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The University of Western Sydney is a public, multi-campus, higher educational institute located in the Greater Western Sydney region of New South Wales, Australia. It was formed in 1989 as the University of Western Sydney Federation.
History
In 2000, after internal restructuring, the University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury, the University of Western Sydney, Macarthur and the University of Western Sydney, Nepean ceased to exist as an autonomous components of the now defunct University of Western Sydney Federation and became a part of the new multi-campus University of Western Sydney.
Campuses
The University of Western Sydney is made up of six campuses and two precincts. Due to UWS wishing to make all campuses equal and the university as a whole homogenised, clear distinctions between each campus are small and hard to find.
Campbelltown Campus
UWS Campbelltown Campus is located in Campbelltown, in south-western Sydney. Together with the Bankstown campus, the Campbelltown campus was originally part of the Macarthur Institute of Higher Education, founded in 1984.Bankstown Campus
UWS Bankstown Campus is a relatively new campus, located within Bankstown City. The campus is located in Milperra, about 5-10 minutes from the Bankstown CBD. Specialising in the social sciences, most of the students on campus are psychology, sociology, nursing, arts and linguistic students. The library on campus is considered one of the best UWS libraries. The campus also includes a modern cafeteria/eatery area, a full-size football oval, and is home to the MARCS Sensory Laboratories. Next door is Mount Saint Joseph Catholic Secondary Girls High School.Blacktown Campus
The UWS Blacktown Campus is also known as the Nirumba Campus, located in the Nirumba Education Precinct, in Quakers Hill, about 10 minutes from the Blacktown CBD. The UWS Campus shares facilities with two schools, one public high school and one Catholic College. There is also a TAFE on site. Facilities include a bar, cafe, outdoor dining area, co-op bookshop, a newsagent, library, pool and gym. The site is a former naval site. Most students on the campus are building, urban planning and accounting students.Hawkesbury Campus
UWS Hawkesbury Campus, also known as the Richmond campus, is located on a 1300 hectare site in the Hawkesbury Valley in north-western Sydney, near the town of Richmond. The campus was originally the Hawkesbury Agricultural College, established by the New South Wales Department of Agriculture in 1891. Its facilities include several sports fields, bookshop, hairdresser, library and cafeteria.Parramatta Campus
Established in 1801 as a female orphan school, the Rydalmere campus has been remarked as the jewel in the University of Western Sydney crown, with a rich history from its establishment through to its conversion to a mental asylum in the 1930's to its eventual decommission as such in the mid 1980's the Rydalmere campus has long served the populace of Western Sydney.A historical site with contemporary features, the Rydalmere campus was opened in 1998 and has proved one of the more coveted campuses for students from the inner city and western Sydney as it is by far the closest campus to Sydney metropolitan and inner city suburbs as well as located closer to amenities and employment areas.
Parramatta campus is located in Rydalmere, near Rose Hill the traditional foundation site of the greater portion of Australia's colonial heritage. Whilst it teaches Nursing and Business it is well known for its leading edge School of Law, which has many authoritative academics teaching as well as a high standard of students.
Before the Parramatta Campus was developed, classes were held at the Westmead Precinct.
Penrith Campus
The largest of the university's campuses, UWS Penrith is made up of three areas; Kingswood, Werrington South and Werrington North.The Kingswood has most of the campus's student services and facilities, computer rooms, classrooms and lecture theatres. It also has tennis courts, a gym and the university bar, the Swamp Bar. It also has student accommodation. It has the Allen Library which has a focus on engineering and science texts.
Werrington South has fewer classrooms and lecture theatres. It contains Ward Library, which has a focus on arts and humanities. It also has a café, football fields and a student social space called The Cottage which has food, television and a pool table. It contains the faculty of communications, design and media. It is also the site of Sydney's community television station TVS.
Werrington North used to be a teaching campus but is now administration only, and houses the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor's offices. It also has the Nepean Observatory built by Dr Graeme White and members of the UWS Centre for Astronomy.
Focus areas are loosely split between Werrington South and Kingswood, with most technical and humanities subjects having classes in Kingswood and communication arts subjects having classes at Werrington South.
Sydney CBD Precinct
Located at 261 Clarence Street, Sydney, the CBD Precinct houses an office of the Australian Expert Group in Industry Studies.Westmead Precinct
The Westmead Precinct is part of the Parramatta Campus. The oldest building on the site was the home of the historic St Vincent's Orphanage. The Westmead area is one of Sydney's premier medical districts and includes Westmead Hospital and the The Children's Hospital at Westmead. However, for the last few years the Westmead Precinct has been leased to private companies and the NSW Police; the university is looking to sell the site.University Life
The University of Western Sydney has three student organisations, each with their own focus and areas of responsibility. These organisations are responsible for the bulk of extra-curricular activities and services provided by the University. Each organisation sources their funds from Compulsory Student Unionism fees. UWSSA and PAUWS are independent of the university while uwsconnect is wholely owned by UWS.
UWSSA Inc
The University of Western Sydney Student Association. Its motto is "Bringing life to knowledge" - a twist on the University's motto. It aims to improve student life by providing support services, welfare information and standing up for the rights of students.UWSSA publishes The Western Onion, the UWS student newspaper.
uwsconnect Ltd
uwsconnect is a not for profit company which aims to improve university life by providing bars, cafés, sporting events, recreational activities, etc. It is responsible for organising commercial ties with the university and its students, such as advertising space within the university, vending machines and student discounts and special offers.PAUWS Inc
Postgraduate Association for students attending the University of Western Sydney. PAUWS is a student association for the postgraduate student population.External links
1989 establishments | universities in Sydney | New South Wales Government statutory bodies
"University of Western Sydney"