TheUniversity of New South Wales (UNSW), also known asUNSW Sydney, is apublicresearch university based inSydney,New South Wales, Australia. It is one of the founding members ofGroup of Eight, a coalition of Australian research-intensive universities.
Established in 1949, UNSW is aresearch university and a member ofUniversitas 21, a global network of research universities. It has international exchange and research partnerships with over 200 universities around the world.
The university comprises seven faculties, through which it offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. The main campus is in theEastern Suburbs in the suburb ofKensington, 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) from theSydney central business district (CBD). The creative arts school,UNSW Art & Design (in the faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture), is located inPaddington, and subcampuses are located in the Sydney CBD as well as several other suburbs, includingRandwick andCoogee. Research stations are located throughout the state ofNew South Wales.
The university's second largest campus, known asUNSW Canberra at ADFA (formerly known asUNSW at ADFA), abbreviated toUNSW Canberra, is situated inCanberra, in theAustralian Capital Territory (ACT).ADFA is themilitary academy of theAustralian Defence Force, and UNSW Canberra is the only national academic institution with a defence focus.
The origins of the university can be traced to theSydney Mechanics' School of Arts established in 1833 and the Sydney Technical College established in 1878.[13] These institutions were established to meet the growing demand for capabilities in new technologies as the New South Wales economy shifted from its pastoral base to industries fuelled by the industrial age.[13]
The idea of founding the university originated from the crisis demands of World War II, during which the nation's attention was drawn to the critical role that science and technology played in transforming an agricultural society into a modern and industrial one.[14] The post-warLabor government of New South Wales recognised the increasing need to have a university specialised in training high-quality engineers and technology-related professionals in numbers beyond that of the capacity and characteristics of the existingUniversity of Sydney.[14] This led to the proposal to establish the Institute of Technology, submitted by the then-New South WalesMinister for EducationBob Heffron, accepted on 9 July 1946.
The university, originally named the "New South Wales University of Technology", gained its statutory status through the enactment of theNew South Wales University of Technology Act 1949 (NSW) by theParliament of New South Wales in Sydney in 1949.[15]
In March 1948, classes commenced with a first intake of 46 students pursuing programs includingcivil engineering,mechanical engineering,mining engineering, andelectrical engineering.[16] At that time, the thesis programs were innovative. Each course embodied a specified and substantial period of practical training in the relevant industry. It was also unprecedented for tertiary institutions at that time to include compulsory instruction in humanities.[17]
The Old Main Building is the first permanent building constructed on campus, officially opened on 16 April 1955
Initially, the university operated from the innerSydney Technical College city campus inUltimo as a separate institution from the college. However, in 1951, the Parliament of New South Wales passed theNew South Wales University of Technology (Construction) Act 1951 (NSW) to provide funding and allow buildings to be erected at theKensington site where the university is now located.[citation needed]
The lower campus area of the Kensington campus was vested in the university in two lots, in December 1952 and June 1954. The upper campus area was vested in the university in November 1959.[18][19]
In 1958, the university's name was changed to the "University of New South Wales" reflecting a transformation from a technology-based institution to a generalist university. In 1960, the faculties ofarts andmedicine were established, with thefaculty of law coming into being in 1971.[20]
The university's first director wasArthur Denning (1949–1952), who made important contributions to founding the university. In 1953, he was replaced byPhilip Baxter, who continued as vice-chancellor when this position's title was changed in 1955.[21] Baxter's dynamic, if authoritarian, management was central to the university's first 20 years. His visionary, but at times controversial, energies saw the university grow from a handful to 15,000 students by 1968.[22] The new vice-chancellor,Rupert Myers (1969–1981), brought consolidation and an urbane management style to a period of expanding student numbers, demand for change in university style, and challenges of student unrest.
