The University of Queensland is advancing its international engagement activities with the development of a formal strategy to expand highly valued linkages and partnerships with American businesses, government bodies, universities and alumni.
The University’s strategy in the USA will encourage and support research collaboration and commercialisation; foster student exchange and rally the support of the University’s USA-based community of alumni and friends.
Core components of this strategy involve the establishment of The University of Queensland in America Foundation and the opening of a University office on 15th Street, Washington DC with dedicated staff to facilitate and support the University’s engagement work in the USA.
The University of Queensland is currently involved in over 2300 research projects with collaborators in more than 50 countries, $43 million of which involve a USA-based partner.
The University of Queensland Vice-Chancellor, Professor Greenfield, says the strategy signals the serious commitment of the University to deepening its collaboration with its USA partners.
“The new office in Washington DC will support The University of Queensland to build strategic research and educational collaborations and increase student and staff exchange with our American partners,” Professor Greenfield said.
“All of our partners in the USA share The University of Queensland’s commitment to addressing issues of global importance and preparing the leaders of the future through access to exceptional education and support.”
“We want to continue to be a university that is connected with the global community and one that addresses the issues that are impacting on today’s world.
“To do this we are strengthening our connections in America and establishing The University of Queensland in America Foundation as a separate entity, which will be dedicated to supporting the University in delivering excellence in teaching and the perpetuation of cutting-edge research and discovery.”
The mission of The University of Queensland in America Foundation is to encourage sustained philanthropic support from alumni and friends and the Foundation has been established as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organisation dedicated to securing gifts and grants.
“Strategic philanthropy has enabled The University of Queensland to dramatically increase its capacity to contribute to global problem-solving through support of the University’s eight research institutes and to offer life-changing education to the best and brightest students regardless of their background,” Professor Greenfield said.
“Truly great global universities have significant philanthropic engagement from their alumni and friends. A key factor leading to The University of Queensland’s success is due to our philanthropic supporters who have engaged their networks across the globe.”
The inaugural Chair of the Foundation is the Chairman and CEO of Dow, Andrew Liveris.
Dr Andrew Liveris graduated from The University of Queensland with first-class honours in Chemical Engineering in 1975, and joined The Dow Chemical Company’s Australian offices in 1976. Throughout his international career, Andrew has maintained strong links with the University and was its 2005 Alumnus of the Year.
The Foundation’s board members will be announced later this year.
The launch of The University of Queensland’s USA strategy was held at the Australian Embassy in Washington DC on 22 June in conjunction with the Global Challenges Leadership Series (global discussion series initiated by The University). The Global Challenges Leadership event featured Director of The University's Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, Professor Robert Henry, speaking about food security and biofuels.
The University of Queensland Background
The University of Queensland is one of Australia¹s premier learning and research institutions. It is the oldest university in Queensland and has produced almost 197,000 graduates since opening in 1911. Its graduates have become leaders in all areas of society and industry.
The University has almost 44,000 students from 134 nations who study across our four main campuses in southeast Queensland and across three continents.
A pacesetter in discovery and translational research across a broad spectrum of exciting disciplines, The University of Queensland is conducting world-leading research in areas such as bioscience, nanotechnology, mining, engineering, social science and humanities. Its eight internationally significant research institutes are drawcards for an ever-expanding community of scientists, researchers and commercialisation experts.
The 2010 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) assessment confirmed The University of Queensland as one of the nation’s top research institutions. The University is regularly ranked within the top 1 per cent of universities in the world under both the QS and Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
The University of Queensland is one of three Australian members of the global Universitas 21 alliance, an international network of leading research-intensive universities in 15 countries. Additionally, the University is a founding member of the national Group of Eight (Go8) – a coalition of leading Australian universities, intensive in research and comprehensive in general and professional education.
Photos of The University of Queensland office in Washington DC are available.
Media inquiries: Kathy Grube, +61 (0)418 524 297, k.grube@uq.edu.au
