Widely acknowledged as one of the sixth continent’s premier teaching and research universities, CU has established a stellar reputation for exporting its higher education around the world, writes Reshma Ravishanker Sited on a sprawling 286-acre campus in Perth, the nearest Australian city to Asia, Curtin University (CU, estb.1966) is widely acknowledged as one of the sixth continent’s premier teaching and research universities. In the latest QS World University Rankings 2022, this 54-year-old varsity is ranked among Australia’s Top 15 and among the Top 200 universities worldwide. Notably, it is ranked #2 worldwide for its mineral and mining engineering programme in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021. Beginning its innings as the Curtin University of Technology and Western Australian Institute of Technology, CU was conferred university status by the Western Australia parliament in 1986 and named after John Curtin (1885-1945), former prime minister of Oz. Currently, the university offers a wide range of undergraduate, postgrad and doctoral programmes in its faculties of aboriginal studies; business and law; health sciences; humanities; science and engineering to over 50,000 students mentored by 3,000 faculty and staff. Within Australia, CU has established a stellar reputation for exporting Oz higher education around the world. It has established full-fledged offshore campuses in Malaysia, Singapore, Dubai, and Mauritius. In addition, it has signed academic agreements with more than 80 international partner institutions in 20 countries. Perth. The admin capital of Western Australia, Perth is the country’s gateway to South-east and North-east Asia and is in the same time zone as Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. With a small population of 1.9 million, it provides a clean and safe academic environment with more affordable living costs than metro cities such as Melbourne and Sydney. The city is scenically sited on the River Swan between the Indian Ocean and the Darling Range of mountains and hosts a strong economy with low levels of unemployment. It also offers hundreds of restaurants and cafes, parks, cinemas, nightclubs and music venues as well as great shopping to students and citizens. Moreover, with its Mediterranean climate of hot dry summers and mild winters, this coastal city is perfect for sports and leisure pursuits and offers a long menu including tennis, golf, whale watching and sailing. Campus facilities. CU is spread across five campuses in Western Australia. Its largest campus is sited on 286 acres in the Perth suburb of Bentley, 10 km from city centre. Set in landscaped gardens, the campus offers state-of-the-art classrooms, laboratories, libraries, research centres and excellent sports and recreation facilities to students. “Everything you need is within easy walking distance. There is a world-class art gallery, travel agencies, full banking facilities, bookshop, computer shop, sports store, childcare facilities and many active sports clubs and societies,” says a university spokesperson. Inevitably in field sports, track and field games and aquatics sports-obsessed Oz, CU’s sports facilities are excellent. They include the Edinburgh sports pavilion, a hockey stadium, well-equipped gymnasia, badminton, tennis, basketball and netball courts. Miscellaneous facilities include cafes and…
