From the Vice-Chancellor

Macquarie University is on track to becoming one of Australia’s leading research universities. It’s our goal that by 2014 – our 50th anniversary – Macquarie will be among the top eight research universities in Australia and one of the top 200 in the world.

Macquarie has continued its rise up the Shanghai Jiao Tong University Academic Rankings of World Universities, moving up 17 places from 286th in the world in 2007 to 269th this year. Macquarie is currently ranked 9th in Australia.

To reach our goal we are investing heavily in research, learning and teaching, new buildings, new teaching facilities and in developing mutually beneficial relationships with industry.

We are busy employing top class research academic staff at the rate of more than 40 each year in order to build our capabilities in our 17 Concentrations of Research Excellence. These concentrations cover a diverse range of fields from Ancient History to Climate Change.

Alongside this research investment, we are rejuvenating our learning and teaching efforts, updating our curriculum and providing new volunteering experiences for students and staff.

Work has begun on a state-of-the-art library, a hospital with associated research facilities, and plans are underway for a new research complex. Old buildings are being refurbished while our exceptional swimming and sports complex recently opened its doors for business.

In addition to the above developments, a new train station is being built on campus and is expected to open early in 2009, boosting Macquarie’s transport connections.

Macquarie’s engagement with the nearby high-tech industry corridor is rapidly expanding. We are working to attract even more industry to the campus as participants in higher education. Our commercial agreements include obligations and responsibilities that tenants serve the research and teaching objectives of Macquarie, including through scholarships and work experience for students, research opportunities for staff, and new facilities for teaching and research.

And we continue to develop stronger relationships with our alumni, donors and other supporters who want to see Macquarie continue to flourish.