From the Vice-Chancellor

The motto of the University of Melbourne is Postera Crescam Laude, which, loosely translated, is a commitment to growing in the esteem of future generations. It is in this spirit the University community approaches each new year, and the new chances and opportunities on offer.

At Melbourne, such opportunities may involve a return to study for members of the workforce, or for new undergraduates, the beginning of a life-changing educational journey.

This year the University will build on the successes of 2012, which included rising to be ranked number 28 in the world according to the Times Higher Education supplement, and maintaining its position as Australia’s leading university.

Last September, Melbourne joined international universities including Stanford and Princeton in offering free online courses to people worldwide through the online learning portal Coursera.

By the first week of December, more than 70,000 people had already signed up for University of Melbourne courses, which will begin this year. 

This year will be one of celebration, with events and activities highlighting the University’s 160th birthday throughout 2013.

The University will also literally build on its Architecture, Building and Planning foundations, as the faculty’s new building is constructed on the site of the old.

But the new year also brings challenges for new and returning students, for research staff and the University’s partner organisations. Though it may be tempting to rest on our laurels, the University must continue to strive for excellence in everything it does, and move forward as a global thought leader.

The University will work to achieve this goal in 2013 in several different ways. It will host its third biennial Festival of Ideas, which will see local and international experts explore the broad themes of science, health and society through debates, keynote speeches and other events, all of which will be open to the public.

Late last year, the University also refocused its research priorities to better address the major challenges facing the world.

The University will now harness its research effort to meet three ‘Grand Challenges’: understanding our place and purpose, fostering health and wellbeing and supporting sustainability and resilience.

The Grand Challenges represent some of the most difficult problems of the next century. They are a social imperative which the University will pursue to help improve outcomes for the greater global good.

The University is bringing together like-minded researchers from its partner organisations in Melbourne and around the world to collaborate to address fundamental research problems, and work towards finding answers to questions which fall under the broad umbrellas of each Grand Challenge.

To do this, the University will strengthen research collaborations across its faculties and institutes, and externally with government, industry and other universities.

It’s going to be a big year for the University community, its partners and the wider Melbourne community. We look forward to meeting the challenges ahead and continuing to grow in the esteem of future generations.

Glyn Davis
Vice-Chancellor