Our history

The South Australian School of Art is one of the oldest art schools in Australia. The School has a rich and innovative history. In 1892, it was the first in Australia to appoint a woman teacher of painting, Elizabeth Armstrong.
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In November 1874 Mr E.J. Woods was invited to submit a plan for a Training School for Teachers by the Central Board of Education. The plan was approved and on 8 June 1876 the Training School opened on Grote Street and Mr L.G. Madley was the School’s first Principal. The School’s building was constructed by architects Brown & Thompson and it had a large lecture hall, a library, reading room, museum of the latest educational appliances and an apparatus room. There student teachers could practice in a schoolroom that held 75 children.

The School of Mines and Industries opened in 1889 in the Exhibition Building on North Terrace until 1903, when it moved to the Brookman Building, now part of UniSA. The first architectural course was established at the South Australian School of Mines by Louis Laybourne Smith in 1906. After the Second World War the School grew rapidly and Gavin Walkley, Laybourne Smith’s predecessor, expanded the School's programs to include town planning (the first course of its kind in Australia), building technology, interior design and landscape architecture.

Louis Laybourne Smith established the first architectural course at the South Australian School of Mines and Industries.

On February 6, 1906 the first free SA kindergarten was opened in a small rented cottage at 214 Franklin Street with Lillian de Lissa as the director. This first free kindergarten was such a success that, within a year, de Lissa was training a small group of future kindergarten teachers and The Adelaide Kindergarten Training College was born, with Lillian de Lissa as principal. The initial program of studies was two years and included working with children in the kindergarten in the morning and lectures on educational theory, academic and general studies in the afternoon. The first nine students graduated on November 25, 1908.

In 1914 the School of Mines developed the Junior Technical School, a preparatory school for students they found weren’t well prepared for study. In 1918 the Junior Technical School changed its name to Adelaide Technical School. Originally the School was housed in the Brookman Hall, now part of UniSA’s City East campus. Then in 1963 Adelaide Technical High School moved to another site at Glenunga because it outgrew the Brookman Building.

The South Australian Institute of Technology (SAIT) was formed in 1960, based in the Brookman Hall, now part of UniSA’s City East campus.

The Levels, now UniSA’s Mawson Lakes campus was opened in 1960.
Today, UniSA’s Mawson Lakes campus is well known for its computing and information technology, engineering, science, civil aviation, applied science, sports science, e-commerce and environmental studies programs.

Whyalla campus opened its doors in 1962. Since opening Whyalla campus has developed programs and expertise that reflect rural and regional Australia. The campus provides expertise in the fields of nursing, social work, early childhood and primary teaching, engineering and community wellbeing as well as offering a pathway to tertiary learning through its Foundation Studies program.

Four colleges of advanced education – Adelaide College of the Arts and Education in Underdale and Adelaide, Hartley (Magill), Salisbury and Sturt College of Advanced Education – amalgamated to form part of the South Australian College of Advanced Education (SACAE). SACAE had five campuses including Underdale, Magill, Salisbury, City and Sturt.

UniSA was founded in January 1991 through the amalgamation of the South Australian Institute of Technology and the Magill, Salisbury and Underdale campuses of the South Australian College of Advanced Education. John McDonald was appointed the first Chancellor and Professor Alan Mead the first Vice Chancellor.
For more information visit UniSA’s history and development webpage.

The Anne & Gordon Samstag International Visual Arts Scholarships were established through the generous bequest of the late Gordon Samstag, an American artist who taught from 1961 to 1970 at the South Australian School of Art, now the School of Art, Architecture and Design, a part of the University of South Australia.
The Scholarship is one of the most valuable visual arts scholarships in Australia and provides students the opportunity to study art overseas. Past scholars include Shaun Gladwell, Nike Savvas, and Callum Morton.

