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Ballarat name change
‘ imminent’
By joining forces with Monash University Gippsland, the University of Ballarat has to choose a new name. Insiders say the process has been a challenging one. By Antonia Maiolo
university of Ballarat vice-chancellor David Battersby has said a name change for the institution is“ imminent”, despite public opposition.
The University of Ballarat is expected to become Federation University Australia in January next year once legislation has passed through the Victorian parliament.
It has been reported that premier Denis Napthine will support the request for a name change.
The proposed change has come about as a result of the plan for the University to join forces with Monash University Gippsland to form an expanded regional institution. The merger is currently pending approval by the federal government.
Federation University Australia emerged as the preferred name for the new regionally focused university, withstanding criticism from former UB college council chair, Dr William Pryor, and City of Ballarat mayor, John Burt.
But Burt has since said,“ While its disappointing that Ballarat will no longer feature in the university’ s international marketing and as point of reference for alumni, we’ re satisfied that this decision is in the best interests of the university”.
Battersby said the title“ University of Ballarat” no longer communicates the scope and capacity of the university, particularly given the possibility of joining forces with the Monash Gippsland campus.
“ This wasn’ t a flippant decision, it was based on really quite strong and hard evidence,” Battersby said.
“ The name doesn’ t signify the scale of the University’ s teaching and research responsibilities.”
At present, the university teaches 23,000 students and this number is expected to exceed 26,000 with the proposal to merge with the Gippsland campus.
Battersby said a name change would reflect the expansion of the University’ s“ regional footprint” and would allow new aspirations to be set.
The process of joining with Monash’ s Gippsland campus requires the university to seek legislative amendment to the University of Ballarat Act 2010, which presented an opportunity for the name change.
Current students will be able to finish their course under the existing the University of Ballarat name or change to Federation University Australia, once the bill has passed through parliament.
The University of Ballarat Council – the governing authority of the university – said that the name Federation University Australia recognised“ the partnerships, collaboration and co-operation among a federated network of campuses in regional Victoria”.
It was a lengthy and challenging process that involved more
than 30 different names. These were considered by the University council, with a number of these names contributed by staff, students and community.
Dr Paul Hemming, chancellor at the University of Ballarat said,“ A change of name does not imply any change to the education, commercial or community activities and associations that have made the University of Ballarat successful”.
The proposal for the University of Ballarat to join forces with the Monash Gippsland campus is now going through a set of approval processes with the Commonwealth, the state government, the Parliament of Victoria and TEQSA. n
www. campusreview. com. au July 2013 | 7