In 1962, the academic book publishing companyUniversity of New South Wales Press was launched. Now anACNCnot-for-profit entity, it has three divisions: NewSouth Publishing (the publishing arm of the company), NewSouth Books (the sales, marketing and distribution part of the company), and the UNSW Bookshop, situated at the Kensington campus.
The stabilising techniques of the 1980s managed by the vice-chancellor,Michael Birt (1981–1992),[23] provided a firm base for the energetic corporatism and campus enhancements pursued by the subsequent vice-chancellor,John Niland (1992–2002). The 1990s had the addition of fine arts to the university. The university established colleges inNewcastle (1951) andWollongong (1961), which eventually became theUniversity of Newcastle and theUniversity of Wollongong in 1965 and 1975, respectively.
The former St George Institute of Education (part of the short-livedSydney College of Advanced Education) amalgamated with the university from 1 January 1990, resulting in the formation of a School of Teacher Education at the former SGIE campus atOatley. A School of Sports and Leisure Studies and a School of Arts and Music Education were also subsequently based at St George. The campus was closed in 1999.[24]
In 2012, private sources contributed 45% of the university's annual funding.[25]
In 2010, theLowy Cancer Research Centre, Australia's first facility to bring together researchers in childhood and adult cancer, costing $127 million, opened.[26][27]
In 2003, the university was invited by Singapore'sEconomic Development Board to consider opening a campus there. Following a 2004 decision to proceed, the first phase of a planned $200 m campus opened in 2007. Students and staff were sent home and the campus closed after one semester following substantial financial losses.[28]
In 2008, it collaborated with two other universities in formingThe Centre for Social Impact. In 2019, the university moved to a trimester timetable as part of UNSW's 2025 Strategy. Under the trimester timetable, the study load changed from offering four subjects per 13-week semester, to three subjects per 10-week term. The change to trimesters has been widely criticised by staff and students as a money-making move, with little consideration as to the well-being of students.[29]
In 2012, UNSW Press celebrated its 50th anniversary and launched theUNSW Bragg Prize for Science Writing. The annual Best Australian Science Writing anthology contains the winning and shortlisted entries among a collection of the year's writing from Australian authors, journalists and scientists and is published annually in the NewSouth imprint under a different editorship. The UNSW Press Bragg Student Prize is for science writing by Australian high school students and is supported by theCopyright Agency Cultural Fund andUNSW Science.[citation needed]
In the 2019 Student Experience Survey, the University of New South Wales recorded the lowest student satisfaction rating out of all Australian universities, with an overall satisfaction rating of 62.9, which was lower than the overall national average of 78.4.[30] UNSW's low student satisfaction numbers for 2019 was attributed to the university's switch to a trimester system.[31] In the 2021 Student Experience Survey, the University of New South Wales recorded the lowest student satisfaction rating out of all New South Wales universities, and the second lowest nationwide behind theUniversity of Melbourne, with an overall satisfaction rating of 66.9, which was lower than the overall national average of 73.[32]
On 15 July 2020, the university announced 493 job cuts and a 25 percent reduction in management due to the effects ofCOVID-19 and a $370 million budget shortfall.[33]
In October 2021, UNSW established Mentem by UNSW[34] to help organisations upskill and reskill their workforces. Mentem[35] helps organisation achieve strategic goals and measures completion and success rates through their bespoke insights platform. In September 2022 Mentem won Best in Class at the Australian Good Design awards[36] for the work with Department of regional NSW government, creating a learning program to uplift staff in digital literacy.
In May 2022, UNSW announced the university had received a $4.7 million in funding in order to pursue health prevention research. The funding aims to fund research on infectious diseases, drug and alcohol use and primary health care. Announced as part of NSW Health's Prevention Research Support Program (PRSP), the research is designed to support NWS research organisations conducting prevention and early intervention research.[37]
The main UNSW campus, where most faculties are situated, is located on a 38-hectare (94-acre) site inKensington, Sydney.UNSW Art & Design is located in the inner suburb ofPaddington.
