January 6, 2016

Future students determine their options

Vice-Chancellor welcomes the region’s HSC high achievers at a scholarship reception.

“Make sure you only study something you are truly passionate about,” was the advice given by UOW Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Wellings, CBE, when welcoming the region’s HSC high achievers at a scholarship reception yesterday afternoon (5 January).

More than 80 students from the Illawarra, South Coast, Southern Highlands, Sutherland Shire and southern and South West Sydney, attended the afternoon tea reception hosted by the V-C in the Sciences Teaching Facility.

Accompanied by family members, students had the chance not only to meet the Vice-Chancellor but also mingle with faculty representatives to discuss their possible study options at UOW.

The students, whose ATAR results placed them in the top 5 per cent of students in the state, were each offered a Vice-Chancellor’s Academic Excellence Scholarship worth $3,000 for their first year of study at UOW.

Students across the state must lock in their Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) preferences this week. UAC will release Main Round offers on 20 January.

The Vice-Chancellor highlighted the fact that all five faculties and about 40 schools were represented at the scholarship reception. And he told the potential students that if they came to Wollongong they would be a global citizen along with 130 nationalities across the entire student body.

Clockwise from top left: Associate Professor Michael Lerch advises Dylan Green from Bulli High who is interested in doing a double degree in maths and physics; Dean’s Scholar Lara Carvana-Anzani who is interested in pursuing Communications and Media Studies is pictured with her brother (Andrea Carvana) who is a law student at UOW, and parents Anthony Cuoco and Christina Carvana; Future students and their families at the reception; The top achieving student to attend the scholarship reception was Jake Boyce from Heathcote (ATAR of 99.55); Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paul Wellings, CBE, with high achieving students from the Illawarra. 

“Make sure you study only something you are truly passionate about and undertake activities outside the normal academic studies such as within sporting clubs and societies,” Professor Wellings said.

The Vice-Chancellor told those attending the event that students who came to UOW would be joining a university with an enviable research and teaching record.

He said UOW’s standing as a world class research intensive university was confirmed late last year with the Australian Research Council’s 2015 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) report revealing a marked increase in the number of disciplines delivering research rated as well above world standard.

Professor Wellings said UOW last year also outperformed all other universities in the country in the Good Universities Guide to score the highest number of star ratings.

And to cap it off, he pointed out that the Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT) ranked UOW as the best overall university in Australia. QILT is a Federal Government website that helps prospective students easily compare the study experience and employment outcomes from Australian higher education institutions.

Meanwhile, an Options Day for potential UOW students was held throughout the day with the foyer of the McKinnon Building operating as the student focal point.

Academic and student admission staff from UOW and staff from UOW College were available to advise high school leavers.

Prospective UOW students were encouraged to bring their results and their questions to get advice on choosing the right UOW degree, modifying their UAC preferences, planning a pathway to university and to visit campus and accommodation facilities.