The Hon Dr Basil Hetzel AC is an Australian medical researcher. While Dr Hetzel has spent most of his life in Adelaide, his vision, leadership and influence stretch far beyond state and national boundaries. With an estimated 80 million newborns protected from needless brain damage, Dr Hetzel’s life’s work in the field of iodine deficiency is a major public health triumph.

In 1993 UniSA established the Australian Technology Network (ATN) with the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Curtin University of Technology in Perth, RMIT University in Melbourne and the University of Technology, Sydney.

UniSA commenced teaching programs offshore, beginning with the International MBA in Singapore.
Since 1993 UniSA has established partnerships and agreements with over 30 countries, including Beijing Jiaotong University, Hong Kong Baptist University, University of Tokyo, University of Malaya, University of Ottawa, Trinity College Dublin, University of Copenhagen and University of Birmingham.
For more information visit the University Partners webpage.

Professor Eleanor Ramsay, the first-ever Australian Pro Vice Chancellor charged with improving equity and access to education, was appointed.

The Distance Education Centre building at Underdale was opened, pioneering flexible study options for students.

In recognition of Professor Mike Miller and his team’s hard work, UniSA awarded the then Digital Communications Group Research institute status, officially forming the Institute for Telecommunications Research (ITR).
The Institute for Telecommunications Research (ITR) is an internationally recognised research organisation, specialising in research, education, and technology development for wireless communications with fixed, mobile, satellite and terrestrial applications. ITR conducts its research in four main areas: satellite communications, high speed data communications, flexible radios and networks and computational and theoretical neuroscience.
For more information visit the ITR website.

The Ian Wark Research Institute was named in recognition of eminent Australian scientist, Sir Ian William Wark (1899 – 1985).
The Ian Wark Research Institute was the Australian Research Council Special Research Centre of Excellence in Particle and Material Interfaces. The Wark performed first class fundamental research. It developed new technologies for use in industry and improved upon existing processes, including the AMIRA International project P260, which made step changes in understanding the processing of minerals worldwide.
The Founding Director was Emeritus Laureate Professor John Ralston AO FAA FTSE, who in 2007 was awarded South Australian of the Year and South Australian Scientist of the Year.
The Ian Wark Research Institute now forms part of the Future Industries Institute.

The City West campus was officially opened by Governor General Sir William Dean in 1997 and the Samstag Museum was relocated at the same time from Underdale Campus to the new City West Campus, becoming the State’s second-largest public gallery devoted to the visual arts.
Located in the centre of Adelaide's major arts, culture and entertainment precinct, City West is home to degree programs including business, law, commerce, management, marketing, information systems, Australian and Indigenous studies, tourism and hospitality, visual arts and design and architecture.

UniSA became the first Australian university to develop a Statement of Commitment to Australian Reconciliation.
Our commitment to reconciliation progressed even further when the University launched its Reconciliation Action Plan in 2014.

Since 1997 UniSA’s Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre has presented thousands of public forums, lectures and art exhibitions as part of its program to provide free access to new ideas and encourage debate about society’s big challenges and opportunities.
80 Hawke years video
For more information visit the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre website.

Professor Denise Bradley AC was named the University’s Vice Chancellor and President. Extensively involved in national education policy groups for more than two decades, in 2008 she chaired the Expert Panel that undertook the National Review of Higher Education.
In 1995 Denise was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in recognition of her service to education and to educational policy in schools and universities, particularly in relation to access and equity for women and girls. In 2003 she was awarded a Centenary Medal. In 2005 she was named the South Australian of the Year, for her significant contributions to the State and on Australia Day 2008 Professor Bradley was made a Companion of the Order of Australia, Australia’s highest honour, in recognition of her service to higher education.

UniSA won the Business SA Export award for education for the first time.
After winning the Business SA Export award for Education in 1999, the University won it again in 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2006. The awards recognised South Australia's most innovative export companies and acknowledged the university's position as one of Australia's leading providers of transnational education.

