The University of Sydney has been commended for its strong research performance and its successful efforts to build multidisciplinary and international research collaborations through its highly strategic approach to internationalisation.

Among the University's many commendations are those for the way in which the University has dealt with significant change since a previous audit in 2004.

"The process of change at the University of Sydney has been driven by the Vice-Chancellor in a manner that is inclusive and demonstrates a firm understanding of the issues associated with steering change in a large, complex and long-established university," the audit report says.

In addition, with thanks to those Alumni Council members and Association Presidents who participated in the audit, the University received a commendation for our alumni strategy: “The University of Sydney is commended for the strong and well-focused strategies it has developed with respect to alumni relations, and for effectively supporting the work being done by alumni, through the Alumni Council and the Alumni Office, to build international links and to induct international students into the University”.

Further commendation was given for the way the University has implemented a number of issues which had been recommended in the previous 2004 audit by the Australian Universities Quality Agency (AUQA). These include measures to increase the employment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and by making Indigenous issues a central strategic importance, as indicated by the appointment of a Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Strategy and Services).

"This report provides welcome recognition for a great deal of hard work by so many in bringing about significant changes in the University," said Dr Michael Spence, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Sydney.

The Sydney Development Fund is about to begin its annual telephone program for 2012, with a group of enthusiastic student callers from a variety of faculties, including Architecture, Pharmacy, Arts, Engineering, Law and Veterinary Science, among others.

They will be contacting you to ask about your time at the University, and your current involvement on campus. Alumni will also be given the opportunity to learn more about upcoming events at Sydney, and will be invited to help current students by making a gift toward their preferred faculty, the student support fund, Alumni Scholarships, or research initiatives at the University.

A letter has been sent to all alumni to be called, explaining the reasons for the call. We hope alumni will enjoy their conversations with our students.

Donations via telephone have grown significantly at the University. Last year, over 2,000 alumni responded to our telephone programs and made a gift over the phone.

The Sydney Development Fund would like to thank all alumni and friends who have shown their support. Your gifts are very much appreciated and have an amazing impact across this great University.  

The University of Sydney's mission to attract the best students domestically and internationally has been given a boost with a new arrangement which will make it easier for China's top students to study here.

Effective immediately, the University of Sydney has determined that students who have completed the China National Education Entrance Examination (the 'Gaokao'), and who have attained a 'Tier One' result, may apply directly for admission into an undergraduate program at the University, provided they meet the University's English language and special entry requirements.

In the past these students would have had to undertake foundation studies before being able to apply for direct admission.

The arrangement was initiated by the University of Sydney Business School, which put the proposal to the University's Academic Board, which approved the arrangement for all undergraduate courses university wide.

It means some of China's top students who may have opted for other tertiary institutions overseas where foundation studies were not required, may now choose to study at the University of Sydney.

The University of Sydney has a proud association with China's academic institutions and Chinese students, with more than 150 academics working on or in China, more than 4000 students already studying here and more than 20,000 Chinese alumni.

The relationship is bolstered by the University's China Studies Centre, which started operations in January 2011. It was established to provide coordination and direction to the study of China and Chinese culture at the University. In addition to supporting research and scholarship, the centre teaches several postgraduate programs in China Studies and interacts with business, government and community activities concerned with the study of China in both China and Australia.

"The University is proud to be one of the most engaged universities with China in the world," said University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor Dr Michael Spence.

"This new arrangement will see even more of China's top students opt to study here and will further increase our high-level engagement in years to come."