New heights in health translation, Nobel Prize laureates in Clancy and a life-changing donation to fight cervical cancer – 13 November 2024

13 Nov 2024
VC message image 1

Dear colleagues

I am delighted to share that UNSW Sydney has received an extraordinary $25.9 million donation from the Swire Group to work with regional partners to tackle one of the deadliest preventable cancers in the Pacific. Swire Group’s donation will enable the Kirby Institute, its partners and vital local collaborators to screen more than 130,000 women and treat thousands for cervical cancer in seven Pacific countries.

I simply can’t overstate the impact of this donation. It represents hope, health and a brighter future for thousands of women and families and is a fitting testament to the power of philanthropy and the collective impact of the work colleagues at UNSW and our partners do every day. This exceptional philanthropic donation is one of the largest UNSW has ever received. It’s a tremendous enabler of UNSW’s mission to improve lives globally, emblematic of our new strategy to advance ‘Progress for All’ and deliver the societal impact that has been the heart of our University for 75 years.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of the Swire Group, commitment of Pacific country health departments, tireless work of communities and services on the ground, and the incredible dedication, innovation and expertise of the Kirby Institute at UNSW Sydney, we are moving towards a future where cervical cancer is no longer a threat to women, families and communities in the Pacific region. Read more about this life-changing donation from the Swire Group on the UNSW Newsroom.

Reaching new heights in health translation

Structural work at the UNSW Health Translation Hub (UNSW HTH) is officially complete! I was pleased to join the NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park and project partners last week to celebrate this wonderful milestone (pictured above). What a view from the top! The UNSW HTH is 15 storeys tall and builds on more than 60 years of teaching hospital affiliations. It will deepen UNSW’s collaboration with leading healthcare institutions and offer students the opportunity to work side-by-side with researchers on real-life cases. The selfie, with some of the UNSW team who made this happen, demonstrates the wonderful ability of colleagues from across UNSW to come together to tackle major projects.

What excites me most is the potential for widespread impact. We've already seen remarkable medical breakthroughs that have greatly improved patient care on an individual level. But our goal is to ensure these advances, along with new technologies and treatments, are accessible to all — so no one is left behind. That's what makes the UNSW HTH so exciting. It will unite UNSW’s brightest academic minds and students from every discipline and faculty with leading health and medical industry partners to tackle major health challenges at scale, ensuring everyone can benefit.

Through our collaboration with government, industry and leading academia we will take novel approaches to society’s health challenges and deliver new models of care to improve lives. The UNSW HTH will progress research like personalised medicine, advanced therapeutics, health system and equity, dementia, ageing well, mental health and cancer. It will transform basic science and discoveries into therapies, treatments and cures, delivered directly to patients. Read more on the UNSW Newsroom.

Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2024

I’m pleased to share that UNSW has ranked first nationally in 10 subjects in the ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (GRAS) 2024, with Metallurgical Engineering and Oceanography moving into the top spot in Australia for the first time. Globally, UNSW has ranked in the top 10 for three subjects – Mining & Mineral Engineering (8th), Energy Science & Engineering (5th) and Water Resources (9th). These results highlight the extensive scope and excellence of UNSW's research across diverse fields. Read more in this edition of Inside UNSW.

Would you like to join the ESG Working Group on Financial Investments?

UNSW is seeking Expressions of Interest from academic and professional staff representing faculties and divisions from across the University to join a Financial Investments Working Group.

This group will support the review and alignment of our investment frameworks and policies. The project was launched in Inside UNSW earlier this year with the ability of staff and students to provide input via email on our website. It is now moving to the next stage of consultation and deliberation. The group will focus on revising and updating our framework to ensure all investment decisions are made in accordance with our current commitment to social and environmental responsibility. It includes ensuring UNSW investments have considered UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and environment, social and governance (ESG) commitments. See this edition of Inside UNSW to find out more about the working group and express your interest.

A very rewarding visit to Japan

UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs with UNSW alumna Ikumi Oyama.


I recently had the privilege of travelling to Japan with Professor Colin Grant, DVC Global, meeting with colleagues at some of Japan’s leading universities and connecting with academic and industry leaders, researchers and policymakers to explore collaborative solutions to some of society’s most pressing challenges. The opportunity to exchange ideas and identify ways to drive innovation and positive societal impact was both inspiring and rewarding.

There were many trip highlights including visits to Kyoto and Tokyo universities. It’s always a pleasure to meet UNSW alumni across the globe who are applying their education to create meaningful change — like Ikumi Oyama, pictured here with me.

It was also fantastic to meet Marisa Watanabe, UNSW’s business development manager in Japan, and Josh Flannery, a UNSW alum and founder of the Innovation Dojo, who are doing great work to build university and industry partnerships in Japan.

Strategic feedback supports UNSW Strategy progress!

Thank you to everyone who took the time to provide considered feedback and contribute ideas at the recent Strategy Expo. Close to 5000 people shared their feedback over the four days, with more than 75% of people who completed the expo’s survey expressing strong support for UNSW’s commitment to making a positive societal impact. Read more about feedback from the Strategy Expo.

