From the Vice-Chancellor - October 2022

I am very pleased to let you know that in August, the 2022 Academic Ranking of World Universities, was released, and UniSQ was ranked in the 501-600 band of world universities for the first time. These rankings review more than 1000 research universities around the world, across 54 subject areas. UniSQ has seen a remarkable improvement from ranking in the 701-800 bracket in 2019, with particularly outstanding results in a number of subject areas, including:  Civil Engineering ranked 101 – 150; Materials Science and Engineering, and Water Resources both ranked 151-200; Atmospheric Science, Nursing, and Education all ranked 201 – 300; and Chemistry, and Environmental Science and Engineering both ranked 301-400.

Reflecting on our ongoing commitment to growing educational opportunities for students in regional and rural areas, in August we launched our Academic Excellence Scholarships, available to eligible high-achieving year 12 students who put UniSQ first on their QTAC applications.  High school leavers who achieve an ATAR 97 or above and put UniSQ as their first QTAC preference will automatically receive a Chancellor’s Scholarship valued at up to $29,000, including an optional study abroad package.  Students with an ATAR 88 or above who put UniSQ first on their QTAC preference will be awarded a Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship valued at up to $20,000 and students with an ATAR 84 or above will be awarded an Academic Excellence Scholarship of up to $6,400.  For the first time, the Scholarships will be open to external/online students as well. If you know a Year 12 student who would be interested in applying for one of these scholarships, full details are available on the  UniSQ website.

In August and September, UniSQ was proud to celebrate the achievements of our many alumni who attended graduation ceremonies across Toowoomba, Ipswich and Sydney.  Congratulations to those of you who recently completed your studies and attended one of these ceremonies.  I hope that you, your families and supporters enjoyed the experience – we certainly enjoyed celebrating this wonderful milestone with you all.  UniSQ also welcomed thousands of prospective students and their families to our Open Days in August, held across all three of our campuses.

September was a big month for Toowoomba, as the Carnival of Flowers took place from 1 – 30 September.  UniSQ had significant involvement in the Carnival and I hope that some of you were able to enjoy our traditional Japanese Garden, which is the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere, or the Gumbi Gumbi Gardens, which features a range of indigenous trees and plants, which hosted tens of thousands of visitors over the month.

Those of you who studied with us in the early 2000s will no doubt be sad to hear of the passing of our former Vice-Chancellor Emeritus Professor Bill Lovegrove AO.  Bill was Vice-Chancellor at the University for eight years, from 2003 – 2011, leading the University through a time of significant change in the Australian higher education sector.  He left an indelible mark on our University, particularly in the establishment of the Springfield Campus, which opened in 2006, and our joint venture partnership with the Queensland Government to establish the Queensland College of Wine Tourism, which opened in 2007.

As we move ever closer towards the end of the year, we look forward to our final 2022 graduation ceremonies, which will be held in Toowoomba on 13, 14 and 15 December, where we will welcome a new group of graduates to our ever-growing alumni cohort.