David Klingberg AM succeeded Dr Basil Hetzel AC as Chancellor. As Chancellor, David played a significant governance role overviewing the new institution's rapid growth. He also served as inaugural Chair of the national Universities Chancellors Council for three years.

UniSA started sponsoring the Santos Tour Down Under in 2001, as named sponsor of the Australian development squad now officially named Team UniSA-Australia.
Team UniSA-Australia consists of young riders that are not signed to a pro-team. This team represents the very best of young Australian cycling talent and many riders who have ridden for Team UniSA-Australia have gone on to secure pro-team contracts.
15 Years of Tour Down Under video

UniSA was named the leading provider of offshore programs in Australia by IDP in 2002 and then won the award again in 2003 and 2004.

The UniSA Northern Adelaide Partnerships (UNAP) program was established to underpin economic and social development and improve education participation in severely disadvantaged communities. This partnership has seen great success with initiatives including the Northern Community Summit in August 2008, which provided a platform to discuss the issues and possible solutions to supporting education and employment in northern Adelaide.

FedSat, Australia’s experimental satellite developed by the Cooperative Research Centre for Satellite Systems (CRCSS) and including UniSA-designed payloads, was launched in the Tanegashima Space Centre in Japan. FedSat was Australia’s first 21st century satellite.
The satellite exceeded expectations, completing 20,000 orbits of the earth (about one billion kilometres) before ceasing operations in September 2007, one year later than expected.

UniSA was named an Employer of Choice for Women for the first time, and has earned that citation every year since. With 60% of our full time workforce consisting of women, we’re proud to support their careers and achievements. For more information about working at UniSA

UniSA Business School became only the second in Australia to receive European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS) accreditation. Our Business School is the state's largest and one of the nation's premier business schools, internationally recognised for its achievements. The Business School includes Commerce, Law, Management and Marketing, and is home to the 5-Star MBA program. We are one of only eight Australian business schools accredited by EQUIS - the EFMD Quality Improvement System.

UniSA won the Institutional Award from the Australian Learning and Teaching Council for Provision of Services to the Community. 
The Australian Awards for University Teaching were national competitive awards administered by the Carrick Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (now the Australian Learning and Teaching Council) designed to celebrate and reward excellence in University teaching.

The first stage of the University’s $100 million capital development program, Blueprint 2005, was completed and five new buildings - the Kaurna Building, the Dorrit Black Building, the Garth Boomer Building, the Basil Hetzel Building and the Mawson Centre – were opened.

The Mount Gambier Regional Centre is co-located with TAFE SA on Wireless Road, Mount Gambier. It was established in 2005, as part of UniSA’s regional engagement strategy.
Mount Gambier offers students undergraduate programs in nursing, social work, primary and early childhood education, and UniSA Foundation Studies, which prepares students for tertiary education.

The Ehrenberg-Bass Institute for Marketing Science is one of the world's leading centres for research in marketing. The institute makes fundamental discoveries about consumer behaviour.
The Ehrenberg-Bass Institute partners with many organisations including Coca-Cola, Unilever and Procter & Gamble.
Transforming the wine industry video

Working within and across a number of areas, the Sansom Institute produces innovative research linked to better health, including cell biology, epilepsy, sports science and microbiology and infectious disease.
The Sansom Institute hosts a Sansom Institute Seminar Series, which provides a stimulating forum for UniSA scholars and visiting scholars to discuss the latest developments in medical and health-related research and policy.
Knowledgeworks presentation by the Sansom Institute video

Hawke Research Institute (HRI) helps to create sustainable and just societies and produces world-class research and innovation that leads to change and demonstrable improvements in the world.
HRI’s research strengths promote UniSA’s commitment to engage meaningfully and creatively with society to address the major issues and priorities of our time through multidisciplinary humanities and social sciences research.
2014 Hawke Research Institute director's update video

The Australian Minerals Science Research Institute (AMSRI) was officially opened and was supported by the largest ARC Linkage Grant ever awarded.
From 2006 – 2010 AMSRI focused on science that promoted minerals and related industry efficiency locally and worldwide. It was a unique partnership between leading Australian researchers in minerals science and a global network of complementary researchers and industry collaborators.
AMSRI boasted strong industry support (channelled through AMIRA International) from companies such as BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, Anglo Platinum, AREVA, Freeport McMoRan, Xstrata and Orica. For more information visit the AMSRI UniSA News Article.

