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New university signs up first students
Laureate International chose Adelaide as the site for its first Australian university and is set to deliver its first classes in 2014. By Antonia Maiolo
Enrolments are now open for a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs at Adelaide’ s newest tertiary institution. Torrens University Australia, which is part of Laureate International Universities, a global network of more than 72 higher education institutions, will officially launch in January 2014 following a delay to initial plans to open in 2013.
Torrens will provide a combination of on-campus and online options for students in fields such as commerce, education, project management, public health and business.
Its students will join an international academic and student community that spans 30 countries ranging from North and Latin America to Europe, Asia, North Africa and the Middle East.
Drawing on Laureate’ s resources, undergraduate students will experience a trimester of study overseas, with the costs of travel and tuition included in the price of the degree program.
Fast-track degree programs will also be on offer, where undergraduates can study in trimesters to complete a typical three-year degree in just two years, while students studying for a Master of Business Administration degree can complete their program in one year of full-time study.
Fred McDougall, the vice-chancellor of Torrens, says while he forecasts year-on-year growth for the university, this will take into account a key commitment to students of small class sizes.
“ Growth will always have to be balanced against our desire to provide hands-on, personalised teaching,” he says.
Although unable to disclose exact figures, he says he is pleased with enrolments to date, and expects further sign-ups following information sessions and an open day scheduled for coming months.
The vice-chancellor also says that they have already secured a number of teaching staff, having been recruiting throughout the year, and he expects several more placements to be finalised in the next few weeks.
“ These placements are confidential for the time being,” he said, explaining that many of those recruited are currently employed elsewhere.
Torrens chancellor and managing director of Laureate Education Asia, Michael Mann, says he is very excited to be launching Torrens, only the second university to be approved in Australia in nearly 20 years.
“ Torrens University Australia’ s course offerings have been shaped in response to a growing global demand for contemporary, flexible, experience and skills-based courses that provide valuable networking opportunities and industry connections,” Mann says.
The aim is to set new standards in the way students experience on-campus and online study, he says, especially with the introduction of Torrens LENS( Learn, Evolve, Network, Socialise) – an online environment and virtual campus unique to Laureate.
Accessible 24 / 7, the Torrens LENS uses social technology and communities of engagement to help students and teachers share ideas with their peers and industry partners locally and around the global network.
Programs have been designed on a“ You First Commitment” model, where flexible study options are a feature.
McDougall says it is an essentially student-centric strategy.“ Depending on their program of choice,” he says,“ students will be able to customise their postgraduate program by combining different modes of learning, such as online and on-campus or a combination of both, so they can better integrate their study into busy schedules, whether they’ re at home or at work.” ■
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