Torrens University Australia

Last updated

Torrens University Australia
Torrens University Australia Trademark.jpg
Motto
Love what you do
Type Private university
Established2013;12 years ago (2013) [1]
Accreditation TEQSA [2]
Chancellor Jim Varghese [3]
Vice-Chancellor Alwyn Louw [4]
Total staff
1,914 (2022) [5]
Studentsc. 19,600 (2022) [5]
Location
Australia, New Zealand and China [6]
CampusUrban and regional with multiple sites [6]
Named after Robert Richard Torrens [7]
HeadquartersSydney, New South Wales, Australia [2]
Colours Orange Grey
Sporting affiliations
Website torrens.edu.au
TORRENS UNIVERSITY AUSTRALIA PRIMARY LOGO ORANGE GREY RGB.png

Torrens University is an Australian international private, for-profit university and vocational registered training organisation, with campuses in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Blue Mountains, Australia, Auckland, New Zealand, and Suzhou, China.

Contents

Torrens University Australia, along with Think Education and Media Design School, together form Torrens Global Education, which is part of Strategic Education, Inc.

History

An application from Laureate Education Asia to found a private university was approved by the Government of South Australia in October 2011. [8] Upon commission, Torrens University became the 33rd university in Australia and the first new university for 20 years. [9]

The go-ahead for the new university was given by the South Australian Cabinet following Premier Mike Rann's negotiations in Australia and in Cancun, Mexico, with Laureate chairman Douglas Becker and Chancellor Michael Mann. Honorary Laureate Chancellor and former US President Bill Clinton publicly endorsed the Australian project. [10]

The founding President and Vice-chancellor was Fred McDougall, former deputy vice-chancellor and vice-president of the University of Adelaide. [11]

Torrens University Australia was accredited by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency in 2012. It was originally expected to open in 2013 but commenced teaching in 2014. In September 2019, Torrens University was reaccredited by TEQSA for 5 years until September 2024.  

In 2020 Strategic Education, Inc. became the new owner of Torrens University Australia. This new alliance created a global network of over 100,000 learners around the world. [12]

Campuses and buildings

As of 2021, Torrens University has campuses in and around five cities in Australia, one in New Zealand and one in China. [13]

Adelaide

Adelaide was the first location in the country, opening its first campus in the heritage-listed Torrens Building on Victoria Square/Tarndanyangga, in the CBD, in 2013. [14] [15]

On 3 August 2015, the university opened a new campus just along the road in the old Menz Biscuits factory on Wakefield Street, [16] and as of 2019 no longer lists Torrens Building as another campus. [13] There was another campus in Adelaide on Pulteney Street. This campus was the Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School hub in the centre of Adelaide's CBD, exclusively focused on students studying a Master of International Hotel Management. This campus closed in 2025 and all Adelaide students are now studying at the Wakefield St campus. [17]

Brisbane

The Fortitude Valley campus is adjacent to the Story Bridge and home to a range of courses and degrees in Design and Creative Technology, Health & Education, and Business & Hospitality, along with the Torrens University Language Centre. [13]

Melbourne

Melbourne plays host to a campus located on Melbourne's Flinders Street. The Practice Wellbeing Centre, once based in Fitzroy, [18] , moved in to the Flinders St campus in 2025 [19] .

Sydney and Blue Mountains

There are three campuses in the Sydney region. These campuses include the Ultimo campus and Surry Hills, and the Blue Mountains campus on the outskirts of metropolitan Sydney. [13] [20] The Blue Mountains campus is located in the suburb of Leura, [21] adjacent to Katoomba. The campus is home to Torrens University's Practical Learning Centre, [20] simulated hotel environment where students learn hotel management as part of their practical development. The Ultimo campus is a home for the Design & Creative Technology students, while its newest campus, Surry Hills Campus, is home to students from all other faculties, as well as the Torrens University Language Centre, and just minutes away from Sydney's Central Train Station. [22]

Auckland, New Zealand

Media Design School offers a range of courses in design and creative technology. [23]

Suzhou, China

This campus is home to BMIHMS at Torrens University Australia, [24] operated as a joint venture with Suzhou Tourism and Finance Institute. [25] This campus is in close proximity to Shanghai, and offers training in restaurant service, front office management, guest relations and housekeeping.

