Bunbury campus of Edith Cowan University would remain part of ECU

5/1/98

Education Minister Colin Barnett today announced that the Bunbury campus of Edith Cowan University would remain part of ECU, rather than be transferred to Murdoch University.

Mr Barnett said the decision endorsed the recommendation of a review into the future of the Bunbury campus by Dr Michael Partis, former Director of the Secondary Education Authority and senior academic with the University of Western Australia.

Dr Partis was asked in November to conduct the review and address issues including the courses both universities could offer, student numbers and staffing arrangements, financial arrangements including Commonwealth funding and the involvement of the Bunbury and South-West communities.

"After a thorough investigation, Dr Partis has concluded that the interests of the campus and those of the people in Bunbury and the wider community would be best served by Edith Cowan University retaining responsibility for the campus," Mr Barnett said.

"As part of the review, each of the universities submitted a plan for the operation and development of the campus for the next three to five years.

"While Dr Partis reported that both Murdoch and Edith Cowan universities promised a bright future for the Bunbury campus, Edith Cowan University offered the best opportunities for the future needs of the campus in a number of important areas."

Mr Barnett said these areas included Edith Cowan University committing to:

·      increasing its student growth from the current 505 full-time equivalent students to 550 this year and 600 in 1999; and -

·      reconstituting the Bunbury campus as a faculty in its own right within ECU, allowing the principal to have direct responsibility for academic staff and greater control over its own budget.

Mr Barnett said he encouraged Edith Cowan University to also consider a number of other suggestions made by Dr Partis in his report, including:

·      upgrading the title status of the principal of the Bunbury campus to, for example, 'dean' or 'director';

·      investigating the opportunities to develop residential accommodation for campus students;

·      developing further co-operation with the existing TAFE college and new South West Health Campus;

·      conducting a review of the courses available at the campus with input from the Bunbury Campus Advisory Board and the parent university; and -

·      considering new recruitment, marketing and development opportunities to promote the campus.

"I encourage staff and students of the Bunbury campus, both universities and the local South-West community to embrace the recommendation of the report and concentrate on securing a successful future for the campus," Mr Barnett said.

"While the campus will be retained by ECU, this will not preclude courses being offered by other WA or Australian universities at the campus on a contract basis as student numbers grow and demand warrants."

Mr Barnett recognised that discussion over the future of the campus had been difficult at times for students and staff.

"While the speculation was somewhat disruptive last year, the end result has been a commitment to improving tertiary education for students in the South-West and more managerial decision-making at the local level, which can only benefit students, staff and the campus in general," he said.

"The challenge now is for Edith Cowan to develop a Bunbury campus that has a unique character and offers courses that are relevant to the region and which attract a growing number of students to sustain its viability and position in tertiary education in the area."

Media contact: Justine Whittome (08) 9222 9699