UniSA’s Kaurna Building was awarded the Royal Australian Institute of Architects highest accolade, the prestigious Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Buildings.
The building, on the corner of Hindley St and Fenn Place, was designed by John Wardle Architects in association with Hassell and was described by the awards jury as a building of “unique Australian strength of character and idea”.
The Kaurna Building is home to UniSA’s School of Art, Architecture and Design.
UniSA’s art students paint a mural on the Kaurna Building video

Professor Peter Høj joined UniSA as Vice Chancellor and President of the University following Professor Denise Bradley’s retirement.
Under his leadership, UniSA became one of Australia’s most rapidly developing universities. For two consecutive years (2010-11), UniSA was the most improved Australian university in the QS World University Rankings – UniSA’s ranking moved from 19 to 11 in Australia.

Dr Ian Gould became Chancellor of the University of South Australia on 1 July 2008 following the retirement of David Klingberg AM.
A geologist by profession, Dr Gould has over forty years’ experience in the minerals industry in diverse and senior positions, mainly within the CRA and Rio Tinto Group, in which he was Group Executive for Exploration and later for Research and Development before becoming the Managing Director Australia, and then Group Managing Director for Normandy Mining Ltd.
Educated at the Sydney Technical High School and University of Sydney, Dr Gould has a PhD in geology. Dr Gould retired as Chancellor in December 2015 and Jim McDowell is his successor.

UniSA graduated its 100,000th student, Charlotte Mukamuberwa, a Rwandan refugee now with a Bachelor of Commerce degree.

UniSA became the lead sponsor for one of South Australia's most popular school activities, the Australian HPV (Human Powered Vehicle) Super Series.
Known to many South Australians as the Pedal Prix, the annual series of events is designed to develop competitors' teamwork, technological and engineering skills. The UniSA Australian HPV Super Series involves more than 500 teams and draws up to 35,000 spectators to the Murray Bridge 24-hour endurance race.
The event encapsulates many of UniSA's core values around education, the development of sustainable communities, healthy lifestyles, communication and teamwork, and research and innovation.

UniSA’s International Centre for Muslim and non-Muslim Understanding was a world first in its academic focus – moving beyond research into Islam as a phenomenon. The Centre examines questions of social justice and social inclusion and their impact on increased modern tensions. In October 2009, the Centre was officially launched in India by then Minister of Education and future Prime Minister, Julia Gillard.

Associate Professor Mahfuz Aziz, an engineering lecturer, won the nation’s highest honour for university teachers - The Prime Minister's Award for Australian University Teacher of the Year. The premier university teaching award follows his earlier recognition in the Australian Teaching and Learning Council’s Awards for Teaching Excellence in the field of physical sciences.
Now Professor Mahfuz Aziz has over 30 years of experience in research, teaching, curriculum design, community engagement and leadership in the areas of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering. Currently he is the Discipline Leader of Electrical & Electronic Engineering and member of the School of Engineering Executive.

The UniSA College was launched to offer more opportunities for South Australians to gain access to tertiary education.
UniSA College provides an opportunity for students who have the capacity to take on tertiary studies but who, for a variety of reasons, have not yet entered University. Launched in 2010, the first intake of students started in 2011. Since 2011, over 700 students have completed studies with UniSA College and over 80% gained entry to study a diploma or degree at UniSA.

The University of South Australia joined forces with the International Space University (ISU), Strasbourg, France, to bring world-class space education to the southern hemisphere with a five-week intensive program launched in January 2011.
The annual live-in education program – the Southern Hemisphere Summer Space Program (SHSSP) – targeted space professionals, graduates and senior undergraduates and in its first three years, was taught in SA by academics from both institutions.

