From the Vice-Chancellor

It's not uncommon for people to assume that because we're different in the way we operate, universities don't engage with business and industry, and vice versa.

In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. Universities and industry work more closely today than ever before, with mutual benefits for both.
The University of Adelaide has numerous links with business and industry on a wide range of fronts - many of them formal, some of them informal. These links are vital in being able to respond to the needs of business and industry - and therefore the community - in education and research.

At the University of Adelaide, these links take many forms, and include:

• the provision of scholarships;
  
• the funding of both basic and applied research that has the ability to improve the company's knowledge about an important part of their operations;
  
• industry-linked education programs;
  
• partnership in research collaborations and centres;
  
• donation of materials, software etc. to support our teaching and research;
  
• membership of curriculum advisory groups;
  
• contributing towards teaching and research efforts;
  
• becoming adjunct or affiliate members of staff.

The examples are numerous and span our many Faculties and Schools, but I will highlight some examples.

Our new Mining Engineering degree will play a major role in helping to provide graduates to the energy and resources sector, a fact that has been well recognised by the sector itself thanks to a large number of companies generously donating scholarships for students.

Our students in the Australian School of Petroleum are learning on industry-standard software thanks to a $1 million donation from a leading provider of software to the global oil and natural gas industry; while our students in the School of Agriculture, Food and Wine are learning how to become Australia's next generation of award-winning winemakers thanks to grapes donated by local vineyards for their work.

On a day-to-day teaching level, schools such as Business, Law and Architecture employ staff who are still currently working in industry. These professionals share their knowledge with our students, and the students benefit from current practices in their fields.

Our links with high-ranking leaders in their fields helps to bolster the University's ability to be inspired by and directly inform the latest developments in business and industry. For example, the Engineering Director for Google Australia and New Zealand, Alan Noble, is an Adjunct Professor to the University's School of Computer Science.

A number of stories in this issue of the Adelaidean help to further highlight ongoing developments with industry at all levels. Whether it's an additional $1.7 million for industry-linked research, the establishment of the new Institute for Mineral and Energy Resources, or industry support for students at Roseworthy entering into competition at this year's Royal Adelaide Show, there is always something new happening at the University of Adelaide to enhance our links with industry.

Business and industry make a major contribution to the University of Adelaide, just as we make a major contribution to them - through our teaching, research and consultancy efforts, and through the quality of our graduates. Our University is ideally suited to make a lasting contribution to business and industry, and we welcome their support.

PROFESSOR JAMES A. McWHA
Vice-Chancellor and President