RMIT University
From Free net encyclopedia
The RMIT University (previously Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology), is a university in Melbourne, Australia. It has its main campus in the city's central business district.
Contents |
History
Founded by Francis Ormond, prominent grazier, Freemasoner and philanthropist, in 1887 as the Working Men's College (encapsulated in its motto: perita manus mens exculta (a skilled hand, a cultivated mind)), and renamed the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in 1960, RMIT University gained formal university status in 1992.
The Working Men's College proved immediately successful, with over 900 students enrolled by the end of 1887. Students undertook a variety of courses including mechanics, physics, bookkeeping, elocution and arithmetic, as well as certain trades. It's campus was adjacent to the Old Melbourne Gaol on LaTrobe Street, and over the years has taken over the whole block as the Gaol was decomissioned and the university's courses increased in size.
The Emily McPherson College amalgamated with RMIT (in ...) donating building 13 near the 888 monument that is just on University Ground (at the corner of Victoria Parade and Russell Street), taking on board courses in Cooking, Reading, Writing and other courses to get young people to levels of higher education entry.
The college also played a major part in training over 20,000 servicemen for World War II, especially in the areas of Radio Communications, when the current Chemistry Building (Kernot) was used entirely for this purpose.
The Phillip Institute of Technology merged with RMIT in 1992 on the same day RMIT won University status (before 1992 Degree Courses offered at RMIT were acredited by Melbourne University). RMIT commenced developing a new campus in Bundoora in the early 1990s around the same time that the Melbourne College of Decoration and Design amalgated with RMIT (1993).
In 1995 the Melbourne College of Printing and Graphic Arts merged with RMIT, followed by the Melbourne Institute of Textiles in 1999. Printing and textile students now study at the Brunswick campus.
Campuses
In 2003, 58,078 students studied at RMIT University campuses in Melbourne and regional Victoria, in Vietnam, online, by distance education and at more than 190 partner institutions throughout the world. Prospective students currently have a choice of more than 200 TAFE and higher education programs.
RMIT belongs to the Australian Technology Network (ATN), an influential alliance of five prominent Australian universities of technology each located in a different mainland state of Australia. ATN universities share a history of collaboration and a commitment to partnerships with industry and the community.
Student life
RMIT has an active student union operating across all campuses. The students publish a newspaper: Catalyst. Postgraduate students are respresented by the RMIT Postgraduate Association, a member of the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations.
RMIT has a history of launching successful community broadcasters including radio stations 3RMT FM (which became 3RRR) and SYN-FM plus RMITV.
Current issues
RMIT has had a somewhat troubled recent financial history, at least partly due to a bungled upgrade of the university's student administration system that cost tens of millions of dollars. However, the university has maintained teaching services and has kept staff (though a tight financial situation reportedly continues). The financial woes eventually claimed the Vice-Chancellor and some of the university's board.
On April 4, 2005 RMIT University appointed a new Vice-Chancellor, Professor Margaret Gardner. Having gained a first-class honours degree in Economics and a PhD from the University of Sydney, Professor Gardner has had a prominent career as an academic, working in a number of successful Australian educational institutions.
External links