The University of Otago (Māori: Te Whare Wānanga o Otāgo) in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 20,000 students enrolled during 2006. Otago is known for its student life, particularly its flatting. Throughout its history its students have contested many issues. The nickname Scarfie comes from the habit of wearing a scarf during cold southern winters.
Otago graduates are among the most dispersed university alumni in the world, due in part to New Zealand being considered a relatively good destination by many Asian students and with the greater variety of jobs, opportunities and salaries on offer overseas for New Zealand students graduating from an established university. Many graduates ultimately settle in Australia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, the United States, China, Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Japan or parts of New Zealand beyond Otago.
The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it employs. It topped the New Zealand Performance Based Research Fund evaluation in 2006.
Founded in 1869 by a committee including Thomas Burns, the university opened in July 1871. Its motto is "Sapere aude" ("Dare to be wise"). (The University of New Zealand subsequently adopted the same motto.) The Otago University Students' Association answers this with its own motto, "Audeamus" ("let us dare"). The university's graduation song Gaudeamus igitur, iuvenes dum sumus... ("Let us rejoice, while we are young") acknowledges students will continue to live up to the challenge if not always in the way intended.
Between 1874 and 1961 the University of Otago was a part of the University of New Zealand, and issued degrees in its name.
History
Dunedin leaders Thomas Burns and James Macandrew urged the Otago Provincial Council during the 1860s to set aside a land endowment for an institute of higher education. An ordinance of the council established the university in 1869, giving it 100,000 acres (400 km2) of land and the power to grant degrees in Arts, Medicine, Law and Music. Burns was named Chancellor but he did not live to see the university open on 5 July 1871.
The university conferred just one degree, to Alexander Watt Williamson, before becoming an affiliate college of the federal University of New Zealand in 1874. With the dissolving of the University of New Zealand in 1961 and the passage of the University of Otago Amendment Act 1961, the university resumed its power to confer degrees.
Originally operating from William Mason's Post Office building on Princes Street, it relocated to Maxwell Bury's Clocktower and Geology buildings in 1878 and 1879. This evolved into the Clocktower complex, (University of Otago Clocktower complex) a striking group of Gothic revival buildings at the heart of the campus.
Otago was the first university in Australasia to permit women to take a law degree. Ethel Benjamin graduated LLB in 1897. Later that year she became the first woman in the British Empire to appear as counsel in court.
Professor Robert Jack made the first radio broadcast in New Zealand from the physics department on 17 November 1921.
Campus
In addition to the main Dunedin campus, the University has small facilities in Auckland and Wellington (based at Westpac Stadium). The medical schools have larger campuses near Christchurch and Wellington Hospitals. Additionally, the University has the Portobello Marine Laboratory on Otago Harbour.
Research
The depth and range of research being conducted at the University of Otago contributes strongly to the University's international reputation and is evidence of its commitment to fostering a strong research culture. The University of Otago is home to many established pre-eminent research programmes while other areas are emerging as internationally recognised centres of research excellence.
Alongside Research Centres and Units considerable independent and co-operative research is undertaken by academic departments at the University of Otago.
The University of Ot ago: Special Character and Role in Sector
Excellence in research and research-led teaching together with a tradition of innovation define New Zealand’s first university, the University of Otago. While judging itself in an international context, Otago embraces a national role that builds on the following dimensions of the University:
- a vibrant research-led culture which, in turn, underpins excellence in teaching and professional training;
- a broad curriculum that encompasses traditional scholarship and new knowledge;
- a unique concentration of special professional schools;
- an outstanding campus learning environment in Dunedin and specialist campus facilities in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Invercargill.
Otago’s standing as a top research-led university has been confirmed by independent assessments which have judged it as New Zealand’s most research-intensive university1, and the country’s top-ranked university for research quality2. Internationally, Otago has been rated as one the world’s top universities3
Teaching and Learning Plan
The first University of Otago Teaching and Learning Plan was adopted by Senate in February 1996. It was completely re-written in 2002 but retained the purpose of the 1996 Plan, namely “to provide guidance for academic Divisions, Schools and Departments as they undertake the planning of teaching and learning activities.”
The 2002 Teaching and Learning Plan was developed by a group of academic staff experienced and active in teaching and a similar group has reviewed the Plan for this updated version. The 2005 update continues to provide teaching staff with a bridge between the all-important goals of the University and the practice of teaching, learning and assessment. Advice on specific teaching methods which can be used to implement the strategies are available online as a link from the site . The six Dimensions and the attributes of the University of Otago Graduate are keys to the design of curricula which lead to quality learning in the University and to the learning outcomes we expect for the students.
Departments and Schools
Academic Departments and Schools at the University of Otago are divided into four academic divisions. Many departments and schools teach subjects and papers specific to their area of expertise. Staff from many academic departments also teach in subjects and papers from other academic areas.
School of Business Departments
The School of Business is housed in the purpose-built Commerce Building. The School teaches major subjects for the BCom degree as well as many postgraduate diplomas and degrees including the MBA programme. The Division of Commerce website is available at http://www.otago.ac.nz/business.
Division of Health Sciences Departments
The Division of Health Sciences consists of the Faculty of Medicine, which administers the School of Medical Sciences and three clinical Schools of Medicine located in Christchurch, Dunedin and Wellington, and the Schools of Dentistry, Pharmacy and Physiotherapy. The Division of Health Sciences website is available at http://www.otago.ac.nz/HealthScience.
Division of Humanities Departments
The Division of Humanities at Otago is one of the most innovative and progressive in New Zealand. Humanities cover the major fields of the Arts and Social Sciences. The Division consists of 15 departments and includes professional programmes in Law, Education, and Social Work. The Division of Humanities website is available at http://www.otago.ac.nz/humanities.
Division of Sciences Departments
The Division of Sciences is responsible for a full range of sciences including degree programmes in Consumer and Applied Sciences, Physical Education, and Surveying. The Division is a leader in many areas of genetic research and computer and information technology. The Division of Sciences website is available at http://www.sciences.otago.ac.nz.
The University of Otago was ranked 124th in the 2008 THES-QS World University Ranking. 
0 Comments:
Post a Comment