Obiter dicta by Professor Gavin Brown AO

Future opportunities

5 January 2004

Not only is this a special edition of the University News welcoming potential new students to campus, it appears immediately after the Christmas break so goes to the printer in early December. As a result the new legislation covering Higher Education has just been passed at the time I am writing these words.

That and our bold plans for major new buildings are very much on my mind. Even before the fate of Dr Nelson's reform package was known, the University of Sydney made a commitment to spending $500 million over the next five years in enhancing the facilities available on campus. A part of this was the subject of a major international design competition in which architects from all round the world submitted concepts for a new Law School overlooking Victoria Park, a new building near Wentworth consolidating all student services and an integrated scheme for landscaping the campus.

That we have our historic buildings today was the consequence of an outrageously bold vision by our founders some 150 years ago. Once again the University is making a massive investment in the future.

We are confident in doing this because there is already considerable success. In the latest round of competitive research funding the University of Sydney won more new funds from the Australian Research Council than any other university and, also for the fifth year in a row, our students won the Australian University Games.

These achievements are symbolic as well as real, because this is a research-intensive university which also believes that the all-round student experience is an essential component of the quality of a university degree. Accordingly, you will find that the teachers who create the learning environment are the same people who are making research breakthroughs of international significance. You will find that the students are high-achievers who win gold medals in international sport, who bring home debating trophies from abroad and who encourage each other to discover their full talents.

We have many famous alumni –- Jim Wolfensohn, President of the World Bank; Lord May, President of the Royal Society; the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition; the Chief Justice of Australia; the Chief Justice of New South Wales.

An Information Day is our opportunity to find the next generation of students who will bring fame and fortune to the University in the future. Even more important than investing in new buildings is gathering new talent. I hope that you will be impressed by the personal opportunities that the University of Sydney offers you. I am constantly surprised and delighted by the extraordinary achievements of our new students, staff and alumni. I look forward to welcoming a new cohort of exceptional students in 2004.