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A New Strategic Plan 2008-2012 'Building a Great Research University'

It is now five years since we launched our last Strategic Plan, and the University has achieved - and in some cases exceeded - the objectives set out in that Plan. While there is much that still needs to be done, we are now in a far stonger position to take the necessary steps towards establishing ourselves as a great research university.

A university's worth, its 'greatness', should be judged by its value to society. A number of key characteristics that will help us to define how this value might be measured are identified in the body of the new Strategic Plan for 2008-2012 'Building a Great Research University' (pdf 4MB), approved by Council. The University's mission is to be recognised as a great research university and to use that as the platform for excellence in teaching and learning. This is, of course, an enduring objective. Greatness is not achieved overnight, nor even within the five year timeframe of a single plan. It is vital though to begin to put in place the essential elements of the platform on which greatness might be built.

Our goals can only be achieved with the support and involvement of the University community as a whole, as well as through an increasing level of engagement with government, industry and the wider community. Fully understanding the crucial scholarly contribution we can make to contemporary society and fulfilling that contribution are integral to this Plan, as is our commitment to developing mutually beneficial working partnerships with the community. This is the primary role of a great research university, and it is something to which we should all aspire.

Professor James A. McWha
Vice-Chancellor and President