No matter how modern a university is, if it doesn’t start with changing its vision, strategic steps to make strengths from its own way, it will never reach its expected goal.

The building of Business Faculty, which is designed by talented architect Frank Gehry, is named after Prof. Chau Chak Wing – one of the landmarks symbolizing trust and distinction of UTS. This is also considered as one of the most impressive modern buildings in the homeland of kangaroo.

What University of Technology Sydney – UTS is going through will be experiences, and lessons for young universities that want to position themselves.

Although UTS was founded less than 30 years but it is ranked the first in Australia and the 14th worldwideaccording to QS under-50-years-old University Ranking (Top 50 under 50). Earlier, pursuant to Times Higher Education Ranking, UTS was also ranked the 1st in Australia and the 21st worldwide among 100 universities founded within 50 years.

Neither the 1.2 billion AUD of investment nor being one of the two Australian largest library archive systems but the vision of apply knowledge into reality instead of pure academic knowledge makes UTS stand in such position.

Prof. Shirley Alexander, Deputy Principals of UTS, revealed that student academic activities and experience at UTS has recently focused on group working solving problems, simulating real situations from daily life. And this is carried out in interactive-designed study environment for learners and teachers. Besides the convenient study corners locating everywhere on campus, UTS also built oval classrooms in which wherever learners and teachers standing, they are always opposite to each other to discuss, to interact,…

Oval classroom system meet the demand of discussing, team working of students.

There’s one thing that UTS leader keeps repeating is that higher education has to meet the demand of real employers, of society.

The new building of Business Faculty – named after Prof. Chau Chak Wing, can be considered one of UTS beliefs: always renovating. UTS is proud of the architect style which is seen unique, and modern as well. Many students say that the building looks like a paper bag. An architect mentioned that he was unsure if the building is stunning or not but it’s obviously strange. For many years, people just build straight upward, now changing a little bit in placing bricks make the difference. The point is a must to change to make differences.

The inside of the Chau Chak Wing building isn’t less unique than the outside’s.

Another spectacular site of UTS.

UTS has various ways to help students approach to working environment. For instance, technology students are taught a very new software program in this field, and when they graduate, the demand for students knowing how to use the software is increasing. It’s a big competitive advantage. Another example is that UTS helps students build their own start-ups. Students having projects will submit to student supporting center. If the project is through, student supporting center will hold a training course for students with the consultation, discussion, orientation from big entrepreneurs. When students have enough confidence, they will ask for funding to build their entrepreneurship.

Moreover, including in study program, UTS designs a period of time for students to get close to companies outside Australian border. UTS’s leaders assume that learning and experiencing in different environments will help them mature and toughened.

Those leading to the outcome that more than 76% students employed after graduating, and 10% of that having higher salary level than the general one is the result of stepping on UTS own way – apply technology, meet the demand of labor market.

Vietnamese Higher Education is preparing for being classified. However, people mentally prefer the university that is academic oriented, or it can be said that a university which is applied-oriented is ancillary. This thinking must be considered. If a university takes priority on investing, choosing the right path, high-quality educating over doing a business, whatever the university is classified, it is successful anyway. Unluckily, the fact in Vietnam is that whatever a university is classified, it still do not have its position in the region.

The paths of young universities in the world clearly are precious experiences for Vietnamese universities.

NHIEN AN (Thanh Nien Newspaper) – Photo: UTS