The University of NSW (UNSW) is to establish a world-class research, education and innovation campus in Canberra.
President and Vice-Chancellor at UNSW, Professor Ian Jacobs said the move would strengthen Canberra’s reputation as a knowledge and innovation hub, as well as provide an economic boost to the city.
“UNSW has a 50-year history of delivering outstanding education and research in Canberra,” Professor Jacobs said.
“This new campus will enable us to take the scale and quality of our involvement in Canberra to a new level,” he said.
“It is an exciting time for UNSW and for the national capital, as its tertiary education credentials are further enhanced.”
Professor Jacobs thanked Chief Minister, Andrew Barr and the ACT Government for welcoming UNSW to Canberra.
Mr Barr said the ACT Government would invest $25 million in the campus development project.
He said the new campus would attract up to 6,000 local, national and international students and create around 2,000 jobs.
“As part of the agreement, the ACT Government will also provide approximately eight hectares of land and meet the cost of remediation required to enable the new campus development,” Mr Barr said.
“We are committed to growing educational opportunity and creating jobs by investing in education infrastructure projects both big and small.”
He said the new campus would be located on the east side of the city, along Constitution Avenue.
“The new campus will play a major part in the renewal of the city centre, capitalising on this eastern precinct’s capacity to co-locate education, recreation and tourism uses,” Mr Barr said.
He said UNSW Canberra would undertake consultation with key stakeholders and the community to help inform the master plan for the new campus.