The aspirational plan, Horizon 2020, outlined a renewed focus on both research and teaching and included the construction of a new $95 million building in the heart of Adelaide’s west end that aimed to deliver the most up-to-date teaching and learning spaces for students.
Since its launch, the long term strategic action plan, Crossing the Horizon, was developed to outline how the University planned to achieve the Horizon 2020 vision.

In the 2011 QS World University rankings, the University of South Australia showed the biggest improvement of any Australian university for the second year running to be ranked 11th in Australia. It remains in the top three per cent of more than 10,000 universities worldwide.

Biochemist, researcher and Irish university leader, Professor David Lloyd, was appointed as the University of South Australia’s new Vice Chancellor and President.
Since commencing as Vice Chancellor in January 2013, Professor David Lloyd has been known for his strong and creative leadership, with new initiatives such as unijam, a world university first, which set the foundation for the University’s long term strategic plan, Crossing the Horizon.

In August 2012, the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research, Senator Chris Evans officially opened the University of South Australia’s new Materials and Minerals Science Building.
The vision for the state-of-the-art research facility, affectionately dubbed M2, was realised with a $40 million contribution from the Commonwealth Government’s Education Investment Fund and a further $5 million from the South Australian Government which was matched by the University. The building is home to 120 research students and staff from Australia and countries around the globe and is the setting for teaching and learning in the University’s Bachelor of Science (Advanced Materials).

On 27 October 2012, UniSA and Tianjin University (P.R. of China) launched the joint China-Australia Centre for Sustainable Urban Development (CAC_SUD) in Tianjin at a launch conference attended by senior Chinese officials from National and Local Government, academic experts on environmental science, management and urban planning, and the President and Vice President of Tianjin University.
The China−Australia Centre for Sustainable Urban Development (CAC_SUD) is an international research centre exploring how Asia-Pacific cities can plan for and manage sustainable growth.
For more information visit the CAC_SUD webpage.

The second Excellence in Research Australia (ERA) assessment rated more than 86 per cent of UniSA’s research as world-class or better.
This was a big improvement on the 2010 ERA results, which rated 70 per cent of UniSA research as world-class or better.

The University was appointed lead partner of the Cooperative Research Centre for Cell Therapy Manufacturing, which explores innovations in the treatment available for diabetes, wounds and transplant patients. More information...

UniSA became the first university in the world to host an online brainstorming event and ideas generator – unijam. Working with IBM technology, the event allowed staff, students and friends of the university to contribute to a global conversation about strategies and ideas for the University’s future. The 38-hour online conversation included participants from 59 countries and recorded more than 17,000 posts, all informing UniSA’s strategic plan.

An alliance with SA Pathology was announced, with the Centre for Cancer Biology (CCB) expanding after a Federal Government investment of $40million.
The CCB has a focus on fundamental research that is relevant to many types of cancer, as well as the research of blood-related cancers, such as leukaemia and lymphoma.
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UniSA ranked in the world’s top 50 under 50 years of age by Times Higher Education (THE) world university rankings. Up 13 places, UniSA was ranked 48, becoming the youngest Australian institution to feature in the rankings. More information...

The University launched its long-term strategic plan, Crossing the Horizon 2013 – 2018. This plan was informed by unijam and describes the immediate and longer-term strategic actions that we will take to achieve our vision of being a true university of enterprise.
Since its launch, UniSA has implemented a number of actions including becoming a smoke free university, releasing a student campus wear and merchandise range, launching our first Reconciliation Action Plan, establishing new industry partnerships with organisations such as Hills Limited and Hewlett Packard and offering the Campus Connector, a new bus service for students and staff between Magill and Mawson Lakes campus.

