Torrens University Australia

Torrens University is an Australian international university and vocational registered training organisation, with campuses in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Blue Mountains, Australia, Auckland, New Zealand, and Suzhou, China. It began teaching in 2014 in its first campus in the Torrens Building in Adelaide city centre. As of 2021 the university has about 19,000 enrolled students.

Torrens University Australia
The historic Torrens Building in
Victoria Square, Adelaide
MottoLove what you do
TypePrivate
Established2012
ChancellorJim Varghese AM
Vice-ChancellorAlwyn Louw
Location
Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Australia, Auckland, New Zealand and Suzhou, China
CampusUrban
Websitetorrens.edu.au

History

An application from Laureate Education Asia to found a private university was approved by the Government of South Australia in October 2011.[1] Upon commission, Torrens University became the 33rd university in Australia and the first new university for 20 years.[2]

The go-ahead for the new university was given by the South Australian Cabinet following Premier Mike Rann's negotiations in Australia and in Cancun, Mexico, with Laureate Chairman Douglas Becker and Chancellor Michael Mann. Honorary Laureate Chancellor and former US President Bill Clinton publicly endorsed the Australian project.[3]

The founding President and Vice-Chancellor was Fred McDougall, former deputy vice-chancellor and vice-president of the University of Adelaide.[4]

Torrens University Australia was accredited by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency in 2012.[5] It was originally expected to open in 2013[6] but commenced teaching in 2014.

In 2020 Strategic Education Inc. became the new owner of Torrens University Australia. This new alliance created a global network of over 100,000 learners around the world.[7]

Campuses

As of 2021, Torrens University has campuses across four cities in Australia, one in New Zealand and one in China.[8] There are about 19,000 enrolled students.[9]

Adelaide

Adelaide was the first location in the country, opening its first campus in the heritage-listed Torrens Building on Victoria Square/Tarndanyangga, in the CBD, in 2013.[10][11]

On 3 August 2015 the University opened a new campus just along the road in the old Menz Biscuits factory on Wakefield Street,[12] and as of 2019 no longer lists Torrens Building as another campus.[8]

Brisbane

Brisbane is home to two campuses: the Fortitude Valley Campuses,[13] which is central to the CBD and within walking distance of Fortitude Valley train station; the Torrens University Language Centre on Bowen Terrace, and the Gotha Street campus.[8]

Melbourne

Melbourne plays host to a campus located on Melbourne's Flinders Street and The Practice Wellbeing Centre located in Fitzroy.[14]

Sydney and Blue Mountains

There are six campuses in the Sydney region, including five within the CBD. These campuses include the Ultimo campus and Kent Street (which includes the Torrens University Language Centre), and the Blue Mountains campus on the outskirts of metropolitan Sydney.[8][15] The Blue Mountains campus is located in the suburb of Leura,[16] adjacent to Katoomba. The campus is home to Torrens University's Practical Learning Centre,[15] simulated hotel environment where students learn hotel management as part of their practical development.

Auckland, New Zealand

The Media Design School is situated in Auckland's Wynyard Quarter, at 10 Madden Street.[17]

Suzhou, China

This campus is in close proximity to Shanghai, and offers training in restaurant service, front office management, guest relations and housekeeping.[18]

Organisation and academics

Schools
  • APM College of Business and Communication - APM was established over 25 years ago[19] and offers business degrees and vocational diplomas, and the opportunity to pathway into a master's degree.
  • Billy Blue College of Design - Billy Blue College[20] was created by designers for designers, offering appropriate courses for aspiring design professionals. The College started off as a magazine and later moved into a design agency. It then went on to develop into a school and now finally, a university.
  • Chifley Business School - For over two decades, Chifley[21] has provided business education across Australia and internationally through a range of postgraduate courses for those looking to pursue careers in resources, engineering, and information technology.
  • Media Design School - Media Design School was founded to provide trained graduates for digital and technological companies.
  • Real Madrid Graduate School (Universidad Europea) - The Real Madrid Graduate School was launched in 2006 to train in all disciplines related to sport.
  • Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School (or BMIHMS) - was opened in 1991 and focuses on hotel management education. It is number 1 in Oceania by subject 2019 according to QS World University rankings Hospitality and Leisure Management,[22] and number 1 Hotel Management School in Australia and Asia-Pacific’s in 2020 according to Kantar.[23]
  • Torrens University Language Centre (TULC) - The Torrens University Language Centre[24] has been delivering English language programs in Australia for more than 20 years. Founded in 1995, the centre offers academic as well as general English courses to students from around the world.
  • William Blue College of Hospitality Management - private hospitality college offering bachelor's degrees, associate degrees and diploma courses that specialise in culinary management, tourism, and hospitality management including work placement with industry partners.