Governance and structure

Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor

Vice-chancellors

  • Alwyn Louw (2020–present) [26]
  • Justin Beilby (2015–2019) [27] [28]
  • Fred McDougall (2012–2015) [11]

Chancellors

  • Jim Varghese AM (2022–present) [29]
  • Michael Mann AM (2012–2021) [30]

President

  • Linda Brown (2014–present) [30]

Constituent schools

Academic profile

Research divisions

Other initiatives

On 2 April 2018, Torrens University Australia launched a free online course called "the Voices of Autism" [46] to celebrate World Autism Awareness Day.

In July 2021, Torrens University Australia launched another free online course, the Thin Ice VR short course. Co-designed by environmental scientist Tim Jarvis AM and lecturer James Calvert, it goes behind the scenes of the "Thin Ice" virtual reality production to teach about the creative technologies used to recreate Antarctic locations in realistic 3D. [47] In 2022, Thin Ice VR won several awards, including Best Virtual Reality Short at the Cannes World Film Festival.

On 25 January 2022, Torrens University Australia launched a 9-part podcast series featuring researchers from Torrens University, who are working towards solving complex global problems and propelling innovation. The podcast was recorded across Australia and New Zealand. [48]

Academic reputation

Other awards

  • 2022 ASCILITE Award for Innovation [56] – virtual design studio
  • Professor Seyedali Mirjalili named The Australian Research 2023 Magazine's number 1 artificial intelligence researcher in the world [57]
  • 2022 Catalyst Award in the Teaching and Learning category – virtual design studio [58]
  • Linda Brown, Torrens University CEO and President | EY Entrepreneur of the Year™ Australia 2021 [59]
  • MBA ranked by CEO Magazine as a Tier 1 MBA for 4 years in a row (2022) [50]

Student life

Student demographics

There are about 20,000 enrolled students. [60]

