Hobart City Council and the University of Tasmania (UTAS) are working to promote Hobart as a centre of educational excellence, offering world class educational opportunities and facilities.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by the two organisations in September.
In a joint statement, Lord Mayor Rob Valentine and Vice Chancellor of UTAS, Professor Daryl Le Grew, said Council and UTAS have common interests in promoting Hobart as an attractive place to study, live and work.
“Promoting the value that a vibrant, dynamic city adds to a distinctive student experience, and the contribution that a significant student population makes to the economic and cultural life of the city is one of our key objectives,” Alderman Valentine said.
Professor Le Grew said education is a key industry for Hobart.
Three key initiatives will be pursued as priorities in the first year of the new partnership, including economic development, professional development and infrastructure development.
Council and the university will work together to build much stronger recognition of the value of the city to the student experience.
The university will also assist in the development of Council’s Inner City Development Plan. This ambitious plan aims to invigorate Hobart’s inner city area, further developing it as a people place, while guiding future investment in public and private infrastructure.
Professor Le Grew said the university will also provide professional development and education opportunities for Council staff and will investigate opportunities for new areas of education and training relevant to Local Government employees within Tasmania and interstate.
In addition, the two organisations will collaborate on implementing the UTAS Master Plan as it relates to the Hobart CBD and investigates opportunities for economically and environmentally sustainable developments for education facilities and student amenities.
A working party has been established to oversee the partnership and to exchange information about plans and proposed initiatives. The agreement will be reviewed annually, with new priorities set for the following year.
“This MOU provides a framework for collaboration that will support and enhance the research, education and public/community service objectives of both organisations,” Alderman Valentine said. “This collaboration is for the mutual benefit of Council, the university, and our stakeholders, and for the benefit of the State of Tasmania.”
For further information contact Alderman Rob Valentine on 0418 127 323.
