ANNUAL REPORT 2022
Acknowledgement of
Traditional Owners
The University of Melbourne acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the unceded land on which we work, learn and live: the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong peoples (Burnley, Fishermans Bend, Parkville, Southbank and Werribee campuses), the Yorta Yorta Nation (Dookie and Shepparton campuses), and the Dja Dja Wurrung people (Creswick campus).
The University also acknowledges and is grateful to the Traditional Owners, Elders and Knowledge Holders of all Indigenous nations and clans who have been instrumental in our reconciliation journey.
We recognise the unique place held by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the original owners and custodians of the lands and waterways across the Australian continent, with histories of continuous connection dating back more than 60,000 years. We also acknowledge their enduring cultural practices of caring for Country.
We pay respect to Elders past, present and future, and acknowledge the importance of Indigenous knowledge in the Academy. As a community of researchers, teachers, professional staff and students we are privileged to work and learn every day with Indigenous colleagues and partners.
At a glance
#52,712
students (EFTSL) 1
#34
in the world
in THE
Global Rankings 2
#1
in Australia
in THE
Global Rankings 2
52%
undergraduate
48%
#32
in the world
in ARWU
rankings 3
21,835
total award
completions
graduate
$672M
HERDC research
income 4,5
470,000+
living alumni
9809
staff 6
150+
student
nationalities
41%
international
students
2000+
alumni mentors
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Equivalent Full-Time Student Load (EFTSL)
-
Times Higher Education (THE)
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Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU)
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Higher Education Research Data Collection (HERDC)
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Indicative only and subject to change following a final audit
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Total staff full-time equivalent (FTE) including continuing, fixed-term and casual staff
Year in review
January
Summer term commences
The academic year began in earnest with many students undertaking summer term subjects.
February
Campuses come alive
Students and staff returned to campus after almost two years of remote learning, teaching and working and enjoyed new facilities such as the 6 Star Green-Rated Student Pavilion and Science Gallery Melbourne.
March
Building a strong institutional culture
The University created its new People and Community portfolio to lead on issues of most concern to students and staff.
April
Deepening global partnerships
The University led the first in a series of international delegations to the Asia Pacific in 2022, visiting India to deepen collaborations with the country through new and long-standing partnerships.
May
Sustainability Plan 2030
The University launched its new Sustainability Plan 2030, outlining its approach to addressing the global climate and sustainability crisis and strengthening the University’s commitment to climate leadership.
June
Launch of $115 million research commercialisation funds
In a first for an Australian university, the University announced establishment of two new major investment funds to support researchers to turn their discoveries into commercial realities.
July
Garma Festival
The University returned to Garma, Australia’s premier Indigenous event, as principal sponsor. The festival’s central theme for 2022 was Nhaŋa ŋathilyurra, a Yolŋu phrase meaning to ‘Look ahead towards the future’.
August
Celebrating new opportunities on campus
The University welcomed more than 45,000 aspiring students and their families to the Parkville and Southbank campuses for the first on-campus Open Day in three years.
September
Arts and culture take centre stage
The Arts and Cultural Building opened on Parkville campus, providing a vibrant cultural hub for students and the community, and a new home for the University’s historic Union and Guild theatres.
October
Australia’s leading university
For the 13th consecutive year, the University of Melbourne was the highest ranked university in Australia in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
November
Amplifying Indigenous voices
The University proudly hosted two signature events profiling key Indigenous leaders, including the 2022 Narrm Oration delivered by Professor Eleanor Bourke AM.
December
New Chancellor appointed
Jane Hansen AO was appointed as the 23rd Chancellor of the University of Melbourne.
The University of Melbourne embraces its place in Australia and the world, partnering in the future of Melbourne as a thriving and sustainable global city
Place
The University of Melbourne’s strategy is grounded in the importance of place and place-based partnerships. Through collaborations with partners on a local, national and global scale, it contributes to the economic, social and cultural prosperity of the communities it serves.
Throughout 2022, the University highlighted the importance and influence of Indigenous knowledge, explored the Indigenous history of the University, and developed a new Indigenous strategy. Place-based partnerships were strengthened, and an ambitious post-pandemic program of signature orations, arts programs and exhibitions was staged to celebrate the joy of being back on campus together.
Highlights
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Opening of major venues and exhibitions attracted large crowds of students, staff and the general public to share in the University’s unique museums, galleries and theatres.
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The University strengthened its partnerships in Melbourne, North East Arnhem land and the Goulburn Valley with the roll-out of new health and education initiatives.
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Signature Indigenous events were held in person after a two-year hiatus: the Dungala Kaiela Oration on Country in Shepparton and the Narrm Oration on Parkville campus.
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The University delivered Australia’s first Voluntary Local Review Declaration of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in partnership with the City of Melbourne and Monash University.
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The new Indigenous Strategy 2023–27 will guide future Indigenous priorities for the next five years to foster a more equitable and inclusive University community.