Engineering and Technology and Education at UniSA was ranked in the Times Higher Education’s global Top 100.
Engineering and Technology was also ranked in the top six in Australia and number one in South Australia in the 2013-14 Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

Based in Sydney, the Institute for Choice focuses on decision-making and choice behaviour and brings together the highest concentration of academic expertise in choice behaviour research globally.
For more information visit the Institute for Choice.

UniSA and Hewlett Packard (HP) developed a partnership that aims to increase HP’s South Australian workforce by more than 400.
This partnership also launched a new four-year honours degree program in IT and business informatics, providing students HP internships during their studies.
As part of this partnership, the State Government committed $150,000 a year for a student entrepreneur initiative that supports innovative students to pursue commercialisation of new ideas in the ICT sector.

UniSA and Hills Limited developed a partnership to put South Australia at the forefront of innovative product design and technology expertise.
The partnership, together with Flinders University, focuses on the development of two new innovation centres in South Australia, underpinned by a $5 million co-contribution from Hills Limited and the State Government.

University sponsored WOMADelaide’s Planet Talks program for the first time in 2014.
WOMADelaide’s Planet Talks program presents thought-provoking panel discussions and workshops that explore new ideas about how we can live more sustainably and harmoniously on our planet.
UniSA researchers participated in the Planet Talks program, sharing their sustainability research and knowledge with over 4000 lecture attendees across three days.
For more information visit the UniSA WOMADelaide webpage.

UniSA’s new student learning centre, the Jeffrey Smart Building, officially opened its doors.
Named in recognition of the great Australian artist and UniSA Alumnus, Jeffrey Smart, this learning centre houses the UniSA library, student services, over $8 million in technology and cutting edge learning spaces and services, including the Collaborative Teaching Spaces.

UniSA moved to 49th place in the 2014 Times Higher Education (THE) international rankings of universities aged under 50.
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The University of South Australia and Port Adelaide Football Club teamed up and formed a high performance partnership centred on research and education in elite sport.
This partnership includes the development of outreach programs for young people in disadvantaged communities in South Australia, staff exchanges between two parties to promote research and teaching excellence and joint training and education programs for our students.

To mark the 20-year partnership between UniSA and Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), a new suite of jointly offered full-time degrees was launched, including Bachelor of Business (Management), the Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting), the Bachelor of Business (Tourism and Event Management), the Bachelor of Communications and Media and as a part time degree, the Bachelor of Psychological Science.
To celebrate the 20-year partnership, UniSA and HKBU also jointly funded 20 scholarships, each worth (HK$10,000), for Hong Kong Baptist University Associate Degree students with the highest CGPA applying for admission to UniSA programs.
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UniSA announced a partnership with Seeley International in a Memorandum of Understanding that includes Flinders University and TAFE SA, focused on encouraging broad opportunity for students to access direct industry experience. Under this agreement UniSA students have access to Seeley International research and manufacturing facilities including its recently completed $1.5 million testing laboratory at Lonsdale. More information...

An innovative new partnership between the University of South Australia and ANZ was launched.
This partnership between UniSA’s Centre for Business Growth and ANZ delivers the ANZ Business Growth Program that helps small and medium companies unlock their growth potential by identifying new opportunities and tackling existing challenges.
For more information visit the ANZ Business Grown Program webpage.
Video about the UniSA Centre for Business Growth

The University of South Australia’s MBA program was awarded the Graduate Management Association of Australia (GMAA) Five Star rating again for the seventh year, making it one of Australia’s most consistent high quality MBA programs.
Video message from MBA graduate Kate Thiele
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The Hon. Alexander Downer gifted the Downer Collection to the University making UniSA home to one of the biggest archival collections relating to the Downer Family and its role in our nation’s political and social history spanning more than 100 years. For more information visit the Downer Collection webpage.

