THE University of Western Australia’s ongoing ‘agenda of change’ is building on our standing as an internationally recognised research-intensive university, while at the same time ensuring our relevance to students of new eras. Tradition and transformation define those developments.

Our carefully considered and thoroughly discussed Operational Priorities Plan 1999—2000 has indeed been vital in developing a culture of agreed values and aspirations within the University under the banner of Achieving International Excellence. From that plan has come one of the most significant activities of 2000—the development of a new Academic Profile.

An extensive institution-wide debate on new academic directions (with subsequent implications for structural and budgetary reforms) resulted in comprehensive endorsement of a general plan for fully-funded growth to support a comprehensive teaching and research profile, while allowing for greater selectivity. Also supported was a shift towards more postgraduate students, continuing high priority for research students, and refocusing postgraduate coursework offerings to make them more attractive to both international and domestic markets.

The underpinning strategy is to seek growth both in student numbers and the University’s budget, to enable a high-quality comprehensive base to be sustained, while generating resources that can be directed to a number of selected areas of particular strategic opportunity. Our greater emphasis on selective development and resourcing lies within an overall context of a comprehensive teaching and research mission in which across-the-board high quality—to international standards—is the overarching goal.

In order that our University takes its place among the world’s best international universities, we have continued the implementation of the comprehensive (1999) review of our international focus. In 2000, this included the development of an Internationalisation Strategic Plan which builds on the structural changes already implemented, and which particularly considers the ‘educational enhancement’ of our internationalisation policies.

Our University’s approach to teaching and learning throughout 2000 has been to combine the high-quality interactive learning environment of the campus with increased flexibility and innovation in access, content, delivery and assessment. This approach reflects an environment in which educational institutions are operating across national boundaries, embracing a wide range of rapidly-changing technologies, and meeting the increasingly diverse learning needs and circumstances of students.