The Best University in Oceania: the Australian National University in Australia

[xpertshukla]

The Australian National University (http://www.allaboutuni.com/university/Australian_National_University) (ANU) is the best university in Oceania according to the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU). The ARWU is published by the Institute of Higher Education at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University and several indicators of academic or research performance are used to establish the ranking, these include highly cited researchers, articles indexed in major citation indices and staff winning Nobel Prizes.

There are 20 universities located in Oceania in the Word’s Top-500 universities (2008). The Top-5 universities in Oceania are: 1. Austalian National University (ranked 59th in the world); 2. University of Melbourne (ranked 73rd); 3. University of Sydney (97th); and 4.University of Queensland and University of Western Australia (jointly ranked 101-151). Australia dominates the top rankings, with all five of the Top-5 universities in Oceania located in Australia.

The Australian National University (ANU) was established in 1946 and has been the best university in Oceania in every year since 2003 according to the ARWU. ANU is a relatively young university compared to its Australian peers (e.g. the University of Sydney was established in 1850 and the University of Melbourne 1853).

After its establishment in 1946, ANU conducted research and provided only postgraduate education. ANU was amalgamated with the former Canberra University College in 1960 and started to also provide undergraduate education.
ANU is located between a lake and mountain in the centre of Canberra, the capital of Australia. Canberra has a total population of 344,200 and is situated 288 kilometres (about three hours drive) from Sydney, Australia's largest city.

ANU has a relatively small student body of 14,365 students (of which roughly 68% are undergraduates). There are 3,379 international students - representing roughly 23% of the student body - from 106 countries. ANU has a faculty of 1,471 and a total staff of 3,545 (2007).

ANU consists of seven Colleges (e.g. Medicine, Law, Business and Economics). It has nine affiliated halls and colleges for the students, eight of which are located on the ANU campus (Fenner Hall is located in a nearby suburb). For more details about ANU, please visit the university website.

[Annie]

It also depends on the fields that you are doing. ANU is number 1 overall. If you are doing business, the Macquarie University in Sydney is also ranked high. Or University of Melbourne is also ranked high in technology (e.g. IT).

[bengaltiger]

Extracted from: smh.com.au, at
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/macquarie-uni-falls-in-list/2007/11/08/1194329413250.html


AUSTRALIAN universities have slipped in one of the most respected world rankings. The most dramatic drop was suffered by Macquarie University - jeopardising a $100,000 bonus for its vice-chancellor, Steven Schwartz.

His bonus depends on improving Macquarie University's ranking in the Australian sector, but it has plummeted from 82 to 168 in the Times Higher Education Supplement's annual survey, released in Britain overnight. It has dropped from seventh to ninth among local universities.

Professor Schwartz, an American academic who had previously been head of Brunel University in Britain, replaced Di Yerbury last year. There was a bitter dispute between Macquarie and Professor Yerbury over ownership of paintings and other material she had accumulated over 19 years.

Twelve Australian universities are in the top 200, one fewer than last year.

The Australian National University in Canberra remains the top-ranked Australian institution at 16th place, the same as in last year's ranking.

Melbourne University is ranked 27th in the world, the second-ranked Australian institution, edging out the University of Sydney in 31st place.

Four Australian universities - including the universities of Sydney, Queensland, Adelaide and Western Australia - have improved. The rest have either remained steady or edged backwards. Sydney's arch rival, the University of NSW, sits at 44th.

While there is a robust debate among university academics about just how good such surveys are, the two main ranking systems for universities - the THES-QS World University Rankings, as the Times list is officially known, and a newer Chinese ranking, undertaken by Shanghai's Jiao Tong University, are closely watched.

The latter is focused on research institutions, into which the Chinese Government is pouring tens of billions of dollars. It monitors things such as citations in prominent periodicals like Science and Nature and the number of Nobel prizewinners at the institution and among alumni. The only Australian universities in its top 100 are the ANU and Melbourne University.

The Times Higher Education Supplement's survey, of more than 500 universities worldwide, looks at a wider range of factors like academic performance, research effort, student-to-teacher ratios and how attractive a university is to overseas students.

Professor Schwartz's contract of employment, obtained by the Herald under freedom of information laws, indicates he will receive an annual bonus of $100,000 on top of his $600,000 salary package if he lifts Macquarie to eighth in Australia by 2014, using world rankings.

Professor Schwartz, who is overseas and was unable to comment, wrote in the Herald this year that rankings directly affected the number of applicants, but that the sets of rankings were compiled differently and therefore produced different results.

"Universities differ and students are all individuals," he wrote. "Some students may prefer a university with good sporting facilities and extensive offerings in the fine arts; others may be looking for night classes and low fees."

[malik]

Macquarie just plays on its reputation. Academic...it is okay, moreless, still depends on what you apply for. FAcilities... uuuhhh...honestly, it is so-so. The old library is... really old and you feel like you are inside a consulate inside it. THe new one...well, it is new, but it is just a big empty building, and honestly, studying inside does not give you the best motivation. It has no computers, almost no private seats and it just seems so busy. But the worst is their administration: it is just so disorganised and messy; it is never easy to get sth done and queues are the worst-ver queues I have ever seen in a so -called "university of a so-called developed country". When I wanted to enrol for my subjects, queues were hell...not only that...once I got to the desk, they told me to go to another building...then once there, they told me to go back to where I have been firstly...what is this?? and it is always similar every semester!!
Social atmosphere is also very average: basically, it is oz with oz, chinese with chinese..indian with indians...and wolves with wolves (lloll). HOnestly, what is the point to study in australia or to ahve intl students inside the uni if there is no cross-cultural communications? I have been in this damn country for 5 years...I still didn`t manage to have one single oz friend...tssssssssss....and to make it worse, I am not the only one n that case. So gyz, good luck if u wanna come here downstairs...

[bosco]

Social atmosphere is also very average: basically, it is oz with oz, chinese with chinese..indian with indians...and wolves with wolves (lloll). HOnestly, what is the point to study in australia or to ahve intl students inside the uni if there is no cross-cultural communications? I have been in this damn country for 5 years...I still didn`t manage to have one single oz friend...tssssssssss....and to make it worse, I am not the only one n that case. So gyz, good luck if u wanna come here downstairs...

I have heard many MQ students complaining about many aspects too of that uni, namely administration, organisation and facilities.
Regarding the 'social' aspect, I cannot forget those ads I saw in billboards, magazines, TV which show happy international students. Once here, unfortunately, most of those students realize suddenly that the general atmosphere is way way different. You mentioned you hardly got acquainted with some locals. Believe me, you are not the only one. I don`t know but australians are... you know... they like to show they are cool and easy going, but in the end, they just are not ready to open their heart to others...I feel they just are at ease with themselves and have difficulties to interact with people of different backgrounds and also, they are not curious, they do not show interest in others. They hate to hear that but it is the truth (better some of you are aware of this before coming here); at least, this is how I see it as an outsider; I don`t know if any of you share the same feeling or am I the only one? So..even though the cities are nice-looking, neat, clean and everything, the 'social coldness and reluctance' is the one that counter-balances everything. Such a shame... isn`t it?