The overarching aims: enhancing the distinctive excellence of ANU
The Australian National University has a distinct national mission which differentiates us from other higher education institutions, and unique concentrations of excellence which have given us a reputation second to none. Over the next ten years ANU aims to maintain, and enhance, our distinctive excellence both as Australia's national university and Australia's finest university.
Australia's national university
The distinctive character of ANU will be manifest:
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in our profile
ANU will be seen as an institution which addresses major issues of national and international importance. In many cases, our research will be long term and strategic. Our unique role as a national institution gives us a responsibility to make academic choices based on national need as well as student preference. Our programs will be both responsive to student needs and to the requirements of the nation. ANU will have broad connections across Australia, with government, the public, business, other institutions and universities. ANU academics will lead public debate on the critical issues of our time. -
in our student body
The student body at ANU will be drawn from across the nation and around the world. Outstanding students will be attracted to the University by our reputation, the quality of our staff and facilities and the unique nature of the educational experience. ANU will have a distinctive mix of students, with a growing emphasis on HDR and postgraduate students. -
in our hosting of national research and education networks and facilities
ANU has a leadership role as the recognised home of many such networks and facilities. ANU will continue to build on the concentration of intellectual talent and physical infrastructure within the University to provide a national resource for scholars across the country. -
in our focus on national policy issues
ANU will be recognised as a leading contributor to public policy formulation and debate, addressing the major issues confronted by government, business and society. In this role, ANU will be the hub for debate and discussion on such issues and the source of unbiased, high quality advice and comment. -
in our partnership with national executive government and parliament
The University's location in Canberra, our proximity to the Commonwealth legislative executive, judicial institutions, and national cultural and scientific bodies, our focus on public policy, and our provision of training and education for a broad range of public servants means that ANU will be a unique resource and partner of real substance for government and parliament. -
in our focus on Australia's place in the region and the world
Building on our distinctive excellence in research,education and policy outreach, ANU will have a real focus on the place of Australia in our region and the world, bringing together all disciplines to understand and position Australia in the 21st century.
Australia's finest university
ANU is not and will not become a large university by Australian standards, but will aim for measured, sustainable growth. We will strive for absolute excellence in every one of the disciplines and endeavours in which we engage. ANU will maintain and enhance the peerless reputation for quality we presently enjoy.
The excellence of ANU will be manifest:
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in research intensity
Research is central to ANU, informing every activity of the University. ANU will be a national and international leader in research by nurturing, attracting and retaining world-leading staff, building a concentration of highly research-active staff and research higher degree students and providing critical mass in core disciplines. Staff will be supported to address the major issues facing humanity and the nation and to lead public and scholarly debate on those issues. Staff will have access to facilities which enable them to be leaders in their respective fields. -
in educational effectiveness
The educational philosophy of ANU is that students are part of a community of scholars. Because the vast majority of ANU academic staff will be highly research-active, education will be research-led. An ANU education will engage students and stretch them intellectually, encouraging them to question the norms – to ask "why" not only "how" and to discover through their own research. -
in our role as a national and international policy resource
Central to the outreach role of ANU is engagement with government, and building a critical mass of research and education excellence in public policy which will act as a resource for the nation and our region.Staff will be encouraged not only to achieve academic excellence in their discipline field, but also to contribute to the national and international debate and provide government and the community with the highest quality intellectual resource.