The main UNSW campus in Kensington is divided geographically into two areas: upper campus and lower campus, which were vested to the university in three separate lots.[19][18] These two are separated mainly by an elevation rise between the quadrangle and the Scientia building. Roughly 15 minutes are needed to walk from one end to the other.
UNSW Canberra at ADFA (formerly known as UNSW at ADFA),[38] abbreviated to UNSW Canberra, is situated inCanberra. Its students are from themilitary academy known asADFA, who are in training for theAustralian Defence Force, and as such has an integrated defence focus, with particular strengths in defence-related, security and engineering research.[39]
The Roundhouse, constructed in 1961, is one of the venues for concerts, conferences, and seminars
A number of theatre and music venues are at the university, many of which are available for hire to the general public. The UNSW Fitness and Aquatic Centre provides health and fitness facilities and services to both students and the general public.[40][41]
The university is governed by the university council, which is responsible for acting on the university's behalf to promote its objectives and interests.[42] The council comprises 15 members, including thechancellor,vice-chancellor, president of the academic board, two members appointed by theminister for education, five members appointed by the council, three members elected by university staff and two student-elected members.[43]
The principal academic body is the Academic Board, which receives advice on academic matters from the faculties, college (Australian Defence Force Academy), and the boards of studies.[44] It is responsible for academic policy setting, academic strategy via its eight standing committees, approval and delivery of programs, and academic standards.[44] The board comprises 63 members, including the Vice-Chancellor, members of the executive team, deans and faculty presiding members, members elected from the academic staff, and six from the student body.[45] The board advises the vice-chancellor and council on matters relating to teaching, scholarship and research and takes decisions on delegation from the council.
Thechief executive officer of the university is the president and vice-chancellor,[46] currentlyAttila Brungs. The deputy vice-chancellors and pro-vice-chancellors form part of an executive team that are responsible for academic operations, research policy, research management, quality assurance and external relations, including philanthropy and advancement.[44][47]
Each of the faculties has its respective board, which are responsible for the teaching and examining of subjects within their scope.[48]
Argent on a Cross Gules a Lion passant guardant between four Mullets of eight points Or a Chief Sable charged with an open Book proper thereon the word "SCIENTIA" in letters also sable.[51]
The lion and the four stars of theSouthern Cross on theSt George's Cross have reference to theState of New South Wales which established the university; the open book withscientia ("knowledge") across its pages is a reminder of its purpose. The placement ofscientia on the book was inspired by its appearance on thearms of Imperial College London formed in 1907. Beneath the shield are the Latin words within ascroll:"Corde Manu et Mente" ("heart, hand and mind"), which when combined withscientia forms theLatinmotto of the university:Scientia Corde Manu et Mente or 'Knowledge by heart, hand and mind'. Following the rules ofEnglish heraldry, the motto does not form part of the original grant of arms from 1952, and consequently does not require the formal alteration of the original grant by the College of Arms. The original motto of the university from 1952, however wasScientia Manu et Mente ("Knowledge by hand and mind"), which used the earlier motto of theSydney Technical College (Manu et Mente or 'by hand and mind') from which the university developed.[52] In 2021, the motto was changed with approval from the College of Arms to its current form to reflect the university's brand concept of 'collective difference'.[53]
An update of the design and colours of the arms was undertaken in 1970, which provided a more contemporary design, yet retained all the arms' heraldic associations. In 1994, the university title was added to the UNSW arms, as was the abbreviation "UNSW", to create the UNSW symbol that is used for everyday and marketing purposes.[52] In late 2013, the university launched a new change to the business name used in all branding and marketing as "UNSW Australia".[54] In January 2017, this was changed again to "UNSW Sydney", with the ADFA Canberra campus changed to "UNSW Canberra". The official name of the university, which requires an amendingact of Parliament to theUniversity of New South Wales Act 1989 to alter, is unchanged.[55]
Theceremonial mace of the university is made of stainless steel with silver facings and a shaft ofeumung timber. On the head are mounted four silver shields, two engraved with thearms of the State of New South Wales and two with the original-design arms of the university. A silverWaratah, NSW's floral emblem, surmounts the head. The mace was donated to the university byBHP and was presented by the company's chairman,Colin Syme, on 6 December 1962.[56] A former NSW Government Architect,Cobden Parkes, was appointed as the first officialmace-bearer.[57]
Lowy Cancer Research CentreTheAustralian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Quantum Computation and Communication Technology (CQC2T) is located in the Newton Building
The university has a number of purpose-built research facilities, including:
UNSW Lowy Cancer Research Centre is Australia's first facility bringing together researchers in childhood and adult cancers, as well as one of the country's largest cancer-research facilities, housing up to 400 researchers.[26][27]
TheMark Wainwright Analytical Centre is a centre for the faculties of science, medicine, and engineering. It is used to study the structure and composition of biological, chemical, and physical materials.