This Institute will enhance UniSA’s internationally competitive research capacity in minerals and resources, energy and advanced manufacturing, environmental science and engineering, biomaterials engineering and nanomedicine.
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The University of South Australia and Basketball SA formed a new partnership to give the State an edge in developing both elite athlete performance and research knowledge about elite level sports education and training.
The partnership provides an opportunity for UniSA staff and health science students to become an integral part of the basketball program, learning from the experience of interacting with athletes in high performance environments.
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UniSA’s Digital Learning Strategy outlines the commitments and key projects we will deliver on to enhance our educational offerings and improve the student learning experience.
Digital Learning Strategy video

On 27 April 2015 UniSA signed a partnership with University College London, which includes a student and staff exchange program and explore the potential of creating teaching and research links in minerals and resources, environmental and remediation engineering and energy and advanced manufacturing.
UniSA and UCL partnership launch video

Jim McDowell comes with over 35 years’ experience in one of the most competitive industry sectors, aerospace and defence technologies. Jim will commence as Chancellor of the University of South Australia in 2016.
For more information read the official announcement.

UniSA’s Jeffrey Smart Building (JSB) won three accolades in the South Australian Architecture Awards 2015. Designed by John Wardle Architects in association with Phillips/Pilkington Architects, JSB won the Derrick Kendrick Award for Sustainable Architecture, the SA Chapter Award for Educational Architecture and received a commendation for Interior Architecture.
The awards citation described the JSB and its immediate surroundings as a “highly accomplished architectural work, which demonstrates an integrated sustainability approach has been at the core of creating good architecture”. These awards reflect the quality of both the building’s design and functionality.

UniSA joined JamFactory in a partnership that will foster collaboration across a range of educational and other areas and also a sponsor agreement to help support artists and designers form the local and international community further their careers in ceramics, glass, furniture and metal design.
Partnership announcement video

QS World University Rankings
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Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) results 2015
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On 1 January 2016 UniSA turned 25. After only 25 years, we have become the largest university in South Australia with more than 33,000 current students and a global alumni network of over 180,000 professionals.
We are globally connected and engaged in helping solve the problems of industry and the professions. Our teaching is industry-informed, our research is inventive and adventurous. Our graduates are the new urban professionals ready to create and respond to change.
We are Australia’s university of enterprise and our birthday year will celebrate those that have helped us become the university we are today: our staff, students, alumni, partners and the community.

The University of South Australia has earned 57th spot in the Times Higher Education Rankings for the top 200 of the world’s most international universities, making it one of Australia’s leading universities in terms of international outlook.

The University opened its brand-new learning centre in Mt Gambier, showcasing some of the most sophisticated facilities for teaching and learning in regional Australia. The $12.5 million state of the art learning centre includes new collaborative learning spaces and modern teaching facilities all linked through a central piazza where students can relax and interact.

Tanganekald, Meintangk-Bunganditj woman, solicitor, representative for First Nations Peoples at the United Nations and researcher, Professor Irene Watson is appointed as Pro Vice Chancellor for Aboriginal Leadership and Strategy and Unaipon Chair at the University of South Australia.

Esteemed investment banker, Chairman of the Sydney Swans Board and UniSA Alumnus, Andrew Pridham, presented a $5 million philanthropic gift to support construction of the new great hall. Acknowledging this as the largest single private donation in the University’s (then) 25-year history, the multipurpose facility was named Pridham Hall.

The University of South Australia launches UniSA Online – a suite of high-quality, 100% online career-focused degrees that can be studied anytime, anywhere. It delivers a new and improved student experience, informed by the latest international research into online learning.

UniSA launched is partnership with the Adelaide Football Club at the end of 2017, paving the way for collaboration to drive excellence in sports science and sports business research. The partnership will build on existing strong links between the two organisations, provide further research collaborations, student placement opportunities, and engagement opportunities for staff, students and the wider University community.

Thanks to a new partnership between Samsung Electronics Australia and the University of South Australia, students from South Australia and beyond will benefit from a future-focused, high-tech teaching environment – the Samsung SMARTSchool. With a focus on STEM, the facility supports advanced teacher education and research from reception through to secondary school, and features a suite of Samsung technology including visual display technology, smartphones, tablets, wearables and virtual reality headsets.

