Annual Report 2015

1 Annual Report 2015 . 25 February 2016. The Honourable Kate Jones MP. Minister for Education and Minister for Tourism and Major Events Level 22, Education House, 30 Mary Street Brisbane Qld 4000. VICE- I am pleased to present the Annual Report 2015 and financial statements for The University of Queensland. CHANCELLOR. AND. I certify that this Annual Report complies with: the prescribed requirements of the Financial Accountability Act 2009. and the Financial and Performance Management Standard 2009; and PRESIDENT'S. the detailed requirements set out in the Annual Report Requirements for Queensland Government Agencies, June 2015 . A checklist outlining the Annual reporting requirements can be accessed at Yours sincerely REVIEW. I am delighted to Report that 2015 has been another very strong year for The University of Queensland, Dr Jane Wilson with exceptional outcomes across all pillars of Acting Chancellor Learning, Discovery and Engagement.

2 Credit is owed to our tremendous staff, students and alumni, and friends in government, industry, philanthropy and at all levels of communities. I would like to thank all of CONTENTS you up-front, because your efforts enable UQ to make valuable contributions to society. A series of global rankings released during the year Vice-Chancellor and President's review 1 reaffirmed UQ's distinction among more than 10,000. 2015 snapshots 2 universities. We are well within the top 100 of the main rankings and in the top 50 on several of those, Key statistics 6. with areas including agriculture and ecology placing Summary of financial information 7. in the top 20 (or better) of some more granular global Organisation 10 rankings. Basis of authority 10. Lines of responsibility 11 The independent national assessment of research Controlled entities 11 quality, Excellence in Research for Australia, showed even stronger results for UQ in 2015 than in the two Corporate governance 12.

3 Previous rounds (2012 and 2010). Ninety-five per cent University Senate 12. of UQ's broad fields are now above or well-above Senior officers 16. world standard, and none are below. At the two- Strategic plan 2014 2017 18. digit disciplinary level, 55 per cent have the highest Review of activities Learning 20. possible rating of well above world standard . It is Review of activities Discovery 27. rare for an Australian university to be noted for such Review of activities Engagement 39. comprehensive excellence across all disciplines, Management and resources 49. including those in the humanities and social sciences. Glossary 57. Index 58 Overall, we are one of the country's top two Learning and Discovery sites (map) 60 universities for direct funding to research, with Our campuses, faculties and institutes sustained high levels of success in the intense inside back cover competition for grants from key commonwealth Annual Financial Statements separate volumes bodies.

4 For instance, for a cumulative five-year period, UQ leads Australia in income from both the Discovery Public availability note and Discovery Early Career Researcher Awards This volume and the Annual Financial Statements (Volumes 1 and 2) are schemes of the Australian Research Council. available from the Office of Marketing and Communications (see inside back cover) or online at The federal government has called for sharper thinking around innovation and research translation, and UQ is The following information is also available online at one of the best-placed universities to address these annualreport purposes, with commercialisation license income Consultancies readily exceeding that of all other Group of Eight Overseas travel universities combined. ISSN 1837-6592 (print) ISSN 1837-6606 (online) The capacity of our commercialisation experts in Interpreter Service Statement partnership with UQ staff was vivid in the 2015 sale of The University of Queensland (UQ) is committed to providing start-up Spinifex to global pharmaceutical company Novartis.

5 One of the biggest deals in Australian accessible services to people from all culturally and linguistically biotechnology history (reportedly worth close to diverse backgrounds. If you have difficulty understanding the AU$1 billion), it stemmed from years of high-calibre Annual Report 2015 , please contact UQ's Institute of Modern research by Professor Maree Smith and colleagues, Languages on (07) 3346 8200 to arrange an interpreter to effectively who discovered the first new class of painkiller in over communicate this Report to you. two decades. (The University of Queensland) 2015 . Our commercialisation record gave the stature and funding to form the Queensland Emory Drug Front cover image: The UQ Oral Health Centre is Australia's largest and Discovery Initiative (QEDDI) with a global leader in most advanced tertiary oral health facility, bringing together renowned translating biological discoveries into treatments, academics and researchers, leading practitioners and top-tier students who are united by their passion to improve the lives of everyday Australians through better dental care.

