Staff

University of Tasmania Vice-Chancellor Professor Daryl Le Grew today announced his intention to leave the University at the end of his second term next year.

Prof Le Grew said he is very happy to be able to make the decision knowing that the University is undoubtedly now firmly placed as an international higher education institution operating out of Tasmania and is in the best position it has ever been in after an extremely strong period of growth.

Prof Le Grew said he was looking forward to spending the final year of his term focussing on attracting funding to support the UTAS Masterplan, working to build the UTAS profile with philanthropic organisations and setting up strategies to help UTAS achieve the Commonwealth Government’s participation agenda.

“I am especially looking forward to working with my colleagues and many friends at UTAS, in the higher education sector, Commonwealth and State politics and in the wider community,” he said.

Prof Le Grew was appointed to the University in January 2003, and initiated the development of a long-term strategic agenda based around excellence, distinctiveness, growth and engagement.

“This EDGE agenda has clearly delivered significant results and it is fitting that I will be leaving as this agenda is being fulfilled,” he said.

“UTAS has continued to nurture and improve its research excellence, attracting high quality academics locally and internationally as well as increasing numbers of international students.  We have also significantly expanded off-shore, with now several bases interstate and overseas.

“I am proud that I have been able to lead this university and to guide our focus on engaging and embracing with local and global communities.”

Prof Le Grew negotiated increases in funding to support over 2,000 more student places during the Higher Education Reform process. These places generated more than $40 million per annum to the UTAS budget. Total UTAS enrolments have increased by 50% since 2000 having grown from 10,000 equivalent full-time students to over 15,000 in 2009 - already above the target originally set for 2010. The total University budget has grown from $170 million in 2000 to more than $400 million for 2010.

Prof Le Grew has also been successful in attracting substantial infrastructure funding for UTAS, with funding in this year’s Commonwealth Budget of $45 million for the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies and $45 million for the second stage of the Menzies/Medical School development.  With other funding from the State Government, Atlantic Philanthropy and UTAS these two developments alone are valued at $200 million.

Prof Le Grew said highlights during his terms include the continuing partnership agreement between the University and the State Government, which has allowed UTAS to improve participation rates across the State as well as to work together on issues of importance to all Tasmanians, especially through institutes such as the Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute, the Tasmania Law Reform Institute and the Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research.

Significant achievements include the review and restructure of the Menzies Research Institute, the integration of the Australian Maritime College, the continued expansion of the Launceston and Cradle Coast Campuses and the launch of the Australian Innovation Research Centre.

“Close to my heart, along with that of my colleagues, has been the development of Tasmania as the natural centre for Antarctic and Southern Ocean excellence – the establishment of the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, which launches on 1 January 2010, is the product of that collective vision,” he said.

Prof Le Grew said the importance of UTAS to Tasmania cannot be understated.

“The University is a key economic driver for the State as a half billion dollar operation – as an employer, an educator and as a research institution, we engage with the community on every level,” he said.

“During my time at UTAS, we have markedly increased available student places, increasing the opportunities for Tasmanians to experience a university education and we have developed a wide range of pathways, whether for school leavers or mature age students.”

UTAS Chancellor Damian Bugg congratulated Prof Le Grew on his work as Vice-Chancellor, saying that Tasmania can be justifiably proud of its University and the work Professor Le Grew is doing as Vice-Chancellor.

“Daryl is an outstanding Vice-Chancellor, bringing leadership, a big picture vision and a strong world view to the institution,” he said. “Daryl was initially appointed for a term of five years which was later extended to eight. That extended term still has 14 months to run and the University is looking forward to the Daryl’s continued leadership during that time. The University Council will however soon commence the search for Daryl’s replacement.”

“We know that as a result of Daryl’s leadership, the University is in a strong position to meet the challenges it will face in the future. Daryl has set high standards and the University will ensure that those standards are maintained by the person it recruits to ultimately replace him,” Mr Bugg said.