World looks to UTAS
THE eyes of Australia and indeed the world are on the University of Tasmania this week as part of discussions about higher education infrastructure and its transition to inner-city spaces.
The inaugural University of Tasmania Symposium is being held across the state this week, with discussions at its Melville St accommodation building, Government House, Mona and at the North and NorthWest campuses.
Panel discussions surround the role of universities in communities, outlining the economic and social benefits of higher education and its related infrastructure for economies in transition.
It will also showcase some of the world’s best-practice examples presented by speakers from around Australia and overseas. The 80 in attendance will include six vice-chancellors from Australian universities as well as representatives from the nation’s major university groups and the higher education sector.
University of North Carolina system president Tom Ross is also due to attend.
Professor Rathjen said he would discuss the $400 million STEM project set for the corner of Argyle and Melville streets in Hobart’s CBD, as well as the Melville St accommodation building, “The Hedberg” project, in Campbell St.
Delegations will travel to Launceston and Burnie to discuss the university’s more regional projects, including the Inveresk and West Park campus proposals.
Prof Rathjen said the university had never done a symposium on this scale before. “I think it’s fair to say the eyes of the world are upon us,” he said.
Prof Rathjen said the symposium would showcase what UTAS was doing and how those models could be applied globally.
“Some of it will be directly extrapolated into other communities, other bits won’t make so much sense if you’re in New York,” he said. Prof Rathjen said there was interest in how universities used higher education to improve the socio-economic future for Western civilisation.
“What we’re doing in Tasmanian higher education, and also in terms of revitalising cities, is unique in Australia and you can see it because it’s attracting a lot of federal and state funding.”
The event finishes tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Prof Rathjen said cranes were also about to be erected on the site of “The Hedberg” project, with work to begin imminently and completion expected in 2019.
The $96 million project will comprise improvements to the Theatre Royal, and a new University Conservatorium of Music, performance venues, public spaces and an international research institute.