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The University of Auckland (Māori: Te Whare Wānanga o Tāmaki Makaurau) is New Zealand's largest research-based university. Established in 1883 as a constituent college of the University of New Zealand, the university is now made up of eight faculties over six campuses, and has more than 39,000 students at April 2006. *
It is a research-led University that tops the 2003 Performance Based Research Fund (PBRF) exercise conducted by the government that evaluates the quality of researchers and research output of all tertiary institutions in New Zealand.
It offers a wide range of programmes including Arts, Business, Education, Music, Teacher Training and Special Education, Architecture, Planning, Nursing, Creative and Performing Arts, Theology, Science, Information Management, Engineering, Medicine, Optometry, Food and Wine Science, Property, Law, Fine and Visual Arts and Pharmacy.
It also provides the most conjoint combinations across the entire nation, with over 35 combinations available. Conjoint programs allow students to achieve multiple degrees in a shortened period of time.
Over 1300 doctoral candidates were enrolled at the University of Auckland in 2004.
Locations
The City campus, in central Auckland, has the bulk of the students and faculties. It covers 160,000 m².
The Tamaki campus, established in 1991, covers 320,000 m² in the suburb of Glen Innes, 12 km from the City campus. The degrees available here are based on Health, Sports Science, Environmental Science, Wine Science, Information Technology, Communications and Electronics, Materials and Manufacturing, Food and Biotechnology and Information Management.
The Medical and Health Services Campus, established in 1968, is located close to the City Campus in the suburb of Grafton, opposite Auckland Hospital. The Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Department of Optometry are based here.
The North Shore Campus, established in 2001, is located in the suburb of Takapuna. It offers a Bachelor of Business and Information Management degree.
On 1 September 2004, the Auckland College of Education amalgamated with the University to form the newest Faculty of the University (by merging the School of Education (previously part of the Arts Faculty) and the college). The faculty is based at the Epsom Campus of the former college with an additional campus in Whangarei.
Current Events
Professor Stuart McCutcheon became Vice-Chancellor on 1 January 2005. He was previously the Vice-Chancellor of Victoria University of Wellington. He succeeded Dr John Hood (PhD, Hon. LLD), who was appointed Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford.
The University is currently developing a new business school building, following the completion of the new Information Commons, to revitalize the School of Business.
The Business School boasts one of the strongest International Business departments in Asia Pacific, offering two masters programmes, a Master of Commerce in International Business and a Master of International Business. It has recently gained International Accreditations for all its programmes and now completes the "Triple Crown" (AMBA, EQUIS and AACSB).
The University was ranked the top research university in New Zealand in the 2003 evaluation of research excellence conducted by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC). In its overall findings, the Commission commented: “On virtually any measure, the University of Auckland is the country’s leading research university. Not only did it achieve the highest quality score of any TEO education organisation, but it also has by far the largest share of A-rated researchers in the country.” Full report.
Faculties
- Arts*
- Business and Economics*
- Creative Arts and Industries*
- Education*
- Engineering*
- Law*
- Medical and Health Sciences (see main article, University of Auckland's Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences)
- Science*
Schools outside faculties
- Theology*
Auckland University Students' Association
The Auckland University Students' Association (AUSA) represents students at the University. AUSA publicises student issues, administers student facilities, and assists affiliated student clubs and societies. AUSA also produces Craccum and bFM.
The AUSA was founded in 1891. The constitution of the AUSA centers the organisation around student advocacy and the provision of welfare services.
As required by new legislation, the University council conducted a student referendum in 1999 on whether membership in AUSA should be voluntary or compulsory. The majority of students supported voluntary unionionism, and so AUSA membership become voluntary. Referenda on the same issue were held in 2001 and 2003 (anyone can request a referendum and the University council must conduct one, provided no two referenda are less than two years apart), and in each case, the majority of students voted for voluntary unionism. The current position has AUSA contracted by the University to provide student services. Detractors of voluntary student unionism (VSU) say that AUSA suffers drastically from VSU, and that VSU undermines AUSA's ability to advocate on behalf of students and provide welfare services. They also say that in controlling the flow of money, the University dictates the terms to some extent of its operations through a Student Services Agreement. Proponents of VSU, on the other hand, claim VSU means freedom of choice for students. They also paint AUSA executives under compulsory unionism as being wasteful, and cite examples of weekly Ski trips for executives. They claim that the level of intervention is very limited (for example, the conditions are only that AUSA must run orientation and the like).
Craccum
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Craccum is the largest student magazine in New Zealand, with a weekly distribution of 10,000 copies. It is anomalous as a publication due to the fact of it having annual student elections for the position of editor.
Other publications are regularly made by clubs and student bodies, e.g. the Law Faculty's Verbatim, the medical school's New Doctor and the Debsoc magazine, which has produced several Craccum editors.
Craccum has a history of controversy, with outrage having greeted articles on topics such as graphic descriptions of various methods of suicide, and a recipe for manufacturing crystal meth. It has also been alleged that the magazine has a blatant 'left-wing' political bias.
The current editor for the 2006 academic year is Ryan Sproull.
bFM
95bFM (or simply 'bFM') is the university student radio station that plays eclectic and alternative music styles. Like other student broadcasters, it supports local artists well before they become mainstream. The 'b' in bFM stands for bosom. It is owned by AUSA, however it operates as semi-commercial station, with paid advertising.
Prominent alumni and alumnae
- Helen Clark, Prime Minister, New Zealand
- Sian Elias, New Zealand Chief Justice since 17 May 1999
- Jeanette Fitzsimons, New Zealand politician and environmentalist
- Harry Hawthorn, Canadian anthropologist
- Vaughan Jones, Fields medallist
- Winston Peters, politician
- Justice Anthony Randerson, New Zealand Chief High Court Judge from December 2004
- Ronald Syme, preeminent classicist of the 20th century
External links
- The University of Auckland website
- Alumni & friends of The University of Auckland
- Auckland University Students Association (AUSA)
- Craccum
- 95bFM
"University of Auckland"