2009 AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITIES RANKING

The 2009 Times Higher Education top 200 university rankings

The independent university publication Times Higher Education has released its well publicised Top 200 University rankings. Each year the publication ranks world universities based on an overall evaluation that is determined by a series of sub scores in categories such as Peer reviews, employment reviews, staff and student happiness and international appeal. Year by year the rankings change very little, with the top United States universities taking 13 of the top 20 spots; Harvard University was awarded the number one position, with the University of Cambridge and Yale University following closely behind. The Australian National University was the highest ranked Australian university, and was awarded the number 17 position with a score of 90.5.In total, 9 Australian universities made it into the top 200 rankings, and are as follows:

1. The Australian National University (17)

2. The University of Sydney (36)

3. The University of Melbourne (36)

4. The University of Queensland (41)

5. Monash University (45)

6. The University of New South Wales (47)

7. The University of Adelaide (81)

8. The University of Western Australia (84)

9. Macquarie University (189)

The Times Higher Education top 200 is only one of many university ranking initiatives issued by numerous organisations, however their grade standard is considered to be extremely high; THE rankings are highly prized positions.

A full list of rankings can be found on the Times Higher Education website located at www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/Rankings2009-Top200.html

(Taken from www.campusdaily.com.au)

LE GORDON BLEU

Breaking News

British Accraditation Council (BAC)

Le Cordon Bleu London Culinary Arts Academy is now accredited by the British Accreditation Council for Independent Further and Higher Education. For more information, go to www.the-bac.org.

Le Cordon Bleu World Food Media Awards

Entries are already pouring in for the 2010 Le Cordon Bleu World Food Media Awards at which the cream of the world’s food and drink media professionals will be celebrated. And there are just over 300 days before entries close on February 5, 2010.

The awards themselves will be presented as part of Tasting Australia in Adelaide, South Australia, on Monday May 3, 2010.

Th next competition is Le Gordon Bleu seventh. Since their first Awards in 1997, more than 4,000 entries have been received, with ever increasing interest from all continents. These awards – where “Ladles” are presented - are unique in covering the widest possible range of food and drink publishing.

The 2010 Le Cordon Bleu World Food Media Awards will acknowledge the work of food and drink professionals, writers, educators, TV presenters and producers, and recognise excellence across a broad range of food and drink publishing, books, magazines, newspapers, television, radio, internet websites, guide books and photography.

As with the previous competition, only Gold Ladles will be presented. However, short-listed nominees will be fully recognised and will be entitled to display 2010 Le Cordon Bleu World Food Media Awards insignia to further promote their work.

Works eligible for entry in the next competition must have been published or broadcast between June 2, 2007 and January 31, 2010. After the closing date for entries of February 5, 2010, an international panel of food, wine and media professionals will begin the task of judging the entries. Following judging, the nominees will be announced by March 31, 2010.

Entries are available online at www.worldfoodmediaawards.com.

(Taken from www.cordonbleu.edu)

STUDY IN AUSTRALIA

Australia: Go Down Under for Your Studies

Australian universities are among the most successful at attracting international students. It’s not hard to see why: it’s an eclectic and magical country offering internationally-recognized courses.

Amongst the reasons you want to make it your choice are:

1) One of the most alluring countries in the world. Natural beauty, magnificent architecture, and not forgetting 40 million kangaroos, over 10,000 beaches, and the global recognition of graduate qualifications.

2) There are 39 universities spread across the country; 37 are government-funded and two are privately funded and 12 appeared in the top 200 of the Times Higher (QS World University Rankings 2007). The universities range in size from 3,000 students to 50,000 and offer a range of innovative courses with highly trained academic staff and world-class facilities. As a result, more than a third of the student population come from other countries, in particular those on the Pacific Rim.

3) Seven Australian researchers have won Nobel Prizes for physiology or medicine in the past 50 years.

