Wollongong opens its Southern Sydney campus

Nov 17, 2003

The University of Wollongong's strong connection with Sutherland Shire took on a powerful new dimension with the official opening of its Loftus Education Centre alongside the Sutherland Shire Hub for Economic Development (SSHED) on November 17.

Sutherland Mayor Cr Phil Blight called it a milestone for the Shire, and Federal MP Danna Vale said it was a great day for Sutherland. UOW Vice-Chancellor Professor Gerard Sutton called it five-star education and a five-star business opportunity for the community.

The trio were talking at Monday's official opening of the building shared by UOW's Loftus Education Centre and the SSHED - a business incubator designed to assist promising small businesses to develop and expand.

The complex is situated in the grounds of TAFE Southern Sydney Institute's Loftus Campus.

Cr Blight said the $5 million training, education and business development precinct was the direct result of a strategic planning process designed to build a prosperous local economy for the Shire. The strategic plan Our Shire, Our Future, had identified the need to provide education and training, and to create jobs and investment in the Shire.

Cr Blight said the new complex delivered two major recommendations of the strategic plan - a university presence and a business incubator to help local businesses grow and provide employment opportunities.

"The potential is unlimited," he said. "The Shire is a wonderful place to live, with leafy suburbs and great beaches. Now it will be a great place to receive a university education."

Cr Blight welcomed UOW and its Vice-Chancellor to the Shire. "We're confident your campus here will be a great success," he told Professor Sutton. "We know the University of Wollongong is already popular with Shire residents, and that they make up a third of your students (at the Wollongong campus)."

Professor Sutton described the new centre as "a tangible realisation of what's been happening in the Shire from the University's perspective for a long time".

"The University of Wollongong and the Sutherland Shire community already have a very strong relationship. Forty percent of the Shire's school leavers (who go to University) come to Wollongong - more than the combined total of the next two Universities."

Professor Sutton said he was "pleased and proud that the University is involved in such an innovative initiative."

"It couldn't have happened without support from the three tiers of government, and higher education and vocational education (TAFE) coming together," he added.

Member for Hughes and Federal Veterans' Affairs Minister Danna Vale said the centre was a joint effort of the whole community. "It's great when you see three levels of government working together with bureaucrats and the community - and better than that, both sides of politics working together," she said.

State Minister for Regional Development and Minister for Small Business David Campbell said business and academia were natural partners, and the centre would be a major boost for the Shire.

UOW started Bachelor of Science Education and Bachelor of Mathematics Education degrees at Loftus this year in space provided by the TAFE. For 2004 it has added a Bachelor of Business Administration (Hospitality) in conjunction with TAFE, and a Master of Management in conjunction with UOW's Sydney Business School.

For more information on Loftus Education Centre courses visit the UOW website, or contact Centre Coordinator Larissa Patti on 02 97105907.