University community to officially welcome Chancellor Forsythe
Hundreds of students, staff and community members will gather in the University of Newcastle’s Great Hall today to officially welcome the institution’s eighth chancellor, the Honourable Patricia Forsythe AM.
The investiture ceremony will be officiated by NSW Governor, Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC and signals the official beginning of the next era for the university.
The Chancellor, who is an alumna of the University and was most recently Australia’s High Commissioner to New Zealand, said she hoped to continue the University's strong legacy as a national leader in equity for education.
“Having started my career as a teacher, I believe education has the power to transform lives and I am particularly proud to be leading a university that has such a strong commitment to improving access to education,” Chancellor Forsythe said.
“Within the next decade, 90 per cent of new jobs will require post-school qualifications, with 50 per cent requiring a bachelor’s degree or higher. We must ensure everyone has access to education.
“Around half of our undergraduate students are the first in their family to go to university, many are from rural and remote communities; and we are widely recognised as a leader in Indigenous education and equity through improving participation of students from low socio-economic backgrounds.”
The Chancellor also acknowledged the economic and human value of the University in the region.
“Since our small beginning as a university when I was a student in the 1970s, we have expanded significantly to have more than 36,000 students and a footprint that spans from Callaghan and our City campuses to the Central Coast, Sydney and Singapore,” the Chancellor said.
“The position of Chancellor is an honour and my commitment is to ensure the university is a leader for the community; a place that makes a difference both for individuals as well as the nation and the globe.
“It is a particularly important time for the Central Coast. The Gosford campus is the University’s biggest financial investment since we built NUspace in Newcastle in 2017. This new campus will give people on the Coast more options for studying at university, without having to move away.”
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alex Zelinsky, AO, said the Investiture was an opportunity for the whole community to gather to welcome the Chancellor to the University.
“The role of Chancellor is important not just for our University but for our whole region. As a university, we are wholly integrated with our community.
“Our students work and live in the community, as do our staff and we are particularly proud of the research and the partnerships that we have that directly benefit local industries and our community.
“Our Chancellor holds an in-depth understanding and appreciation of the regions and the communities our university is anchored in and serves. The investiture of a new Chancellor is one of the signature events in the history of a University, so it is fitting that we officially welcome her today with so many members of our community.”
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Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.