Charles Darwin Uni’s five year plan for all-round improvement

New vice-chancellor Scott Bowman’s plan for Charles Darwin University targets a financial boost and all-round improvement.

Professor Scott Bowman, vice-chancellor at Charles Darwin University.

Better finances, the enrolment of more Northern Territorians and an overall increase in domestic students are among the goals Charles Darwin University has set itself for the next five years.

The 2021-2026 strategic plan presided over by vice-chancellor Scott Bowman is targeting growth in operating results of 3.5 per cent by 2026, taking this year’s results as a base. The 2021 operating results have not yet been released, but are likely to show the university is breaking even.

Professor Bowman also wants the proportion of eligible NT residents who choose CDU to rise from 7.4 per cent this year to 8.5 per cent; and an increase in domestic student enrolments from just under 27,000 to 32,000.

“CDU recognises the unique and special makeup of the Territory, and through our new strategic plan, we will ensure decisions and investments reflect the priorities of our students, staff and our community into the future,” Professor Bowman said.

“It’s been a challenging year for the international education sector. The plan will help us to address the impacts of the pandemic on our communities and guide us in supporting a post-pandemic recovery.”

Dual-sector CDU is also aiming for a boost in academic performance for Indigenous students, with a target to improve the success rate in higher education units undertaken to 75 per cent from 61 per cent this year; and in the case of vocational education and training students from 83 per cent to 85 per cent.

It is hoping to improve research quality by boosting the proportion of research rated at or above world class in the fields of education in which it teaches to 60 per cent, from 40 per cent this year.