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    PR | Avondale Now Australia’s Newest University

    1 July 2021

    Australian adventist college receives university status.

     

    History of higher education delivery, research and service to bring good to community

    July 1, 2021

    It has finally happened (yet much sooner than expected). With a 124-year history that places it
    as one of the oldest, Avondale is the first higher education provider in Australia to become a
    university under new national standards.

    It is the only addition to the ā€œAustralian Universityā€ category following a transition today to
    standards introduced by the federal government in February.

    The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) congratulated Avondale for
    achieving the requirements under the revised Higher Education Standards Framework. ā€œOur
    decision recognises Avondaleā€™s commitment to student outcomes, its significant research
    progress and Avondaleā€™s contributions to the communities it serves,ā€ says Chief Commissioner
    Professor Peter Coaldrake.

    The announcement is evidence of Godā€™s leading, says Vice-Chancellor and President Professor
    Kevin Petrie. ā€œI feel a deep sense of gratitude for the opportunity to bring further diversity to the
    sector, which will benefit students.ā€ And, he adds, ā€œIā€™m determined to use our new position to
    transform more lives through Christ-centred higher education. God will continue to bless as we
    continue to be faithful to His calling.ā€

    Recognising the Avondale story ā€œā€˜spans the century,ā€™ā€ Kevin acknowledges, with appreciation,
    the contribution ā€œof those who came before and of those who continue to mentor and
    collaborate with us.ā€

    Avondaleā€™s journey to become a university has spanned about 30 years. ā€œIt has all been worth
    it,ā€ says Chancellor Pr Glenn Townend, President of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the
    South Pacific. ā€œAvondale as a university will continue to provide graduates and research that
    blesses the church and the world around us. We thank God.ā€

    Iurii Ponosov, the undergraduate representative on Avondaleā€™s governing council, describes the
    announcement as ā€œa proud moment.ā€ ā€œWe all look forward to graduating from Australiaā€™s first
    Adventist university.ā€ The experience for students like Iurii will become an even better one
    because university status ā€œstrengthens our ability to provide high-quality, research-informed
    learning experiences,ā€ says Provost Professor Kerri-Lee Krause. Avondale is a leader in
    delivering strong student outcomes, with national surveys showing levels of satisfaction and
    rates of employment that rank Avondale among the best higher education providers in Australia.

    World-standard interdisciplinary research in historic Adventist fields of significanceā€”health and
    wellbeing, Christian education, biblical studies and Christian spiritualityā€”ā€œsupports the mission
    of the church and shows weā€™re here to serve our world for good,ā€ says Kevin. This informs civic
    engagement and leadership in areas such as pioneering lifestyle medicine interventions and
    challenging Anzac mythology to better understand our nationā€™s history.

    Avondaleā€™s registration as an Australian university marks the culmination of years of sustained
    quality development. It began in the mid-1970s with accreditation for degree programs and
    includes two previous applications (1994 and 2006) for university status. By 2012, Avondale
    had achieved a ratio of research publications per staff member equivalent to the mean across
    selected Australian universities. It also expanded its program of higher degrees by research. A
    relationship with mentoring partner Charles Sturt University followed as did the granting of self- accrediting authority. Only two years ago, in 2019, the national regulator approved a change of
    category application lodged by Avondale, from ā€œHigher Education Providerā€ to ā€œAustralian
    University College.ā€ This was the first time a higher education provider had qualified for a
    change of category under TEQSA.

    Established in 1897, Avondale is a member of the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist system of
    universities and colleges and has graduated more than 12,000 students who serve largely in
    people-helping professions.

     

     

    Excellence in Christian Higher Education since 1897

    Australian University since 2021

    A member of the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist system of universities and colleges

    582 Freemans Drive (PO Box 19), Cooranbong NSW 2265, Australia

    Phone: +61 2 4980 2222

    Avondale University College Limited trading as Avondale University College

    ACN: 108 186 401 | ABN: 53 108 186 401 | CRICOS: 02731D | RTO 91191 | TEQSA: PRV12015

     


     

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