Message from the Vice-Chancellor

Research rankings

A momentous achievement for Swinburne has been its ascension into the top 250 universities in the 2024 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, representing a remarkable climb of 100 positions from the preceding year. Moreover, Swinburne has been distinguished for its research prowess, attaining the 102nd rank globally in Research Quality.

Our university is focused on delivering research that creates economic and social impact, and our researchers are producing innovative solutions to real-world problems across a range of disciplines and sectors. Through these  efforts, we are continuing to build the prototype of a new and different university.

Our university’s rapid rise in global stature, despite our modest size and relative infancy, coupled with superior student satisfaction rates, stands as testimony to the principle that size does not equate to superiority. Our distinct and focused strategic approach, backed by the hard work of our values-driven people, has created an enviable reputation for quality and a track record that is making an impact in the sector.

Work Integrated Learning

Swinburne reached a significant landmark in our dedication to Work Integrated Learning (WIL) by celebrating six decades of providing students with practical work experience during their studies. Our commitment to WIL dates back to the 1960s, a time when we emerged as pioneers with our Industry-Based Learning programs. By establishing strong industry partners, we have consistently upheld our pledge to WIL, a fundamental aspect of our vision. 

Swinburne is the only university in Australia where every undergraduate participates in WIL through placements, internships, and industry projects. This commitment does not just enhance our graduates’ employability; it contributes to fortifying Australia’s workforce for the future.

Research highlights

2023 has also seen us pushing the frontiers of knowledge within our flagship research areas—space and aerospace, sustainability, health innovation,  innovative society, manufacturing futures and digital capability—areas we continue to prioritise ardently.

Swinburne became the first organisation outside the United States of America to join the W. M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii as a scientific partner. This collaboration effectively doubles the number of nights Swinburne researchers can access the observatory for their research and is expected to enhance Swinburne’s capability in cutting-edge technologies. The move is a significant expansion of Swinburne’s 15-year relationship with the Observatory, which has already enabled our researchers to achieve notable scientific success.

In another exciting development for our astronomy research, Swinburne was allocated more than 640 hours in the latest observation cycle of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the most advanced space observatory ever built. This represents more than 10 per cent of the 6,000 total hours awarded globally, including the largest single Swinburne University of Technology Annual Report 2023 AR:7 program ever to be awarded, JWST OutThere, led by ARC Laureate Fellow Distinguished Professor Karl Glazebrook. 

Professor Matthew Bailes, an acclaimed astrophysicist, received the Shaw Prize for his pioneering work in radio astronomy and the discovery of new millisecond pulsars. Professor Bailes is an Australian Research Council Laureate Fellow and the Director of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Gravitational Wave Discovery. His contributions have solidified his status among the world’s leading scientists.

One Swinburne

As a unified Swinburne – One Swinburne – the past three years have been  marked by significant achievements. We continue to strive to contribute even more to Victoria, the nation, and the global community, as we work closely to provide tech solutions to pressing global challenges such as climate change, cybersecurity and an ageing population.

After conducting an international search, Professor Simon Ridings, a highly regarded figure in higher education, was appointed Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer. In his role, Professor Ridings is responsible for providing strategic guidance and supervision to Swinburne’s academic schools. He is also responsible for shaping and advancing the university’s higher education, academic, and vocational education strategies, with a strong focus on enhancing their  quality and continuous improvement.

We also welcomed respected education leader Professor Laura-Anne Bull as Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Education, Experience and Employability. Professor Bull has held senior leadership roles at universities across the country and brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to her role. This makes her perfectly placed to ensure that students remain at the front and  centre of our decision making as we continue to deliver world-leading work integrated learning opportunities, employability outcomes and student experiences. I’d also like to take the opportunity to thank Professor Pip Pattison for her strong leadership and guidance as Interim Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Education, Experience and Employability.

Thank you for your support

On a personal note, I am profoundly honoured and humbled to accept the mantle of Vice-Chancellor and President for a second five-year term. My commitment to fostering Swinburne’s growth as a beacon of technology, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit remains unwavering. Our guiding mission to bring people and technology together to build a better world will remain my focus.

I draw inspiration from the boundless creativity and commitment of our academic faculty and the student-centric culture of our professional staff, and I am deeply appreciative of our executive team’s excellence, as well as the Chancellor and University Council’s sage guidance.

We are committed to achieving excellence in the education experience, promoting equality and inclusivity, as we believe that bringing together diverse perspectives and values is the key to co-creating a bright future. In 2023, the vibrancy of our campuses continued to return as we welcomed back students from all over the world, and we broke new ground on our exciting next gen_campus project.

I would like to take this moment to sincerely thank the entire Swinburne community for their dedication and unwavering commitment to our shared goals. It is a true honour to work with such passionate and like-minded individuals. I extend my gratitude to both our past and present students, our staff, the Executive Group, and the Council for your outstanding work and professionalism. A special thanks to our Chancellor, Professor John Pollaers OAM, for his exceptional commitment and dedication throughout 2023.

Looking ahead, let’s continue to cultivate an environment that values inclusivity, innovation and teamwork. As we move towards our shared future, let’s work together on solutions with the same determination and enthusiasm that have brought us to this point of success.