4) Australia is also at the forefront of environmental research due to the need for balancing its unique geography and wildlife with its climate, primary industries and population growth. Australian universities, industry and the government are all committed to innovations and practical applications which will benefit environmental developments across all areas.

(Taken from www.topuniversities.com)

GROUPINGS - NGU

New Generation Universities (NGU)

In broad terms membership of the New Generation Universities (NGU) grouping is limited to institutions that have received university accreditation since 1970. However, NGU members also share a number of features including a flexible and dynamic program offering and an ability to operate in response to and in close cooperation with community, business and government.

 Members: 

• Australian Catholic University
• Central Queensland University
• Edith Cowan University
• Southern Cross University
• Victoria University
• University of Ballarat
• University of Canberra
• University of Southern Queensland
• University of the Sunshine Coast
• University of Western Sydney

NGU members have a distinctive approach to university operations in the way this is based on the interactions of learning, teaching, research, and community engagement.

GROUPINGS - IRUA

Innovative Research Universities Australia (IRUA)

The Innovative Research Universities Australia (IRUA), is a group of six Australian research-intensive universities.

The IRUA contains most Australian universities founded from 1960 to 1975. This period saw a huge increase in the number of students attending university, and many new campuses (most as new universities) were built to serve them.

The universities in the IRUA also share many characteristics with members of the 1994 Group in the United Kingdom.

Members:

• Flinders University, Adelaide, SA
• Griffith University, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Qld
• James Cook University Townsville, Cairns, Qld
• La Trobe University, Melbourne, Vic
• Murdoch University, Perth, WA
• The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW

GROUPINGS - ATN

Australian Technology Network (ATN)

The Australian Technology Network (ATN) is a network of five leading universities from each mainland state of Australia, with a heritage of working closely with industry. The ATN was originally founded in 1975 as the "Directors of Central Institutes of Technology (DOCIT)", and later revived in 1999 in its present form.

ATN universities offer applied courses to students who are ready to enter their chosen professions. They teach around 180,000 students, or almost 20% of Australia’s student population. All ATN member universities are featured in the Times Higher Education Supplement's "Top 200 Universities of the World" listing, and the network is considered to be the "technology-focused" equivalent of Australia's "Group of Eight" universities.

Members: 

• Curtin University of Technology, Perth, WA
• Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Qld
• RMIT, Melbourne, Vic
• University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA
• University of Technology, Sydney, Sydney, NSW

GROUPINGS - Go8

Group of Eight (Go8)

The Group of Eight (Go8) is a group of eight Australian tertiary institutions which are the oldest universities in Australia. It was established informally as a network of vice-chancellors in 1994 and was formally incorporated in 1999. The group is seen as Australia's version of the Ivy League, consisting of the most prestigious and wealthy universities in the country.

All members of the group except Australian National University (ANU), University of New South Wales (UNSW) and Monash University are known as "sandstone universities", and all of their primary campuses are based in the six largest Australian capital cities.

The group, in arguing for prioritisation of research funding and in lobbying for increased funding for the largest and most popular campuses, sometimes finds itself at odds with smaller, regional and rural universities.

Members:

• Australian National University Canberra, ACT
• University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW
• University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic
• University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld
• University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW
• Monash University, Melbourne, Vic 
• University of Western Australian, Perth, WA
• University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA

AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITIES GROUPINGS

Groupings

There are four main groupings of Australian Universities. These have been formed to promote the mutual objectives of the member universities. There are a number of objectives including marketing advantages, practical benefits of collaboration, and the increased lobbying power that comes from being part of a group. Those currently active are:

•  Group of Eight (go8)
• Australian Technology Network (ATN)
• Innovative Research Universities Australia (IRUA)
• New Generation Universities (NGU)

Membership of any of these groups does not in itself signify anything special about the member universities. There are universities that are not part of any of these groupings that have their own set of strengths. Most universities have international connections that might be more important to them than any domestic groupings. However, the groupings do represent universities that have a similar style and focus and the formation of these groups will most likely accentuate these similarities.