Research institutes and centres
  • The Centre of Artificial Intelligence Research and Optimisation (AIRO) focuses on cutting-edge research in two ground-breaking areas of science in the current century: Artificial Intelligence and Optimisation.
  • The Centre for Organisational Change and Agility (COCA) spans research topics from accounting, finance, global project management, global supply and value, leadership, business systems, commercial services, tourism, strategy, management and organisational behaviour.
  • The Centre for Healthy Futures (CHEF) aims for the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases and the improvement of individual wellbeing. Through research on environmental, lifestyle and economic factors that impact health and quality of life, and with a particular focus on health and wellbeing throughout the lifespan, this research also contributes to better understanding healthcare systems and developing technology for both individual and whole of population health.
  • The Centre for Cardiopulmonary Health (CCPH) conducts multidisciplinary research to develop and apply innovative strategies to improve the heart and lung health of vulnerable individuals and communities; thereby improving and prolonging the quality of life of those affected and reducing the burden imposed by cardiopulmonary disease at the whole population level.
  • Public Health Information Development Unit (PHIDU) – Since its establishment with funding from the Australian Government in 1999, the PHIDU has been committed to providing information on a broad range of health and other determinants across the lifespan. Located at Torrens University Australia since November 2015, the emphasis continues to be on the publication of small area statistics. Since 2008, PHIDU has offered free online access to a range of data for researchers to reference.[25]

Initiatives

On 2 April 2018, Torrens University Australia launched a free online course called "the Voices of Autism"[26] to celebrate World Autism Awareness Day.

In July 2021, Torrens University Australia launched another free online course, the Thin Ice VR short course. Co-designed by environmental scientist Tim Jarvis AM and lecturer James Calvert, it goes behind the scenes of the "Thin Ice" virtual reality production to teach about the creative technologies used to recreate Antarctic locations in realistic 3D.[27]

On 25 January 2022, Torrens University Australia launched a 9-part podcast series featuring researchers from Torrens University, who are working towards solving complex global problems and propelling innovation. The podcast was recorded across Australia and New Zealand.[28]

In February 2022, Torrens University launched Sport for Good free online course that has been developed in collaboration with Australian soccer player and human rights activist Craig Foster. It teaches how to facilitate and support the sporting industry’s role in promoting global good. It is delivered in four parts, each designed to emphasise the increased focus of the industry on a certain aspect of social responsibility.[29]

Rankings

Torrens University Australia was ranked the 40th best college in Australia and 3,425 globally by UniRank as of 2019.[30]

It was ranked in CEO Magazine's 2022 Global MBA Rankings as number 27 globally for online MBA degrees in the world.[31]

In the 2019 Student Experience Survey, Torrens University ranked twelfth in student satisfaction amongst all Australian universities, with an overall satisfaction rating of 80.4.[32][33]

Notable people

Vice-chancellors
  • Alwyn Louw (2020–present)[34]
  • Justin Beilby (2015–2019[35])[36]
  • Fred McDougall (2012–2015)[37]

Chancellors
  • Jim Varghese AM (2022-present)[38]
  • Michael Mann AM (2012–2021)[39]

President
  • Linda Brown (2014–present)[39]

See also

References
  1. "Torrens University Australia". Archived from the original on 14 December 2012.
  2. "Torrens University Australia". AMEC 英美澳國際有限公司. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  3. readJuly 24, Education Reporter Tim Williams2 min; 2014 - 1:06pm (24 July 2014). "Clinton in Adelaide — the world according to Bill". adelaidenow. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  4. "Fred McDougall". The Conversation. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  5. "Torrens University Australia Ltd". Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency.
  6. "Torrens University to open in Adelaide in 2013". Adelaide Advertiser. 19 October 2011.
  7. "Torrens University Australia, Think Education & Media Design School Boards announce new owner". Strategic Education, Inc.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. "Campuses". Torrens University. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  9. "Who we are". www.torrens.edu.au. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  10. Martin, Sarah (19 October 2011). "Torrens University to open in Adelaide in 2013". The Advertiser. Adelaide. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  11. "Torrens University to open in adelaide in 2013". The Advertiser. Adelaide.
  12. "University launches new Adelaide campus". Torrens University. 3 August 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  13. "About Torrens University Australia - Brisbane". Chief Entrepreneur.
  14. "Torrens University Australia". SATAC.
  15. "Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School". VTAC.
  16. "Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School at Torrens University". AAHS.
  17. "10 Madden". Warren & Mahoney. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  18. "Suzhou China". www.torrens.edu.au. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  19. "APM College of Business Communications". Edarabia.
  20. "Billy Blue College of Design". MySkills.
  21. "Chifley Business School at Torrens University Australia". MySkills.
  22. "QS World University Rankings for Hospitality & Leisure Management 2019 | Top Universities". www.qschina.cn. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  23. "Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School Ranking, Programs, Admission Process, Cost of Attendance & Scholarships". collegedunia.com. 27 July 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  24. "The University of Adelaide's English Language Centre". Study Adelaide.
  25. "About PHIDU - Phidu". Torrens University. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  26. "Free online course about autism, co-designed and delivered by people with autism". HealthTimes.
  27. "Free short course takes you on a journey of discovery through Thin Ice VR". www.torrens.edu.au. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  28. "Research that Matters podcast". www.torrens.edu.au. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  29. "Sport for Good". www.torrens.edu.au. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  30. "Torrens University Australia". UniRank. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  31. "CEO Magazine 2021 Global MBA Rankings" (PDF). CEO Magazine.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  32. "2019 Student Experience Survey" (PDF). Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  33. Baker, Jordan. "UNSW students least satisfied in the country, survey shows". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  34. "Alwyn Louw". The Conversation. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  35. "Torrens University Australia Appoints New Vice Chancellor, Professor Justin Beilby". Glam Adelaide.
  36. "Justin Beilby". Torrens University Australia. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  37. "Fred McDougall". The Conversation. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  38. "Torrens University Australia announces Jim Varghese AM as second Chancellor". Torrens University. 30 November 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  39. "Governing board". Torrens University. 18 June 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2021.

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