Parramatta to become Australia’s education leader
Harvard, Oxford and Parramatta - a bold plan to make western Sydney a global education destination and economic powerhouse has been revealed.
Parramatta
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Top Australian universities are backing a bold plan to make Parramatta such a juggernaut it could eclipse Western Sydney Airport as an economic powerhouse.
On Wednesday, leaders from Sydney University, UNSW, University of New England, Swinburne University and the Western Sydney Local Health District descended on the Western Sydney University campus at Parramatta Square to form an alliance and sign the EducateAT Parramatta charter in a bid to attract talent and make the city “the best in Australia for students to study and succeed”.
“There is no more vibrant place in Australia to commit an alliance focused on education,’’ Western Sydney University vice-chancellor Barney Glover said.
“Education can be the lifeblood of this city.
“We have a chance to make Parramatta an extraordinary university city. This alliance will help us to do that. It will become a smart city in every sense of the word.’’
Under the vision, Mr Glover said the university hub could be a stronger economic driver than Western Sydney International Airport and boost the number of local and international students to Parramatta.
He said of the 70,000 international students in Sydney, 40,000 lived in western Sydney.
“To give you an idea, 65,000 international students are in New York and 90,000 are in London so Sydney’s one of the great international cities for education in the world,’’ he said.
“Parramatta’s economy benefits hugely from international students.
“Parramatta often sets the tone, sets the expectation levels for the wider city.’’
Consolidating the university hub is also expected to drive development in western Sydney including Blacktown where the Australian Catholic University has a campus and Liverpool, which is home to the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research.
Parramatta is already home to five universities — Western Sydney University, Sydney University, University of New England, Swinburne University, University of Technology and Charles Sturt University and UNSW will open a campus this year.
Sydney University will also establish a campus at North Parramatta in the Westmead Health Precinct where 25,000 students and 2500 staff are predicted to work by 2055.
Parramatta Lord Mayor Bob Dwyer said the plan would be a game changer and lead to better infrastructure for students and the workforce.
“Parramatta is known for its world-class universities and the respected Westmead Health Precinct, with an education sector worth $1.6 billion,’’ Cr Dwyer said.
“We’re taking this to the next level by creating an environment that invites and cultivates talent and world-leading research in the centre of global Sydney.
“Together we seek to transform the education landscape of Parramatta to educate and inspire students.’’
Parramatta Council chief executive officer Brett Newman said more students would return to campuses post COVID-19.
“City of Parramatta believes we have an incredible opportunity to create a city that attracts local and international students.’’
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