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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2015-06-18 Daily Xml
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University of South Australia

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (14:35): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills a question about the University of South Australia.

Leave granted.

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS: The University of South Australia is considered to be one of the younger universities in Australia, approaching its 25th year. I must say that I do have a personal interest: my daughter actually attained her degree and PhD out of the University of South Australia, and it is an excellent institution.

The Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins: Must have got her brains from her mother, did she?

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS: Can the minister update the chamber about a significant achievement for the University of South Australia?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (14:36): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. As a matter of course, obviously, I don't seek to provide a running commentary about university rankings, given that there is a great deal of difference in ranking criteria for each ranking system, based on a range of variables. However, I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of the government, to acknowledge and congratulate the University of South Australia on its rapid rise in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings: 100 Under 50, which ranks universities under 50 years of age.

For those who may not be aware, the Times Higher Education ranking is one of the world's three most prestigious university ranking systems. The Times Higher Education World University Rankings: 100 Under 50 is a subset of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, utilising the same indicators—teaching, research, citations, industry outcome and international outlook—but with less weight assigned to academic reputation, which is the cornerstone of the Oxbridge, Ivy League and Group of Eight universities.

I am pleased to advise the chamber that UniSA rose from number 49 to number 34 in the world, consolidating its position alongside only half a dozen other Australian universities in the top 50. While UniSA has a long pedigree of antecedents dating back to the 19th century, its status as a university began only 25 years ago, so this is a very significant achievement. Universities in the top 100 Under 50 category are often described as the rising stars or the new breed of the tertiary sector. They are seen as innovative and as risk-takers, which is commensurate with UniSA's branding as the University of Enterprise.

With 16 young Australian universities in the top 100, it is only a matter of time before they make their mark in the broader ranking systems. I'm confident that this recent rise in UniSA's ranking will further assist its national and international reputation to see UniSA continuing to develop professional graduates who assist the economic growth of South Australia. I'm glad to hear that the Hon. Mr Kandelaars' daughter is amongst those, clearly getting her brains from her dad, as well as her mum.

More broadly, as minister responsible for higher education, I believe we have much to be proud of in our tertiary sector. I'm confident that all of our public and private universities continue to provide high-quality education opportunities, as well as having some of the best teaching staff in the nation. It is also testimony to the quality of our state's universities that South Australia is the only state in Australia in which all our public universities appear on one or more of the international ranking systems, firmly placing us in the top 10 per cent of universities in the world. Once again, I would just like to take this opportunity to congratulate the University of South Australia on this very significant achievement.

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