Life-ready graduates

The University will embrace technology and best practices to deliver the best possible student experience. Recognising the rapidly changing environment our students will be entering when they graduate, our education experience will prioritise activities that help develop life-ready graduates who are community-minded, resilient and ready for work.

We will foster a passion for lifelong learning, and offer opportunities for our graduates to re-engage with our courses throughout their lives and careers.

Being able to see a link between theory and practice instils a thirst for knowledge and skills.”

Alice Springs (Mparntwe) Education Declaration
Student Tim (left) and staff member Sarah Breusch (centre) engaging with the community at a Law on the Beach clinic. Student Tim (left) and staff member Sarah Breusch (centre) engaging with the community at a Law on the Beach clinic

Priorities

Strategic priorities

Work-ready

Students graduating today can be expected to have multiple careers. Work-ready students need a range of flexible and transferable skills that will enable them to work collaboratively across professions and transition between careers. Our students will graduate with a clear understanding of their value and skills, knowledge and capabilities to prepare them for life.

Healthy and well

Affirming programs that equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to support and prioritise their safety and wellbeing will be essential in producing graduates who are able to connect and support themselves and their communities.

Community-minded

Our students will have a deep cultural awareness, a commitment to social, ethical and sustainable practices and an eagerness to contribute to the community.

They will be advocates for our University and see us as supporting their lifelong educational journey.

Initiatives

Key initiatives

Career-Ready Placements for all

Experiential workplace learning opportunities promote skills development, build self-awareness, foster innovative thinking, assist in career planning and support student transition into the world of work.

All of our undergraduates will have a Career-Ready Placement experience during their studies. Engagement will be with business, government, start-ups, research teams, not-for-profits, multidisciplinary initiatives, and international organisations. The offer will beflexible and personalised to the needs of our stakeholders, including a focus on local opportunities that will see our students contributing to our regions. Such an experience, supported by employability learning, will enable our graduates to make informed career choices. It will also contextualise their academic learning and will help graduates to understand the skill sets that are relevant to employers.

We will look at innovative ways to facilitate greater engagement by developing a flexible academic calendar and new modes of program delivery.

Graduate attributes

To prepare our students for this future, we will develop and instil a set of skills and attributes that will guide their development – to mark them as distinct, globally aware, ready for the world of work and committed to lifelong learning. We will develop the capability for students to digitally store, share and manage the credentials, skills and attributes they obtain from the University to support Career-Ready Placements, employability and lifelong learning. Our graduates will be encouraged to be active members of our alumni community.

Celebrating excellence

We will offer a prestigious scholarship and extra-curricular development recognition program, acknowledged during graduation ceremonies, to those students who have demonstrated exceptional achievement aligned to our University values, future employer skills needs and contributions made to the community. This will offer them a competitive advantage in the workplace.

Student-centred wellbeing

We will design a student wellbeing framework that exemplifies our student experience and supports wellbeing throughout the student journey, including lifelong learning. We will deliver a comprehensive care infrastructure which provides quality support for students' social, mental, and physical wellbeing.

We will develop a range of initiatives to guide students to understand themselves and build self-help strategies. Our graduates will have the resilience and determination to effectively engage with the challenges and opportunities presented by modern society.

Progress

Hundreds of female students empowered to kick learning goals

Hundreds of female students empowered to kick learning goals

Still buzzing from seeing their newfound heroes, the Matildas, achieve amazing World Cup success, a group of 200 female students hit the field at Industree Stadium, Gosford to participate in Maths with Mariners.

Students, Staff and Industry Shine at University Employability Excellence Awards

Students, Staff and Industry Shine at University Employability Excellence Awards

Innovative thinkers, Google interns and local businesses going above and beyond to give students exceptional workplace experiences have all been celebrated at the University of Newcastle’s 2022 Employability Excellence Awards.

University of Newcastle announces the best “hack” for water security

University of Newcastle announces the best “hack” for water security

The New Futures Hackathon for Water Security saw seven teams learn from water security experts from Hunter Water, City of Newcastle, Hunter H2O, and the University of Newcastle before embarking on a 10 hour “hack” to evolve their ideas into a viable, technological solution.

Food and Agribusiness Doctoral Training Centre established on the Central Coast

Food and Agribusiness Doctoral Training Centre established on the Central Coast

The University of Newcastle has today opened its newest Doctoral Training Centre (DTC), the Food and Agribusiness DTC, at Ourimbah.

Chief Justice recognises Newcastle's newest lawyers among best in the country

Chief Justice recognises Newcastle's newest lawyers among best in the country

For the first time in 25 years, Newcastle was proud to welcome the Chief Justice and three of the state’s top judges to preside over the University’s annual admittance ceremony at City Hall this week, in which eligible graduates are formally confirmed as lawyers of the court.

A graduation like no other

A graduation like no other

There is light at the end of the tunnel for 550 students who will celebrate the culmination of their studies at the University of Newcastle Callaghan graduation ceremonies this week.

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Goals

Our
 2025
 goals

Excellence

We will be one of the top universities in Australia for Student Satisfaction and Graduate Employment as measured by the Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT) Graduate Outcomes Survey (GOS).

Equity

We will have the same retention and success rates for all of our students - whether they be students from Indigenous, low-SES or regional/remote backgrounds, with a disability or not.

Engagement

All undergraduate students will have a Career-Ready Placement opportunity within their program.

Sustainability

Student wellbeing as measured by the Student Healthy Lifestyle Survey will increase every year.

Life-ready graduates

We will embrace technology and leading best practices to offer our students an exceptional experience that prepares them for life, as well as the rapidly changing environment they will enter when they graduate.

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In focus

More than a placement

The most employable graduates develop a portfolio of experiences that demonstrate essential workplace skills that build on the knowledge of their degree. These skills are learnt away from the classroom and beyond textbooks, such as participating in a clinical or professional work placement, practicum or internship, as well as field work, community engagement activities and project-based learning. Our Career-Ready Placement programs are forged on strong partnerships with leading local and global organisations. For example, our Newcastle Law School has a strong history of providing students with the opportunity to gain real-world experience by working in free legal advice clinics through the University of Newcastle Legal Centre programs, such as Law on the Beach. Our programs challenge and inspire students to acquire practical, real-world workplace skills, enriching theoretical learning and enhancing employability.

Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

3 - Good health and well-being4 - Quality education8 - Decent work and economic growth9 - Industry, innovation and infrastructure10 - Reduced inequalities16 - Peace, justice and strong instituions

Traditional Custodians

The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal Nation, Darkinjung Nation, Biripai Nation, Worimi Nation, Wonnarua Nation and Eora Nation. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.

Looking Ahead

Looking Ahead

Strategic Plan 2020-2025

Download (PDF, 3.6MB)

Plan on a page

Plan on a page

Strategic Plan 2020-2025

Download (PDF, 625KB)