UNSW Canberra Cyber is a cyber-security research and teaching centre.[39]
The Sino-Australian Research Centre for Coastal Management (SARCCM) has a multidisciplinary focus, working collaboratively with theOcean University of China incoastal management research.[39]
In the 2024Aggregate Ranking of Top Universities, which measures aggregate performance across the QS, THE and ARWU rankings, the university attained a position of #51 (4th nationally).[72]
The Australian Government's QILT[b] conducts national surveys documenting the student life cycle from enrolment through to employment.[79] These surveys place more emphasis on criteria such as student experience, graduate outcomes and employer satisfaction[79] than perceived reputation, research output and citation counts.[80]
In the 2023 Employer Satisfaction Survey, graduates of the university had an overall employer satisfaction rate of 85.5%.[81]
In the 2023 Graduate Outcomes Survey, graduates of the university had a full-time employment rate of 81.3% for undergraduates and 91.7% for postgraduates.[82] The initial full-time salary wasA$75,000 for undergraduates andA$120,000 for postgraduates.[82]
In the 2023 Student Experience Survey, undergraduates at the university rated the quality of their entire educational experience at 71.7% meanwhile postgraduates rated their overall education experience at 78%.[83]
UNSW engages with primary and secondary education, administering several national and international academic competitions for school age children. These include:
The Australian Schools Science Competition – International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) is conducted by Educational Assessment Australia, UNSW Global Pty Limited.UNSW Global is a not-for-profit provider of education, training and consulting services and a wholly owned enterprise of the University of New South Wales. It provides exams for students in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, South Africa, Indonesia, Hong Kong, India and the Pacific region. It caters to students from year 3 (Australia) through year 12, examining skills in English, mathematics, science, computers, writing and spelling.
International Competitions and Assessments for Schools-Mathematics – International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS). From 2003 to 2005, ICAS-Mathematics was called Australasian Schools Mathematics Assessment. Prior to 2003, it was known as the Primary Schools Mathematics Competition and was targeted at primary schools.
The UNSW School Mathematics Competition[84] – Since 1962, the School of Mathematics and Statistics has run the UNSW School Mathematics Competition. This competition is a three-hour open book Olympiad-style exam designed to assess mathematical insight and ingenuity rather than efficiency in tackling routine examples. Competition results are used as part of the assessment criteria for some university scholarships awarded by the UNSW School of Mathematics and Statistics.
The UNSW COMPUTING ProgComp[85] – Since 1997, The School of Computer Science and Engineering (UNSW COMPUTING) has run the UNSW COMPUTING ProgComp. This competition has the overall aim of raising awareness amongst high school students of the craft of programming and to encourage students to develop and apply their computing knowledge and skills.
The UNSW COMPUTING Robotics Workshops[86] – UNSW School of Computer Science and Engineering (UNSW COMPUTING) has developed specialised robotic workshops for school students. They focus on the use of the Lego NXT technology combined with the popular RoboCup Junior competition for schools. UNSW COMPUTING is also a national and NSW state sponsor ofRoboCup Junior.
