Investment of more than a billion dollars to develop infrastructure across its campuses, including a new CBD location, is part of an ambitious strategic plan unveiled by Griffith University.
‘Creating a Future for All: Strategic Plan 2020-2025′ sets out the University’s vision as it approaches its 50-year anniversary in 2025.
At the heart of the strategy is a commitment by Griffith to reinforce its position as a values-based university aligned to important societal issues such as sustainability, diversity, inclusion, and social justice.
“Griffith is renowned as a values-based institution and we commit to living our values in the way we operate our university — this underpins the rest of the strategy,” Professor Carolyn Evans, Vice Chancellor and President, said.
“More than $1 billion will be invested in campus infrastructure including a substantial new development in the Brisbane CBD which will create a front door to Griffith, providing better access for students and better connectivity for engagement with industry, government and other stakeholders.
“We already have a wonderful presence at South Bank with the Conservatorium, the Queensland College of Art and Griffith Film School and now are aiming to give Griffith a more visible and confident presence in the Brisbane CBD.
“Additional programs in business, law, public policy and journalism along with Continuing Professional Development will add a new dimension to the University’s presence in Brisbane leveraging off the proximity to commerce and industry.”
Substantial investment will be also made into the existing Nathan, Gold Coast and Logan campuses over a 10-year period, ensuring a strong and sustainable future for the University as a major educational institution serving the people of South East Queensland.
Students will be major beneficiaries of the new strategic plan through the creation of the Griffith Graduates of the Future program which will ensure every undergraduate student has a capstone experience that is work-related (such as an internship, international mobility experience, research project, or participation in a national or international competition).
Students will also have extensive opportunities to learn outside their core disciplines in areas such as: data science; business skills; innovation and entrepreneurship; behaviour science/ psychology; communications and journalism; Asian culture and languages; environment and sustainability; Indigenous cultures and knowledge; justice, ethics and human rights.
“A traditional learning experience is not enough, moving forward,” Professor Evans said. “We plan for all our students to embrace opportunities that set them on their career path equipped with a 21st-century skill set.
“This strategy will ensure Griffith students are more prepared for the workplace of the future with the confidence and ability to adapt to whatever challenges arise.”
Griffith will also commit to a major research program establishing ‘Griffith Beacons’ — large scale, collaborative research undertakings bringing together disciplines from across the University to address critical questions and tackle complex societal problems.
“The strategy builds on Griffith’s ability to build interdisciplinary research teams from across the University which can play a significant role in tackling real world problems,” Professor Evans said.
“Our objective is to ensure that the future brings benefits to as many people as possible, providing positive outcomes — social, economic, health and cultural — for the people of Queensland, Australia and the world.”
By 2025, Griffith aims to be one of Australia’s leading universities ranked in the top 200 globally with 10 disciplines in the top 100.
“It will be a university that all Queenslanders can be proud of.”
The strategy is the culmination of nine months of extensive ongoing consultation with staff and key stakeholders including industry partners, government, community, students and alumni.
Established in 1975, Griffith University has approximately 50,000 students and is located at five physical campuses: Nathan, Gold Coast, South Bank, Logan and Mt Gravatt.