North Ryde. Uni in top 2 per cent

Macquarie University has been named in the top 2 per cent of universities worldwide in 13 different disciplines according to the QS World University Rankings by Subject. Using data from research citations and global surveys of academics and employers, QS ranked its top 200 universities in 29 different subject areas. Last year Macquarie was ranked Number 1 in Australia and New Zealand and 14th in the world by the UK Times Higher Education for citations impact in environmental science and ecology research.

North Ryde. Centre aims to be among the top

The Macquarie Astronomy, Astrophysics and Astrophotonics Research Centre, at Macquarie University, has been officially launched. The centre lead by director, Professor Quentin Parker, has ties to over 100 national and international universities, observatories, research institutions and commercial companies in 23 countries. With its planned growth in research, the centre is predicted to soon be among the top four astronomy cohorts in Australia, alongside the Australian National University, the University of Sydney and Swinburne.

North Ryde. Newly created position at uni

David Wright has been appointed to a newly created position in Macquarie University's executive team, that of executive director - strategy development and implementation. Mr Wright served previously as managing director of the university's commercial arm, Access Macquarie Limited.

North Ryde. Dr Irving honoured

Dr Malcolm Irving a longtime supporter of Macquarie University and closely involved in the development of Macquarie Graduate School of Management (MGSM), has been recognised for his outstanding service with the naming of one of the main MGSM buildings in his honour. Dr Irving’s long association with MGSM began as a visiting fellow in the mid-1980s. He was called on by the then dean of MGSM to join a committee of high profile business leaders who would assist in promoting the vision of creating a world-class business school and help raise funds to build the facilities that today house MGSM. Dr Irving, who retired last year from the role of deputy chancellor of the university council, remains chairman of MGSM and as a director of Macquarie University Hospital

North Ryde. University to sell bonds

Macquarie University plans to sell at least $200 million worth of 10-year notes in its inaugural bond sale. The ANZ and Commonwealth banks are managing the sale of notes for the university. The bond sale will be the first by a university in Australia since the University of Wollongong issued $42.5 million of inflation-linked notes in 2008.

North Ryde. First in Australia

Macquarie University’s Applied Finance Centre, which will deliver training courses for members of the global Certified Financial Analyst Institute, will be the first in Australia to provide continuing education for certified analysts.

Ryde. University may sell bonds

Macquarie University said it may seek to sell bonds after receiving a first-time rating of Aa2 from Moody’s Investors Service. The university got the third-highest grade from Moody’s due to its “sound operating performance, positive liquidity level and strong market position,” and because the Australian government would likely offer financial support in a “crisis situation,” the ratings company said in a statement today. The university’s debt is forecast to peak at about A$357 million ($323 million) this year as it increases borrowings to help fund its capital program, according to Moody’s. “We are examining our financing options including the possibility of a bond sale.We should reach a decision in the next month,” said Greg Welsh, the university’media manager, in the Bloomberg BusinessWeek.

North Ryde. Top award for professor

David Weisbrot, newly-appointed Professor of Law and Governance, at Macquarie University, received the top award at the National Health and Medical Research Council’s (NHMRC) annual Awards for Excellence in Health and Medical Research. Professor Weisbrot received the prestigious ‘Most Outstanding Contribution’ award for 2010 for his work. The NHMRC awards recognise outstanding contributions to ethics, health and medical research and are decided on the basis of research quality, innovation and leadership. For the last four and a half years, he has been an active member of the NHMRC’s Human Genetics Advisory Committee. He also served on the NHMRC’s Working Group on Research Integrity.

North Ryde. New head of reform commission

Professor Rosalind Croucher, former dean of law, at Macquarie Law School, has been appointed president of the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC). Professor Croucher takes over the prestigious post from Emeritus Professor, David Weisbrot, who held the position for more than 10 years; he will take up an appointment in January 2010, as Professor of Law, at Macquarie Law School, in the university’s Concentration of Research Excellence in Legal Governance. The ALRC is the independent federal statutory body which conducts inquiries into areas of law reform at the request of the Attorney-General of Australia. Its focus is on federal laws and legal processes.

North Ryde. Uni gets $10m for research

Researchers from Macquarie University will receive more than $10 million in Australian Research Council funding for projects commencing next year. The funding includes more than $9 million for 34 new Discovery Projects - a significant increase from this year's $6.8 million for 21 projects - and a further $940,000 under the Linkage Projects scheme. The diverse range of projects researchers will undertake include finding new technologies and treatments to protect people and animals from increasingly drug-resistant infections; exploring new therapies to better treat children with anxiety disorders and creating new models to better manage risk in the financial markets
-->

North Ryde. Comments 'gross exaggeration'

Macquarie University vice-chancellor, Steven Schwartz, told an audience that universities had diminished and demeaned their work by construing their purpose ''simply as wealth creation''. He said suggestions offered in the Federal Budget papers and by the former Australian chief scientist, Robin Batterham, that universities were dynamos of economic growth, boosting the national standing, were a ''gross'' exaggeration. He said a university education should produce men and women who can understand the world, write and speak coherently, identify a poem or distinguish a symphony from a jingle, according to a report in The Sydney Morning Herald.

North Ryde. Graduate school stays autonomous

Macquarie University, Vice-Chancellor, Steven Schwartz, has accepted the recommendation from a panel set up to review the status of the Macquarie Graduate School of Management that it should remain autonomous from the university’s faculty of business and economics.

Ryde. University aims high

Macquarie University aims to be ranked among the top eight research universities in Australia and the best 200 in the world. The university, which, at a cost of $22 million, seeks to appoint 150 new research staff by 2014, has already recruited 42 new researchers over the past two years and is after another 43. Macquarie has capital works totalling $419 million underway, with completion dates in 2009. Projects expected to be completed in 2010-2013 total $620 million. The university, also,proposes to develop 620,000 square metres of commercial space The Parramatta CBD contained 660.326 square metres of commercial office space, at January 1.

North Ryde. Macquarie University projects

Macquarie University has capital works underway, with completion dates in 2009, totalling $419 million. They are: Macquarie University Private Hospital, $180 million; Learning and Research Centre (Library), $92 million; Cochlear HQ, $140 million and the Faculty of Arts (refurbishment) $17 million. Projects expected to be completed in 2010-2013 total $620 million

North Ryde. OK for concept plan likely in 2009

Ministerial approval of Macquarie University’s concept plan is most likely to be received in mid 2009, and will establish it as a “site of state significance”, according to the university. The plan “contemplates” an additional 400,000 square metres of broad commercial gross floor area (GFA) outside the academic core, additional 61,200 square metres of academic GFA within the academic core, additional 3450 beds within the University Housing Precinct; and road networks, landscaped open space and car parking facilities. The university forms part of the global economic corridor identified in the State Government's Metropolitan Strategy.

North Ryde. Project with end value of $350m

The GPT Group and Macquarie University Property Investment Trust propose commercial development, at Macquarie University, with an end value of about $350 million. The project is on the so-called Station Site, which is adjacent to Macquarie University Research Park and Macquarie station, on the Chatswood-Epping rail link. The site has the capacity to deliver more than 70,000 square metres commercial space on a about 25,000 square metres.