Educational Assessment Australia (EAA) is anot-for-profit organisation previously owned by the University of New South Wales. It wasacquired by Janison Education Group on 31 May 2020. It is a national and international educational assessment organisation specialising in large-scale assessment programs including theInternational Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, India, South Africa and the Pacific region. EAA also provides scanning, data analysis and reporting services to commercial and educational institutions.
In 2017, UNSW enrolled the highest number of Australia's top 500 high school students academically.[87]
In 2019, UNSW had the most first preferences for high school students in the state ofNew South Wales.[88]
The university offers a bonus points scheme, "HSC Plus", which awards up to a maximum of 5 points for performance in year 12 Australian Senior Secondary Certificate courses relevant to UNSW undergraduate degrees.[89] The scheme does not apply to actuarial studies, law, medicine or psychology.[89]
UNSW offers several scholarships and support programs to high achieving students. The Co-op program is a scholarship and industry engagement program awarded to students across many programs in the built environment, engineering, science and the Australian School of Business.[90] Students usually enter the program after an application and interview while in their final year of high school. The university also offers Scientia Scholarships to a number of commencing students who performed exceptionally in theHigher School Certificate, which provide funding of $10,000 per year for the duration of the student's program.[91] This is different from the Scientia PhD scholarship, which awards PhD scholarship with a package of $50,000 per annum, comprising a tax-free living allowance of $40,000 per annum for 4 years, and a support package of up to $10,000 per annum.[92][93]
UNSW also offers a mature age entry scheme, the University Preparation Program for students aged 20 or older, that can provide the requirements for entry into UNSW or other universities.[94]
In 2005, theFederal Parliament passed legislation making membership of student unions voluntary for the first time. This policy, known asvoluntary student unionism (VSU), threatened the funding model behind the four UNSW student organisations with compulsory membership provisions. A report commissioned by the university administration recommended that three of those organisations – the Student Guild of Undergraduates and Postgraduates, the University of New South Wales Union and the College of Fine Arts Students' Association – merge into a single student organisation, a structure in use at theUniversity of Melbourne.[95]Arc was established on 15 August 2006 and launched early the following year, taking over the functions of three existingstudent organisations, the UNSW Student Guild, UNSW Union, and COFA Students' Association.[96]
The organisation supports the activities of student clubs, student volunteer programs such as orientation week, student publications, two student galleries (Kudos Gallery and AD Space), and houses an electedstudent representative council. Arc operates theRoundhouse entertainment venue, the Graduation & Gift Store on UNSW's main campus inKensington, and until recently, The Whitehouse bar and café which shut down permanently on 23 April 2021.[97] Arc also operates a student support service, providing legal and academic advocacy. Arc@UNSW exists independently from UNSW.
Arc has three constitutional student bodies:
the Student Development Committee (SDC) – supporting clubs, volunteer programs, courses and activities,[98]
the Postgraduate Council (PGC) – representing the postgraduate community at UNSW[99] and
an elected Student Representative Council (SRC)[100]
The student organisation is a major service provider on campus, running a number of retail outlets, student media such asTharunka and an entertainment venue, theRoundhouse. The Arc Student Representative Council represents students to the university and nationally and fights for their rights. Arc also provides support and funding to university clubs and societies and runs student volunteer programs such as Orientation Week.
In 2007, the University of New South Wales Sports Association[101] and UNSW Lifestyle Centre merged to become UNSW Sport and Recreation then later absorbed into Arc @ UNSW to become Arc Sport. It runs the external sporting facilities and services and supports the 30 UNSW affiliated sporting clubs that compete both at home and abroad.
