Interim Vice-Chancellor's Welcome

In what has been a challenging year for all, I am delighted to share with you just some of the many highlights that illustrate the strength, resilience and resourcefulness of our global University community.

Our alumni continue to shine brightly, as evidenced here in lumen and in the many ways they contribute to our world.

Our education and research excellence has been reaffirmed by the latest world university rankings, with the University of Adelaide retaining its position as South Australia’s leading university and well within the top 1% of universities worldwide.

Amid the challenges of this year, the University’s researchers have continued to deliver outstanding research to improve the lives of others, including involvement in vaccine development and detection of the COVID-19 virus.

The global pandemic has changed the way we do some things. We have seen a rise in online delivery of education, and now that restrictions have eased, blended and dual learning modes are providing students with greater flexibility in how they learn. We are immensely proud of all efforts to ensure our students continue to receive the world-class education we are known for despite the difficulties.

I am also pleased to report that Semester 2 enrolments for our University have been stronger than expected. It is gratifying that students continue to seek a world-class quality of education from the University of Adelaide at a time of great difficulty globally. With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we anticipate further challenges over the next few years. However, I remain optimistic about the University’s long-term recovery.

Finally, I wish to thank all those who supported the University’s COVID-19 Student Support Appeal earlier this year. Your generosity directly impacted the lives of more than 4,400 students in need, enabling them to continue their studies and secure their future despite the unexpected events that caused them significant financial difficulty.

It’s my belief that the strength of an institution lies in the dedication and commitment of its people and community. Here we are very fortunate in both.

I hope you enjoy reading this edition of lumen.

Professor Mike Brooks

Interim Vice-Chancellor and President