Notable people

Notable alumni

Academics and staff

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. ↑ "Our Heritage". Torrens University Australia. Archived from the original on 2 August 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  2. 1 2 "Torrens University Australia Ltd". Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency . Melbourne, Victoria. Archived from the original on 17 June 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  3. ↑ "Governing Board". Torrens University Australia. Archived from the original on 28 May 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  4. ↑ "Executive Leadership". Torrens University Australia. Archived from the original on 18 July 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  5. 1 2 "2022-2023 Impact Report" (PDF). Torrens University Australia. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 May 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  6. 1 2 "Campus locations". Torrens University Australia. Archived from the original on 25 October 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  7. ↑ "Portrait of Sir Robert Richard Torrens". History Trust of South Australia . Adelaide, South Australia: Government of South Australia. 1870. Archived from the original on 7 January 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  8. ↑ "Torrens University Australia". Archived from the original on 15 January 2013.
  9. ↑ "Torrens University Australia". AMEC 英美澳國際有限公司. Archived from the original on 25 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  10. ↑ readJuly 24, Education Reporter Tim Williams2 min; 2014 – 1:06 pm (24 July 2014). "Clinton in Adelaide — the world according to Bill". adelaidenow. Archived from the original on 25 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. 1 2 "Fred McDougall". The Conversation. 5 August 2011. Archived from the original on 25 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  12. ↑ "Torrens University Australia, Think Education & Media Design School Boards announce new owner". www.strategiceducation.com. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  13. 1 2 3 4 "Campuses". Torrens University. Archived from the original on 22 August 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  14. ↑ Martin, Sarah (19 October 2011). "Torrens University to open in Adelaide in 2013". The Advertiser. Adelaide. Archived from the original on 8 April 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  15. ↑ "Torrens University to open in adelaide in 2013". The Advertiser. Adelaide.
  16. ↑ "University launches new Adelaide campus". Torrens University. 3 August 2015. Archived from the original on 22 August 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  17. ↑ Lanzini, Denya. "Torrens and Think: Student Hub: Adelaide". studenthub.torrens.edu.au. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
  18. ↑ "Torrens University Australia". SATAC. Archived from the original on 10 October 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  19. ↑ "The Practice Wellbeing Centre in Melbourne". www.torrens.edu.au. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
  20. 1 2 "Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School". VTAC. Archived from the original on 17 June 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  21. ↑ "Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School at Torrens University". AAHS. Archived from the original on 10 October 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  22. ↑ "Surry Hills Sydney". www.torrens.edu.au. Archived from the original on 4 July 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  23. ↑ "10 Madden". Warren & Mahoney. Archived from the original on 1 September 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  24. ↑ "Suzhou China". www.torrens.edu.au. Archived from the original on 31 August 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  25. ↑ "Suzhou Tourism & Finance Institute". www.stfi.cn. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  26. ↑ "Alwyn Louw". The Conversation . 5 October 2020. Archived from the original on 1 September 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  27. ↑ "Torrens University Australia Appoints New Vice Chancellor, Professor Justin Beilby". Glam Adelaide. 19 January 2015. Archived from the original on 5 December 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  28. ↑ "Justin Beilby". Torrens University Australia. Archived from the original on 1 September 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  29. ↑ "Torrens University Australia announces Jim Varghese AM as second Chancellor". Torrens University. 30 November 2021. Archived from the original on 2 December 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  30. 1 2 "Governing board". Torrens University. 18 June 2020. Archived from the original on 16 October 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  31. ↑ "APM College of Business Communications". Edarabia. Archived from the original on 25 June 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  32. ↑ "Australian College of Natural Beauty (ANCB)". www.torrens.edu.au. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  33. ↑ "Billy Blue College of Design". MySkills. Archived from the original on 10 October 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  34. ↑ "QS World University Rankings for Hospitality & Leisure Management 2019 | Top Universities". www.qschina.cn. Archived from the original on 1 September 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  35. ↑ "Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School Ranking, Programs, Admission Process, Cost of Attendance & Scholarships". collegedunia.com. 27 July 2021. Archived from the original on 1 September 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  36. ↑ "Chifley Business School at Torrens University Australia". MySkills. Archived from the original on 10 October 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  37. ↑ "Real Madrid Graduate School". Universidad Europea. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  38. ↑ "Southern School of Natural Therapies (SSNT)". www.torrens.edu.au. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  39. ↑ "The University of Adelaide's English Language Centre". Study Adelaide. Archived from the original on 10 October 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  40. ↑ "Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research & Optimisation (AIRO)". www.torrens.edu.au. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  41. ↑ "Centre for Organisational Change and Agility (COCA)". www.torrens.edu.au. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  42. ↑ "Centre for Health Futures (CHEF)". www.torrens.edu.au. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  43. ↑ "Centre for Public Health, Equity and Human Flourishing (PHEHF)". www.torrens.edu.au. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  44. ↑ "Centre for Healthy Sustainable Development (CHSD)". www.torrens.edu.au. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  45. ↑ "Public Health Information Development Unit (PHIDU)". www.torrens.edu.au. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  46. ↑ "Free online course about autism, co-designed and delivered by people with autism". HealthTimes. Archived from the original on 10 October 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  47. ↑ "Free short course takes you on a journey of discovery through Thin Ice VR". www.torrens.edu.au. Archived from the original on 31 August 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  48. ↑ "Research that Matters podcast". www.torrens.edu.au. Archived from the original on 25 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  49. 1 2 "Student Experience Survey". QILT. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  50. 1 2 "Global MBA Rankings Archives". CEO Magazine. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  51. ↑ "BMIHMS Suzhou recognized as top hotel management school in China". www.torrens.edu.au. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  52. ↑ "Graduate Outcomes Survey". QILT. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  53. ↑ "Torrens University Australia Postgraduate Rankings". www.gooduniversitiesguide.com.au. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  54. ↑ "Design School Auckland | Media Design School". www.mediadesignschool.com. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  55. ↑ "Top 10 Animation Schools in Australia & New Zealand – 2021 College Rankings". Animation Career Review. 26 April 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  56. ↑ "Torrens University's virtual fashion studio wins 3rd award in 2022". www.torrens.edu.au. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  57. ↑ "Torrens University researcher recognised as the world's best AI expert". www.torrens.edu.au. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  58. ↑ "Torrens University wins International award for virtual fashion studio". www.torrens.edu.au. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  59. ↑ "Torrens University CEO Linda Brown is the EY Entrepreneur of the Year™ Australia 2021". www.torrens.edu.au. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  60. ↑ "Who we are". www.torrens.edu.au. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  61. ↑ "Torrens University welcomes chief economist Stephanie Kelton | Torrens University". www.torrens.edu.au. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  62. ↑ Mirjalili, Seyedali. "uCity". uCity. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  63. ↑ "Media Design School appoints Andy Blood, ex-Facebook Creative Strategist as Industry Fellow to lead its way forward into Web 3.0 | Media Design School". www.mediadesignschool.com. September 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2023.

Other references

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