6 VICE-CHANCELLOR AND. PRESIDENT'S REVIEW. Emory University. Supported by the the turn of the century. Not content to be Queensland Government, QEDDI is passengers on the innovation express, they creating a new therapeutics pipeline to want some control. Part of UQ's role is to combat diseases such as Ross River virus. put the means of control within their reach. High-quality research and its conversion With technology becoming omnipresent into useable products, services and policies in learning, UQ's beautiful campuses are essential to the University's vision of will grow in importance as comparative knowledge leadership for a better world advantages. On-campus living typically but they by no means complete the picture. enriches the all-round student experience;. Students are our starting point. We partner it is no coincidence that residences are with them to see that they succeed at a hallmark of many of the world's most university, and then graduate to be prized prestigious varsities.

7 By employers worldwide, and to achieve Learning from the example of UQ's their dreams of contributing to society. colleges, and referencing 21st century best UQ students model excellence in a practice, the University has plans for new multitude of ways. Some win prestigious campus accommodation at St Lucia. The state, national and international University Senate has given in-principle scholarships and prizes; some lend approval for a new facility, and the TC. their skills to not-for-profits and social Beirne School of Law has already identified enterprises; and others achieve in sport, scholarships with an accommodation the arts and much more. Those with component as a priority for the school's strong entrepreneurial instincts can new fundraising campaign. Philanthropists access ilab, the incubator provided jointly will be increasingly influential in the Even in the stellar graduate network, few with the Queensland Government, which University's future, and we are extremely have a record to match that of John Story offers accelerator, intern and mentoring appreciative of all the donors who AO who, as Chancellor, had a hand in programs.

8 Collectively made 2015 a record year. many of the successes noted in this Annual This year, 11,693 students (including more When used cleverly, technology can Report . John now retires after seven years enhance the on-campus experience, and as UQ's chairman of the board , but will than 660 PhD candidates) became new we will continue deploying information continue to serve the University in other graduates. Talented teachers have geared gained from our membership of the edX capacities, as he and his wife Georgina them for future success, and it is always Massive Open Online Courses consortium have done for decades. pleasing to see UQ teachers achieve recognition and funding from external to benefit the campus community. I thank John and all members of the bodies such as the national Office for Enrolments in the UQx-branded edX UQ Senate, who give terrific service on Learning and Teaching.

9 Courses rose to 640,000 in 2015 , and in an honorary basis, for their wonderful 2016 we will explore how to derive more work throughout the year. The Deputy Although students' changing demands in comprehensive benefits from the platform. Chancellor, Dr Jane Wilson, has agreed no way diminish the centrality of teachers, Our alumni community continues to grow to act as Chancellor pending arrival of the the fact is that students now expect and and become more awe-inspiring, with Chancellor designate, Peter Varghese AO, deserve much more than pure academic over 232,000 graduates now creating in July 2016. Like John and Georgina, strength from their university. As UQ strives positive change in their communities and Peter and Jane are UQ graduates further to address and anticipate their evolving globally. testament to the continuum of excellence.

10 Needs, we have published a Student Strategy Green Paper and invited ideas While alumni are present in almost every Countless others have performed diligently from students, staff and alumni. Feedback, nation, we take great pride in UQ's impact to ensure that knowledge leadership for a including 7005 student responses to an in Queensland and Australia-wide. A better world is transformed from vision to in-depth survey, will inform the Student quantum of this is due to international reality. You have positioned The University Strategy White Paper to be released in students, who bring cultural and economic of Queensland to continue producing 2016. benefits, and graduate to become lifelong immeasurably important outcomes friends and ambassadors for Australia. for generations of people in your own New technologies, and new applications Despite sharpening global competition, a communities and worldwide.