Four universities to share new campus at Western Sydney airport
GROWTH in western Sydney will be a key part of the government’s pitch at the next election and a new announcement is part of the government’s plan to show it is moving forward from the Wagga Wagga by-election drubbing.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
FOUR leading universities have agreed to band together to build the first new university institute in Sydney in decades in the planned Western Sydney airport precinct.
The institute will be a crucial anchor of the new city to be built around the international Badgerys Creek airport.
MORE NEWS:
Sydney clubs circle as Peachey plans backflip
Ex-bikie denies throwing bottle from moving car
‘Carolina was the perfect foil to showman Hawi’
The project has been secured in an agreement between University of Newcastle, University of Wollongong, University of NSW and Western Sydney University.
The four universities will create a single campus in an Australian-first, with the hybrid model set to focus on STEM — science technology, engineering and maths.
The vice-chancellors from each university have signed a statement of intent to deliver stage one of the new institution by 2026.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian will announce the project today in Western Sydney.
Growth in western Sydney will be a key part of the government’s pitch at the next election and the announcement, although planned for some time, is part of the government’s plan to show it is moving forward from the Wagga Wagga by-election drubbing.
Premier Berejiklian has previously said she wants the new city around the second airport to create jobs for the future with local residents trained to take those jobs.
“The NSW government is working hard to create more jobs in every part of NSW and the Western Sydney Aerotropolis will create thousands of employment opportunities for young people,” she said.
“The jobs of tomorrow will rely heavily on science, technology, engineering and mathematics, so I applaud this great initiative. It will ensure students in Western Sydney have even greater access to world-class higher education.”
Western Sydney University Vice-Chancellor Barney Glover said the project was a “unique collaboration” and would also pave the way for strong international connections with overseas institutes.
“This will be a catalyst for other institutions to also consider opportunities in the airport precinct,” Professor Glover said.
Wollongong University acting Vice-Chancellor Judy Raper said the region was growing and “there’s an opportunity to really help people transform their lives”.
In May, the Premier hosted an investor forum with more than 250 Australian and international businesses looking to build on the 10,000 hectare greenfield site.
The “Aerotropolis”, as it’s known, will be a hub for industries such as manufacturing, aerospace, defence and agribusiness.
The new university campus in Western Sydney will help decentralise the concentration of university placements and students in the CBD.