Speeches
Monday, 27 March 2023
Launch of the Flinders University Academy
Rod and I are very pleased to join you this afternoon for the launch of the Flinders University Academy.
As Governor, I am very proud that South Australia is home to world-class tertiary education institutions such as Flinders University.
Every day from Government House I see the construction of Festival Tower progress on North Terrace, of which Flinders will be a key tenant.
The opening of the Flinders University Academy in the 2023 academic year is another exciting development which reflects your institution’s commitment to international education.
International students bring a lot to our community.
You share your culture with us, participate in the workforce, travel as tourists around the state and country, and even undertake volunteering roles.
You may stay in SA or Australia to begin your careers, or you may return overseas, becoming lifelong ambassadors for our state, sharing your experiences of life in Adelaide with your friends and colleagues.
I am pleased by Flinders’ ambitious goal to attract 700 students into this academy in its first five years.
For international students who want to study at Flinders, but do not meet entry requirements, the academy provides a new avenue for you to realise your dream.
I congratulate Flinders on streamlining the entry process for a seamless transition experience into destination degrees, with diploma courses across the breadth of the university, pre-Masters programs, Foundation Studies and ELICOS programs.
It’s great to see that academy students are integrated into the Bedford Park campus from day one, so they can participate fully in student life and enjoy the university culture.
I commend Flinders for its strong focus on student care which will maximise students’ potential to successful complete their academy studies and transfer into mainstream study, while also strengthening the university’s student-centred reputation.
As Governor, I am also StudyAdelaide’s patron jointly with Rod and we have met already a large number of international students, welcoming many to Government House.
Let us not forget either that education is our largest services export, and the sector’s ongoing recovery from COVID has provided a welcome boost to our State’s economy.
This new academy will make a further contribution.
I thank the Flinders University leadership team for their vision and implementation of the new academy.
Students, I wish you all the very best for your studies within the academy and the broader university.
Rest assured you are receiving a world-class education, while enjoying the benefits of living in Adelaide, consistently voted one of the most liveable cities in the world.
We are very pleased to host you in South Australia and trust your time here will be enjoyable, creating productive associations and friendships for the years to come.