New 10-year strategy sets University's vision for 2032

Sydney in 2032: The University of Sydney Strategy outlines how the University will contribute to a better world, building on its history as Australia’s first university, providing real-world solutions in challenging times.

Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Mark Scott AO, said that the strategy was developed during a period of ongoing geopolitical, environmental and economic crises at the fore, but with genuine optimism for our future as one of the world’s great universities.

The Vice-Chancellor said the first key priorities of the 2032 strategy were to build advanced research and teaching facilities, and to improve access and support for domestic students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds.

“We are determined to level the playing field at Sydney,” Professor Scott said. “By 2032, we will have doubled our number of scholarships available for domestic students who have traditionally been under-served and under-represented in higher education. Our immediate commitments also include a new scholarship package – MySydney – for such students.

“We will provide holistic support to ensure university life, not just academic study, is a possibility for them. This includes increased financial support for the duration of the degree – not just for a student’s first year, as is the current scholarship program – to help cover tuition fees and costs of living, accommodation, dedicated learning and careers advice, mentoring and network-building as needed.

“It’s our first step to ensure many more of Australia’s best and brightest will have the opportunity to study at Sydney – regardless of their circumstances or background.”

Sydney in 2032

Sydney in 2032 focuses on aspirations – what the University wants to be known for in 2032. It will be delivered over three-year periods, with planning of the first 2023-25 action roadmap completed by the end of this year.

“This isn’t a plan that will just sit on the shelf: it will be implemented and reassessed every three years to ensure it’s delivering for our community,” Professor Scott said.

“In 10 years when people talk about us, we want it to be how our world-class research is solving the greatest challenges and how our teaching is transforming people’s lives – and the pride this all generates throughout our city, our state and our nation.”

The University also announced its largest ever capital investment, a landmark $478 million to build a world-leading biomedical precinct to fast-track research and patient care in New South Wales.

The Sydney Biomedical Accelerator (SBA) will create a first-in-Australia 36,000m2 health, education, and research precinct co-located at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and the University’s Camperdown campus, within the Tech Central precinct.

“This is a historic investment for any university. The Accelerator will tackle some of our most complex health challenges, including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases and position Sydney as a global leader in biomedical research,” Professor Scott said.

“We are also recommitting to our vision for Western Sydney and expanding our education offerings. We will provide new opportunities for skills development and build a greater presence in this vibrant, diverse area at the true heart of our city. As with our longstanding commitment to Westmead, our ongoing involvement in Western Sydney will align with community needs and government priorities.

“We will launch a Leadership Academy to support our emerging and future leaders. This is just a taste of what you’ll see early in the new year.

A better place to work, and a place that works better

The Vice-Chancellor said institutional culture will be key to enabling our success over the next decade, wherever our work happens.

“High trust and accountability to deliver leading performance is key, and our policies, processes, systems and services must help us achieve our ambitions.

“The most complex problems also require partnership to deliver and being an outstanding partner of choice in our local, national and international communities will improve the influence and impact of our teaching and research.”

Delivering our strategy

Chancellor Belinda Hutchinson AC said the University had made major accomplishments in the past decade, with the 2032 strategy designed to continue to improve upon and refine its aspirations.

“I’m so proud of what the University has achieved over the last decade, including a reformed undergraduate education, investment in research facilities and genuine outcome-driven multidisciplinary research collaboration,” Chancellor Belinda Hutchinson AC said.

“We committed to a stronger and more accountable partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and increased our focus on diversity and inclusion. And we saw our efforts recognised through the results of a sector-leading philanthropic campaign.

“But we know more is required of us. In realising our aspirations, our work will be more compelling – and more important to society – than at any other time in our history. We believe our best days are ahead of us.”

The Vice-Chancellor thanked the University for its work on the development of the strategy to date.

“More than 6,500 of our staff and students have contributed to the development of our strategy, and we’re enormously grateful for their input,” Professor Scott said.

“More opportunities will come as we work to develop the first three-year action roadmap, including how we can best deliver our 2032 vision through commitments at all levels of the University – including our existing strategies such as Sustainability, One Sydney, Many People, Western Sydney and Student Experience.

“I’m eager to see this collaborative work progress and, most importantly, the positive real-world change it will bring.”