Dear colleagues
You will have received an email from the Provost and me today about the evolution of UNSW’s Academic Calendar, which was designed following extensive consultation with the University community, including vital input from more than 5000 students and thousands of colleagues. The Academic Calendar has been designed to deliver the goals of our UNSW Strategy: Progress for All and support colleagues to provide the best learning experiences for our diverse student cohorts and their changing needs. It was endorsed by the UNSW Council on Monday, with implementation planned for 2028.
This calendar will integrate a semester structure for most undergraduate and the majority of postgraduate students, aligned with a ‘hexamester’ (six-term) overlay. It has two standard 12-week teaching periods with optional six-week summer and winter terms. The hexamester overlay aligns with this structure to enable us to continue to grow our lifelong learning opportunities and additional professional education in six-week teaching terms (we already have almost 2000 students using the hexamester) as well as to provide additional optional flexibility for some postgraduate courses.
Thank you to everyone who contributed their time and insights during the consultation and engagement process. We will continue to engage with students, colleagues and stakeholders as we finalise the details of the new ‘flex-semester’ Academic Calendar and move to implementation in 2028. Read more in this edition of Inside UNSW and on the Academic Calendar website.
UNSW Gateway Program: excellence and equity in action
The UNSW Gateway Program provides access to our University for students whose academic potential may not be reflected in their ATAR, and, importantly, supports them to succeed while they’re here. I’m pleased to share that almost a quarter of new UNSW undergraduates now come from Gateway schools or low-SES backgrounds, nearing our 2027 equity target of 25%. Some faculties are already exceeding that goal, with 30% of commencing domestic undergraduates in the Faculty of Arts, Design & Architecture and 26.6% in Science coming from low-SES backgrounds and/or Gateway partner schools.
We don’t want to simply widen access, but to ensure these students thrive at university and beyond. New data reveals this is happening, with students who came through the Gateway Admission Pathway performing as well as their peers. In 2024, the retention rate, success rate and average cumulative weighted average marks for students from low-SES backgrounds and/or Gateway schools were equivalent to those of the broader domestic undergraduate community.
This data emphasises the importance of addressing barriers to access and empowering students to come to university with the confidence and support to thrive and to achieve true excellence. We want to have a student cohort that reflects our community and enables access for all sections of society. Tackling equity, diversity and inclusion are integral to the continued success of UNSW and our ongoing pursuit of excellence. Ensuring we enable and appropriately support all segments of society for success is critical for advancing our UNSW Strategy: Progress for All. Read more about the Gateway Program and student success on the UNSW Newsroom.
Photo top: Year 11 students from the UNSW Gateway Leaders Program.
Responsible use of AI
At UNSW, we are committed to using AI securely and ethically, prioritising the safety of our staff and our data. Following federal government advice on data security concerns relating to the use of DeepSeek AI products, UNSW is further restricting their use. DeepSeek technologies and services will no longer be accessible on UNSW networks or devices. Requests for exemptions to access DeepSeek technology for specific, research-related activities should be directed to the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Read more in Inside UNSW.
Financial Investment Strategy Consultation (FISC) – final input invited
For the past six months the Financial Investments Working Group has been instrumental in the Financial Investment Strategy Consultation process. This process is supporting the review and alignment of UNSW’s investment frameworks and policies, with a focus on ensuring all investment decisions for the University’s financial capital are made in accordance with our commitment to social and environmental responsibility. The intention is to ensure UNSW investments have considered United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitments.
The Working Group is currently synthesising the main insights and themes from recent student and staff focus groups, and feedback from the ESG Management Bodies (Leads): the ESG Technical Advisory Group, and the Equity Diversity Inclusion and Sustainability Governance (EDISG) Board. I would like to thank students and staff who have participated and provided feedback on the University’s current financial investment strategy.
Your input has provided invaluable insights and perspectives on UNSW’s investment practices. As the consultation process draws to a close, I invite colleagues to share any last thoughts on the current financial investment strategy via FISC@unsw.edu.au. All input will be reviewed and included in the findings of the FISC Working Group that will be presented to the ESG Management Bodies (Leads), the Investment Sub-Committee, and the Finance and Strategy Committee, followed by the UNSW Council in the coming months.
UNSW scientists awarded Australian Academy of Science medals
Professor Katherine Moseby, Associate Professor Anita Liebenau and Dr Ira Deveson have been honoured by the Australian Academy of Science for their impactful research.
Prof. Moseby was recognised for her research in conservation biology which has led to the reintroduction of threatened species in outback Australia, A/Prof. Liebenau was recognised for her significant contribution to graph theory, and Dr Deveson was honoured for his work using new genomic technologies to improve the diagnosis of genetic disease. Congratulations on these well-deserved accolades!
Future of Health exhibition EOIs now open
The UNSW Health Translation Hub (UNSW HTH), part of the Randwick Health & Innovation Precinct, is an exciting initiative that will enable seamless physical and working integration between the Randwick Hospitals Campus and UNSW. It brings together world-class research, innovation and clinical care to translate discoveries into real-world impact. Students will work side-by-side with researchers on real-life cases and practitioners will be better positioned to answer big research questions and solve significant health problems.
The UNSW HTH is due to open towards the end of this year, and we want our colleagues and members of the wider UNSW community to be part of the celebrations. Expressions of interest are now open for The Future of Health exhibition and opening events, which will display research, education and innovative ideas. The exhibition will be themed around the question: What will the future of health look like? Find out how you can be involved.
Fascinating staff stories
It’s often said that everyone has a story to tell — and at UNSW, that couldn’t be more true. The staff profiles featured in Inside UNSW have quickly become a highlight, offering a glimpse into the diverse and sometimes unexpected pursuits and passions of our colleagues.
We are fortunate to have in our University community leading minds in an astounding array of fields. World Malaria Day is next Friday, and you guessed it, we have our very own expert in this field – parasitologist, cell biologist and medical science innovator Professor Jake Baum. Jake has spent more than 20 years researching the parasite that causes malaria. He has also established an ‘insectary’ at UNSW. Find out more in this edition’s staff profile.
Best regards
Attila
Professor Attila Brungs
Vice-Chancellor and President
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