Combined with widespread enthusiasm for our Impact Focus Areas and the Impact Pathways that will drive them, this is highly encouraging support for our strategic direction and vision for UNSW’s centenary.

We are now at the very pointy end of the strategy’s development. Drafting is well underway, with the University Leadership Team (ULT) and UNSW Council poised to provide final review and endorsement in coming weeks.

I am very excited about UNSW Strategy: Progress for All and the positive outcomes we will create together in the coming decade and beyond. I look forward to sharing our finalised strategy with you.

2023 QILT Student Experience Survey results released

The 2023 National Report for the Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT) Student Experience Survey (SES) has been released. The results reveal progress as well as areas for further improvement, highlighting a focused commitment across our University to adapt to students' evolving preferences, expectations and aspirations.

  • Undergraduate satisfaction with the overall educational experience reached 72% – our highest score in five years.
  • Postgraduate satisfaction continues to strengthen, with an overall educational experience score of 78%.

Read more about the 2023 QILT Student Experience Survey results in this edition of Inside UNSW.

UNSW law student awarded Rhodes Scholarship

Congratulations to Corey Blyth who has been awarded a 2025 Rhodes Scholarship to study at Oxford University. Corey is the first Indigenous student at UNSW Law & Justice to receive a Rhodes Scholarship. It is wonderful to see yet another UNSW student whose passion and desire to have a positive impact in the world have resulted in the opportunity of a Rhodes Scholarship and study at Oxford. I have no doubt Corey will make the most of this fantastic opportunity. His determination, strong values and expert knowledge will no doubt see him make a significant contribution to the legal community and society more broadly. I wish him the very best.

UNSW hosts Nobel Prize Dialogue – The Future of Decision Making

Imagine some of the world’s greatest minds, in the form of Nobel Prize laureates Tawakkol Karman (Peace 2011), Professor Brian Schmidt (Physics 2011) and Professor Saul Perlmutter (Physics 2011), coming together on the same stage to discuss an issue of global significance with thought leaders, policymakers and artists including Professor Megan Davis, Professor Verity Firth, Tim Minchin and Rhyan Clapham (aka DOBBY), with the aim of deepening the dialogue between the scientific community and broader society. Mind blowing.

Well, UNSW was proud to host this exact event in the Clancy Auditorium on 24 October, in the first Nobel Prize Dialogue ever held in Sydney.

The esteemed thinkers discussed ‘The Future of Decision Making’ in a series of talks with an enormous in-person and online global audience. This was an incredibly thought-provoking set of discussions, especially in the global context of democratic elections, geopolitical tensions, the rise of artificial intelligence and the myriad disruptors that are affecting our decision-making systems and the trust we place in them.

The live stream of the event is available to watch.

A warm congratulations to all our colleagues who worked hard to bring the Nobel Prize Dialogue Sydney 2024 to life.

Election commitment to change student loan repayment threshold

Last week it was wonderful to see the Federal Government and Minister Clare continued their focus in the Accord on students by acting on and prioritising initiatives to support and improve the lives of our students. Adding to the recent legislation on HECS-HELP, they made an election promise to change the minimum repayment threshold and rates for student loans. Adjusting the minimum repayment threshold for HECS-HELP, to be more progressive and student-centred, was a recommendation in the Universities Accord. The government has also restated its intention to charge the Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC) with looking at course cost settings if they are re-elected.

Given the government’s recent damaging and ill-considered approach to higher education with regard to capping international students, which is not only hurting universities and Australian society but will negatively impact both domestic and international student experience and opportunity, I was thankful to hear the government refocus its intentions for positive student reforms.

There’s even more Inside UNSW…

  • Congratulations to Professor Christopher Pettit, Director of the City Futures Research Centre, and Professor Lyria Bennett Moses, Head of the School of Law, Society and Criminology, who have been elected Fellows of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia in recognition of their contributions to city planning and the impact of technology on legal systems.
  • UNSW’s Beach Ocean Safe (BOS) program will expand statewide. The BOS program works in partnership with Surf Life Saving NSW to help overseas students who are unfamiliar with Australian beach conditions. Following the success of the program it will now be available to other universities, as well as community and migrant groups. Congratulations to everyone involved for their efforts to promote safety, raise awareness and ensure a positive beach experience for international students and migrant groups in Australia.
  • In this edition of Inside UNSW we meet Dani Alexander, CEO of the UNSW Energy Institute and ultimate frisbee champion. These staff profiles really are fascinating!

I hope to see many of you and your families at Community Day on Wednesday 20 November. It's always a fun afternoon with lots of delicious food and activities for everyone. This year will be extra special because we're celebrating 75 years of UNSW and I’m told there will be live performances by UNSW alumnus Lior, and Ngaiire. Please register for Community Day by Friday 15 November.

Best regards
Attila

Professor Attila Brungs
Vice-Chancellor and President

Comments