2012 in review

Friday, 14 December 2012

As 2012 draws to a close, it is my view ECU has made very good progress yet again.

The really good news is that this view is shared by other organisations, as well as our students and staff.

In May we were named in the Times Higher Education Top 100 Under 50, a global list of the best universities under the age of 50.

In July the University received a very favourable review from the Tertiary Education Quality Standards Agency (TEQSA) in the areas of engagement and internationalisation.

In September, the Good Universities Guide again rated ECU five stars for teaching quality and student experience – based on feedback from our own students.

And in October the staff perceptions survey showed that ECU staff reported considerably higher levels of engagement and commitment to the organisation than their peers in other Australian and New Zealand universities.

Indeed, on 44 benchmark issues in the survey, conducted by an external agency of 37 universities the ECU results exceeded the other 36 universities collectively on every single benchmark. This is a stunning result.

Nevertheless, the global economy in which we operate demands that make continual improvements to ensure we stay competitive. Our staff have the ability to do just that.

An example of important change is the IT@ECU for the Future program, which has already commenced and will gather speed in 2013 and beyond.

I am very aware of the cliché that organisations are dependent on their people. Having written that, the key for me is the evidence that ECU staff strive to do the right thing by their students, and indeed, their colleagues.

The late Edith Cowan would have been very pleased with these commitments shown by our staff.

To many of you taking a break over the festive season, I hope you enjoy the fishing. But please leave some for those who will delay their own fishing trip to attend to the needs of current and future ECU students during the essential student services period.

I wish you well!

Professor Kerry O. Cox
Vice-Chancellor
vc@ecu.edu.au