Blitz is a student publication, published online by Arc @ UNSW, based at the University of New South Wales.[102]Blitz under this name first appeared in session 2, 1988, but a similar "what's on" style publication had been issued by the thenUniversity Union since the early 1970s. Initially it consisted of a simple sheet or two of paper, but it evolved into a magazine style format in session two 1994[103] when a former editor from another student publication on campus,Tharunka, was hired to found a weekly "what's on" magazine.Blitz sometimes pays casual contributors for submitted articles and photographs, and employs a student online editor, a student designer, a student TV producer and a student radio producer.
Blitz typically covers the goings-on around campus and conducts interviews and publishes stories relating to current student activities. It widely publicises Arc services and activities on campus. Due to its non-partisan policy, it does not cover political issues, with the exception ofvoluntary student unionism. However, in 2004 an edition ofBlitz was withdrawn by the student union because it contained a guide to rolling ajoint. The editor Janet Duncan claimed there had been censorship of her editorial in the following issue.[104] Arc @ UNSW announced that the organisation would continue to publish the magazine after the introduction of voluntary student unionism in 2007.[105]
Tharunka, thought to mean "message stick" in anAboriginal language, is astudent newspaper originally published by the UNSWStudents Union from 1953 until 1992, when that body was replaced by theUniversity of New South Wales Student Guild. The Guild publishedTharunka from 1993 until 2006 and the successor student organisation, Arc @ UNSW Limited, continued the publication ofTharunka from 2007. The publication changed its name in mid-2024 toGamamari, meaning “talking for a purpose” in theDharawal Language.[106]
Tharunka is managed by a small editorial team and actively solicits contributions from the UNSW student body. Including staff wages, the publication's budget is under $50,000 per year.[107]
Students of the university are involved in a number of projects, including:
AtomCraft[109][110] aims to deliver the first fusion tokamak entirely designed, built and operated by students.[111] Started in 2024, aims to complete the first iteration of the device by 2027.
Sunswift Solar Racing Team, who hold theFIA world record for the fastest electric car over a 500 kilometres (310 mi) distance[112] and whose car Sunswift 7 won the 2023Bridgestone World Solar Challenge Cruiser Class.[113]
rUNSWift,[114] the university's team in the internationalRoboCup Standard Platform League competition, is the most successful[citation needed] team in the world with wins in 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2014 as well as coming second in 1999, 2002, 2006 and 2010.
Impact Engineers[115] are a group of cross disciplinary humanitarian engineers aspiring to make a difference to the world's developing communities. Impact Engineers currently focus their efforts in rural Sri Lanka however over the next three to five years, they will expand to launch projects across multiple developing countries
UNSW Redback Racing[116] UNSW's entrant into the SAE-Australasia Formula SAE-A Competition (National winners in 2000)
The MAVSTAR[117] (Micro Aerial Vehicles for Search, Tracking And Reconnaissance) project to develop a team of cooperative micro aerial and unmanned ground vehicles.
The Developing Country Project[118] Second year thesis students doing Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering are able to get involved. The project aims to assist villagers indeveloping countries to gain access to electricity to satisfy their energy needs in a clean and sustainable manner.
