Our Purpose
University of Wollongong is a research-intensive university with an outstanding reputation for its learning environments across a broad range of disciplines.
Our commitment to our students is evident in our graduates, who are recognised for their capability, quality and success in the global workplace.
UOW is an international network of campuses and regional learning centres. Together with our partners, we make a strong and connected presence in our communities.
We are a young and vibrant university with undiminished ambitions. We value our research capacity to work on complex interdisciplinary problems. Our spirit of inquiry drives our research and learning environments and our objective of earning a place in the top 1% of the world's universities.
UOW History
In the postwar era of development and innovation, the then New South Wales University of Technology established a division in Wollongong to train the engineers and metallurgists of the local steel industry. That institution grew and evolved, and in 1975 legislation was passed in the parliament of New South Wales, establishing the University of Wollongong as an independent institution.
UOW is proud of the rich history that has developed since those first classes were held in 1951. The University has certainly come a long way: we still train engineers and metallurgists, but we now also train artists, entrepreneurs, educators, and innovators.
Research & Innovation Division
At UOW we’re dedicated to research that makes a difference. We emphasise partnerships and collaborations to deliver real-world impact. We demonstrate our commitment to innovation by giving great ideas a genuine business incubator pathway. We welcome opportunities to share our research and partner with our community. We support each other to enhance UOW’s reputation for research excellence and innovation.
Our place, purpose and values
Universities have never been more important to our future. In a world facing very large and complex social, environmental and economic challenges our universities will play a central role in keeping Australia economically competitive and socially cohesive. The higher education sector will be at the forefront of shaping contemporary policies and a modern society.
At the University of Wollongong (UOW) we will continue to focus on offering personalised experiences and outstanding learning environments. We will develop highly sought after graduates who have experienced a research-intensive university, and an intellectually challenging curriculum.
We are committed to generating outstanding research and world-class results. Our objective of earning a place in the top 1% of the world’s universities creates an opportunity to renew and refresh.
The coming period offers major opportunities to:
- Continue the drive to build an outstanding research environment, a strong graduate school and clear incentives to drive research focus and productivity;
- Complete the transformation of our curriculum linked to student demand, graduate outcomes and use of new technology;
- Invest in our people to collaborate internally and externally to achieve great things;
- Enhance our campuses, and align our facilities to the changes in centres of population, the demand driven system and emerging research priorities;
- Leverage our reputation as a global multi-campus university by growing our off-shore international program and portfolio;
- Work with our partners to create greater levels of innovation and impact, and contribute to the creation of new enterprises;
- Engage with our alumni to build a network for life;
- Maintain an efficient and productive university focussed on adaptability and financial sustainability;
- Aspire to make UOW a destination university and Wollongong a university city.
Professor Paul Wellings CBE, Vice-Chancellor.