North Ryde. Launch of LOTUS program

Premier Barry O’Farrell, has launched the Leadership Opportunities Transforming University Students (LOTUS) scholarship program, heralding a new era in human capital development between Australia and China. Xstrata, one of the world’s largest mining and metals companies, will be the first signatory to the scholarship program, to be run by the university Through the LOTUS program, Macquarie will partner with Australian organisations to identify future business leaders and provide a learning experience that is integrated with industry skills and knowledge.

North Ryde. Uni ranked highly

Macquarie University has been named Australia’s highest-ranking university in two reports published recently. Both QS and Times Higher Education placed Macquarie first among the nation’s universities under 50 years of age. Internationally, the QS ‘Top 50 Under 50’ ranked Macquarie 16th in the world, while the Times Higher Education ‘100 Under 50’ rating placed Macquarie at joint-33rd globally.The university said although the rankings use different methods to produce their results, both agreed that Macquarie led the nation’s modern universities in areas including research, teaching, innovation, graduate employability and international outlook.

North Ryde. $40.5 million sale

Macquarie University has purchased a seven-level office building in Macquarie Park for $40.5 million, from Challenger Diversified Property Group and Challenger Life. The sale is the first institutional investment sale at Macquarie Park since mid-2009, according to The Australian Financial Review.

North Ryde. Free access

Macquarie University will allow industry free access to some of its most cutting edge research and technology. Macquarie will join the fold of international universities beginning to offer their intellectual property (IP) free to industry for development, as part of the Easy Access Innovation partnership.

Noth Ryde. Media training

Macquarie University has partnered with national broadcaster SBS and the Ethnic Communities' Council of NSW (ECC) to offer free media training and mentoring for up to ten students who are commencing their first year in the university's media programs in 2012. The initiative has been developed in response to concerns about mainstream media portrayal of multicultural communities. It is specifically for Australian students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds (CALD), particularly those with a refugee background.

North Ryde, Vale John Lincoln

Emeritus Deputy Chancellor Judge, John Lincoln, has passed away, at the age of 95. Judge Lincoln was a key figure in the establishment of Macquarie University and was one of its elder statesmen. He was a member of the university council from 1964 to 2009, Deputy Chancellor from 1976 to 2000 and became Emeritus Deputy Chancellor in 2000.

North Ryde. Wireless communication

The Science and Industry Endowment Fund together with Macquarie University has funded the chair in Wireless Communications with the aim of facilitating world leading research in wireless communications through collaboration between CSIRO and the University. The inaugural chair is Dr Stephen Hanly. Dr Hanly said the new Chair had its origins in highly successful collaborations between the CSIRO ICT Centre and the Electronic Engineering Department at Macquarie University in the area of wireless communications. Deputy vice-chancellor (research) at Macquarie University, Professor Jim Piper, said Dr Hanly's appointment would continue a strong tradition of innovation in wireless research at the university.