expectations can be met.

The workshop is among the early stages of a year-long planning process at the University of Adelaide, to provide direction for the university for the next five years.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor James McWha, says interaction with the wider community is crucial to the University of Adelaide's future.

"It is of major importance that the university and the community develop a clear, shared sense of who it is we are, what we are trying to achieve, and how we will achieve it," Professor McWha says.

"We are pleased to be able to involve several key people from outside the university in our planning process. Their thoughts and opinions matter to us. I am delighted that they have taken the time to engage with us on issues that impact not just on the university but on South Australia as a whole.

"Our future directions will enable the university and the community to share in social, cultural, scientific and economic growth. By the end of this workshop we hope to have identified a number of the main factors that will facilitate our working more closely."

Contact Details