Strategic Relevance

SMART is not a new direction for the University of Wollongong yet it is a paradigm shift, achieved by the consolidation of existing teaching and research expertise in new facilities that will be harnessed to address Australia’s infrastructure needs.

The University believes that “now” is the appropriate time to invest in SMART and utilise its strong baseline of relevant skills.

There is a need for students to have enhanced infrastructure experiences (particularly in engineering, ICT and mathematics) and the University has the appropriate industry links to establish the facility.

The creation of  SMART sits well with the University's vision “to be an international University recognised for originality and enterprise in exploring, communicating and applying knowledge to enrich individuals, their communities and the environment”. 

SMART will contribute to this vision. It will also assist the University to continue its award-winning engagement with its communities.

There are four specific reasons why SMART is a strategic match with the University of Wollongong;

• UOW is consistently ranked as one of the most intensively focussed of Australian universities in the disciplines of Engineering, ICT and Science and intends to retain this edge
• UOW is the best teaching university in Australia, particularly in Engineering, ICT and Science,
• UOW is research-intensive and a serious research challenger to the GO8, especially when size is taken into account.  This research is concentrated in Engineering, ICT and Science
• UOW has a reputation for successful engagement with industry through linkage grants, commercial research, commercialisation, careers, graduate employment rates and salaries and a variety of other indicators.