In 1975, theHigh Court of Australia delivered the decision inUniversity of NSW v Moorhouse that UNSW authorised copyright infringement by providing coin operated photocopy machines, without taking proper measures to prevent an infringement. As a result, theCopyright Act 1968 was amended to state that libraries are not authorising copyright infringement if a notice is set out that displays relevant provision of the Act near the photocopy machine.[124]
On 19 April 2000, postgraduate student Lin Chun was crushed on campus by an unmanned truck that rolled down a slope. She later died on campus as a result of her injuries. The university denied liability over the accident.[125][126]
In 2007, UNSW opened a campus in Singapore following an invitation by Singapore'sEconomic Development Board to open a campus. However, one semester later, students and staff were sent home, and the campus was closed due to lack of enrolments, resulting in a loss of $15 million to the university.[28][127]
In February 2007, UNSW publicly apologised after a police probe revealed that bodies donated to train surgeons were possibly fondled by a member of the staff, resulting in the sacking of one staff member and another staff member quitting.[128]
In July 2009, a field trip organised by the School of Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences nearDarling Harbour resulted in a research assistant losing control of an inflatable vessel while performing a turn causing three passengers who were not wearing lifejackets, to fall off, including one that suffered from a broken wrist and severe injuries to her leg. In 2013, the university was fined $100,000 after theWorkCover Authority of New South Wales launched legal action.[129]
In 2012, PhD student Rui Zhang threwsulfuric acid at another student, before attacking him with a hammer inside a chemistry lab at the university. The judge later found Rui not guilty on grounds of mental illness.[130]
In October 2015, UNSW issued a security warning after an anonymous threat was made on4chan, stating "I finally managed to get a handgun. Australians, if you study at UNSW don’t go in tomorrow", resulting in state and federal police swarming the campus the next morning.[131][132]
In January 2018, theNew South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal held that UNSW had violated thePrivacy and Personal Information Protection Act1998 after a student had their PhD candidature terminated by the university. As a result, the student made a Government Information request, asking for their student file and reasons for termination to make a formal complaint against 19 university staff members. However, upon processing the request, a staff member leaked the complaint to individuals who were on the listed in the complaint.[133]
In August 2020, after theChinese government cracked down on liberties in Hong Kong, the UNSW posted a tweet promoting a call by Elaine Pearson (a human rights expert and adjunct law lecturer at the university) for the United Nations to take steps onhuman rights violations in Hong Kong. Chinese state-owned media, as well as some Chinese students, responded with anger, and UNSW then deleted the tweet. The deletion of the tweet was condemned by many Australian Federal MPs as a violation of free-speech principles.[134][135][136] Chinese-Australian artistBadiucao also suggested that pro-democracy Chinese students were living in 'fear'. UNSW vice-chancellorIan Jacobs issued an apology, saying that the decision to remove the tweet was a "mistake"; that the university was "does not take official political positions"; and that he "unequivocally" reaffirmed the university's "previous commitment to freedom of expression and academic freedom." The university came under fire for aChinese-language message sent by UNSW Global's CEO, Laurie Pearcey, two days earlier. That message failed to make any mention of freedom of speech and did not describe the deletion of the post as a "mistake"; this prompted Federal MPs to accuse the university of sending mixed messages.[134]
In October 2021, UNSW launched an investigative review after claims of research misconduct on studies pertaining to ageing were made.[137] More than a dozen papers, co-authored by researchers at UNSW, along with other universities were published onPubPeer and found to have duplicated photos that had been modified to represent different experimental results. However, two years later, preliminary assessments of the allegations had not been completed, resulting in an investigation by theAustralian Research Integrity Committee in 2023.[138]
In 2021, UNSW began remediating underpayments to casual academic staff for the period between January 2014 to December 2020,[139] setting aside more than $36 million to back-pay academics and had already paid $11 million by 2023.[140] In 2023, theFair Work Ombudsman launched legal action against UNSW in theFederal Circuit Court of Australia, alleging that UNSW had poor payroll practices and that UNSW "knew" that casual academics were being underpaid.[141]
^"University Official Records". University of New South Wales Records & Archives Office.Archived from the original on 4 December 2013. Retrieved13 September 2013.
^O'Farrell,UNSW, a portrait: the University of New South Wales, 1949-1999, UNSW Press, 1999 at p33ISBN0-86840-417-9
^ab"Campus Development Exhibition". University of New South Wales. Records and Archives Office.Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved10 October 2012.
^"Brand Fast Facts"(PDF).marketingservices.unsw.edu.au. University of New South Wales. December 2013. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 1 March 2015. Retrieved24 September 2014.
^O'Farrell, Patrick (1999).UNSW, a Portrait: The University of New South Wales, 1949-1999. Kensington: University of New South Wales Press. p. 5.ISBN0-86840-417-9.