The University of Melbourne aspires to be a vibrant, diverse and inclusive community, and a destination of choice for talented students and staff
Community
The University of Melbourne is committed to fostering an environment that values diversity and inclusion, where a culture of respect and equity is supported to flourish.
In 2022, the University advanced important initiatives to embed these principles across all areas of University life, while continuing to take action to address issues such as staff underpayment and sexual misconduct. Beyond its immediate community of students and staff, the University continued to play a leading role in the broader social context by contributing to productive public debate on prominent local, national and global issues.
Highlights
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The new People and Community portfolio, headed by the University’s first Deputy Vice-Chancellor (People and Community), was created to provide leadership and direction on issues of most concern to students and staff.
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The Respect at Melbourne program delivered important initiatives in line with the University’s strong stance on eliminating sexual misconduct within its community.
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Addressing staff underpayments as an issue of the highest priority, the University identified and processed back payments of $30.8 million to current and former staff through a review of payments against the last two enterprise agreements.
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The University launched its first Gender Equality Action Plan to improve representation and experience of women and non-binary people at every level of the University.
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Pursuit, the University’s online research and commentary website, won the Universities Australia Award for Excellence in University Research Reporting 2022 at the National Press Club in Canberra.
Education
Students are at the heart of the University of Melbourne, renowned for their outstanding knowledge, skills and societal influence
Students are essential contributors to the intellectual life of the University, valued for their diverse range of views, knowledge and experiences.
In 2022, the University of Melbourne made significant headway in developing an ambitious new strategy to reshape its teaching, learning and student experience. It continued to foster a vibrant student community and deliver an innovative educational offering through its distinctive Melbourne curriculum. Outside the classroom, students engaged in a wide variety of activities to complement and enhance their studies, supported by a range of wellbeing programs and services.
Highlights
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The new Advancing Students and Education Strategy will define the future of education at the University of Melbourne and achieve a transformation in the student experience.
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The University significantly expanded eligibility criteria for its special entry access scheme Access Melbourne, making it easier for more students from all backgrounds to participate in a University of Melbourne education.
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New Education Innovation Fellows delivered major curriculum enhancements to transform student learning experiences.
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Students immediately embraced the newly opened Student Pavilion and Arts and Cultural Building, enjoying new social and study spaces in these state-of-the-art facilities on Parkville campus.
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More than 100 new industry-aligned microcredentials provided myriad study options outside conventional degree structures, reflecting the importance of lifelong learning.
Discovery
The University of Melbourne is at the leading edge of discovery, understanding and impact, through research
The University of Melbourne plays a critical role in advancing knowledge for public good, working closely with industry, government and the community to address major social, economic, health and environmental challenges.
In 2022 the University focused on its innovation and entrepreneurship, creating new opportunities for researchers to achieve impact through translation and commercialisation. During the year the University also offered a range of programs to support the capability of its community of researchers across all career stages and disciplines. The excellence of Melbourne research was again well recognised, attracting support from Australia’s major research funding bodies.
Highlights
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The excellence of University of Melbourne research was again recognised by major Australian funding bodies, including the Australian Research Council, the National Health and Medical Research Council, and the Medical Research Future Fund.
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In partnership with Breakthrough Victoria and Tanarra Capital, the University launched two new major investment funds dedicated to supporting researchers to turn extraordinary discoveries and innovation into commercial reality.
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The University took a leadership position in addressing public health challenges, including in response to the ongoing pandemic and the expansion of the Melbourne Pollen Service to help hay fever and asthma sufferers protect their health.
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Next Level Collaboration, a new social enterprise that uses a ground-breaking approach to teach social skills to neurodiverse children and teenagers, exemplified the success of the University’s TRAM (Translating Research at Melbourne) program.
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The University awarded 11 McKenzie Postdoctoral Fellowships and nine Melbourne Postdoctoral Fellowships to outstanding early career researchers.
Global
The University of Melbourne leads, convenes and collaborates through strategic partnerships on a global scale
As an inherently international organisation, the University of Melbourne consolidated and strengthened its global partnerships in 2022, once again welcoming new and returning international partners and convening important strategic dialogues overseas.
The Melbourne curriculum equips students with the attributes needed to lead in a global society and, in 2022, the University extended its scholarships and opportunities for domestic and international students to participate in exchange programs.
Highlights
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The University welcomed international students back to campus, hosting vibrant cultural celebrations, and providing supportive Melbourne Welcome financial packages.
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United States Secretary of State Mr Antony Blinken and India’s External Affairs Minister the Hon Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar met with researchers, students and partners on Parkville campus.
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Delegations to India for the first time since 2019 reaffirmed the University’s commitment to the Australia-India relationship and provided crucial opportunities for face-to-face collaboration on regional priorities.
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Melbourne Climate Action Scholarships were introduced to support students from Pacific Island nations to address the urgent issues of climate change in their own countries.
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The University became one of the first to re-establish exchange programs when borders reopened, with inbound and outbound student numbers exceeding pre-pandemic levels.