2.4 UWS News: Record number of offers made in 2011

University News: Record number of offers made in 2011

UWS has given a record 10,062 students the opportunity to study at university in 2011 - the largest amount of main round offers of any university in NSW and ACT. Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Wayne McKenna says demand to study at UWS is continuing to rise, particularly amongst school leavers with the university receiving over 11,000 first preferences this year, which is the second highest number of first preferences received by any NSW university. 

"UWS is planning for its biggest intake of students ever in 2011. This is a major milestone in the university's history and part of the deliberate growth strategy for UWS," Professor McKenna says.

The university is also pleased to be making over 75 per cent of its offers to people from Greater Western Sydney - a key part of its commitment to boost higher education participation.

"This strategy is part of the University's commitment to boost higher education participation. UWS fully supports the Federal Government's goal to have 40 per cent of young Australians with a university degree by 2025, particularly those from lower socio-economic or disadvantaged backgrounds," he says.

With plans to increase current student numbers from just under 40,000 enrolments to 50,000 in 2020, UWS is embarking on a major academic recruitment program, which will see 100 new academics appointed each year for the next five years.

"This is coupled with a major capital program, with UWS already investing over $200 million in new buildings and campus infrastructure since 2009 in order to support the University's growth and significantly enhance the student experience," Professor McKenna says. "There's also more to come, with UWS set to spend a further $245 million on buildings and campus infrastructure over the next two years."