The path to university is paved with success, thanks to new UWSCollege facility at Bankstown
Dr Kerry Hudson, the Hon. Christopher Pyne and Professor Barney Glover
The University of Western Sydney is expanding its highly successful pathways program – UWSCollege – with the opening of a new multi-million dollar facility at the University's Bankstown campus.
UWSCollege students who successfully complete their diploma program are guaranteed entry into the second year of a UWS undergraduate degree.
Mr Pyne says UWSCollege is giving the young people of Western Sydney choice and flexibility in access to higher education.
"I am delighted to see the establishment of the Bankstown campus of the UWSCollege Network as this Government is particularly focussed on helping universities that service regional and outer metropolitan areas," says Mr Pyne.
"There are very exciting results already showing students who come through UWSCollege do better than many students with higher university entry scores," he says.
"By expanding UWSCollege to even more campus locations and significantly increasing its student enrolments to 4000 students within the next few years, UWS is well and truly fulfilling its mission to improve the educational outcomes for the people of Greater Western Sydney and beyond."
The Hon. Christopher Pyne and UWSCollege graduate, Marcus Lathouwer
Key facts about the UWSCollege Bankstown facility
- The new UWSCollege Bankstown facility will accommodate 1000 students.
- The proportion of students from low socio-economic backgrounds at UWSCollege is 27.5 per cent – significantly higher than the sector average of 16.8 per cent.
- State-of-the-art in its design and layout, the new Bankstown facility has lecture theatres, flat-floor teaching spaces, network and multi-use computer labs, student administration and staff spaces.
- It also has the capacity to add specialist chemistry, physics and biology labs in later years.
About UWS
UWS is a vibrant, modern, outer-metropolitan university, located in one of the fastest growing regions in Australia – Greater Western Sydney, home to over 2 million people. It has one of the most comprehensive academic programs in the country.
It has campuses in Penrith, Bankstown, Campbelltown, Hawkesbury, Parramatta and Blacktown, and a new campus in Lithgow.
UWS currently has over 41,000 students.
Over 60 per cent of commencing domestic students are the first in their families to attend university.
75 per cent of domestic students are from Greater Western Sydney.
32 per cent are over 25 years of age.
UWS has the largest number of students from lower socio-economic backgrounds of any university in Australia – over 9000 students in 2013, across its campuses – which equates to 24 per cent of its total domestic student enrolments.
Ends
20 February 2014
Photos: Sally Tsoutas
Media contact: Amanda Whibley, Manager Media and Public Relations
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