UniSA launched its Enterprise25 strategic action plan, re-imagining UniSA with a laser-like focus on its programs and an aim to reduce its operational silos. From 2018–2025, the plan will be to re-shape and review programs to ensure they are leading-edge, end user endorsed and that are all ranked among the best in the world.

Transforming on-campus life and providing purpose-built facilities for students to celebrate University life, milestones and achievements, Pridham Hall is a one-stop shop for students and the local community. A $50 million cultural and sporting centre of the University, it features a sports complex, swimming pool and facilities for graduations and corporate and cultural events. It is named after UniSA alumnus Andrew Pridham, in honour of his and his family’s generous $5 million gift to the University.

Home to UniSA’s research-rich pharmacy and medical sciences, the globally recognised Centre for Cancer Biology and our technology-based business incubation hub, the Innovation Collaboration Centre, the University of South Australia Cancer Research Institute Building is an epicentre for cancer and aligned research. The elegant new building, designed by architects Swanbury Penglase and BVN Donovan Hill, is also home to MOD., Australia’s leading future focused museum.

Housing Australia’s first Science on a Sphere as a permanent fixture, UniSA’s futuristic museum of discovery – MOD., launches its first exhibition and opens its doors to the public. MOD. has seven gallery spaces over two levels, hosts a new exhibition every six months, and runs workshops, talks and events. Sitting at the intersection of art and science, MOD. brings together researchers, industries, and students to challenge, learn, and be inspired.

UniSA appoints Ms Pauline Carr as its new Chancellor, commencing in September 2018. With more than 30 years of management and commercial experience in the resources industry with both Australian and international listed companies and a member of the University’s Council since 2010, Ms Carr brings a wealth of business, management and governance experience to the position at UniSA.

UniSA leads the way in creating tertiary education opportunities for Aboriginal peoples as it becomes the first university in the State to unveil a Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). With the initial RAP released in 2014, UniSA’s Stretch RAP goes further in its commitment to Aboriginal participation in education and employment, it will deepen our connection to Aboriginal culture and community and see new and targeted initiatives across our research, teaching and learning and organisational arrangements.

UniSA became the lead institution for one of the most significant space industry research concentrations in Australia, heading up a new Cooperative Research Centre for Smart Satellite Technologies and Analytics – The SmartSat CRC. The new CRC is a national research powerhouse involving a $190 million investment in cash and in-kind from 84 research and industry partners. With $55m funding from the Federal Government through the Department of Industry, Science & Technology’s successful CRC program, the SmartSat CRC will be the biggest investment in space industry R&D in Australia’s history. It will play a key role in meeting the Australian Space Agency’s goal to triple the size of Australia’s domestic space industry to $12 billion, generating an extra 20,000 jobs by 2030.

Former ANU Deputy Vice Chancellor and internationally recognised historian, Professor Marnie Hughes-Warrington, to be UniSA’s new Deputy Vice Chancellor: Research and Enterprise.  Prof Hughes-Warrington brings with her an impressive breadth of academic teaching, research and management experience that is both national and global. She is trained across the fields of history, philosophy and education, and is a graduate of the University of Tasmania and Oxford University. Across her career she has taught and held fellowships in the UK, US and Germany, and she has attracted over $11 million in funding.

UniSA business education and research was awarded another significant international endorsement, earning the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) international business accreditation. The accreditation comes hot on the heels of the announcement of UniSA’s full five-year EQUIS accreditation from the leading international network for management development (EFMD).

The University managed to rise in two major rankings, the Times Higher Education Young University Rankings and the QS Top 50 Under 50 rankings, consolidating its status among the world’s best young universities and Australia’s University of Enterprise. UniSA places 25 in the 2020 THE Young University Rankings and 29 in the 2021 QS Top 50 Under 50.