Curtin University

             

   Curtin University (a trademark of Curtin University of Technology) is an Australian public university based in Bentley, Perth, Western Australia. The University is named after the 14th Prime Minister of Australia, John Curtin, and is the largest university in Western Australia, with over 40,000 students (as of 2012).

Curtin was conferred University status after the legislation was passed by the State Government of Western Australia in 1986. Since then, the University has been actively expanding its global presence and currently has campuses in Sydney, Singapore, and Sarawak. Being a leading global institution, it has forged close ties with 90 exchange universities in more than 20 countries.The University comprises five main faculties with over 95 specialists centres.

Curtin was awarded five-stars overall in the annual QS Stars university ratings for 2014. Curtin is ranked 284 by QS World University Rankings 2013. As of 2013, the University is also ranked in The Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) as one of the top 500 world universities.

To date, Curtin Creative Writing staff and alumni have won the Miles Franklin Award a total of 7 times.

Curtin University is a member of Australian Technology Network (ATN), and is active in research in a range of academic and practical fields,including (but not limited to) Resources and Energy (e.g. petroleum gas), Information and Communication, Health, Ageing and Well-being (Public Health), Communities and Changing Environments, and Growth and Prosperity and Creative Writing. It is the only Western Australian university to produce a PhD recipient of the AINSE gold medal, which is the highest recognition for PhD-level research excellence in Australia and New Zealand.

Curtin has become increasingly active in research and partnerships overseas, particularly in mainland China. It is involved in a number of business, management, and research projects, particularly in supercomputing, where the university participates in a tri-continental array with nodes in Perth, Beijing, and Edinburgh.Western Australia has become an important exporter of minerals, petroleum and natural gas. The Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visited the Woodside-funded hydrocarbon research facility during his visit to Australia in 2005.


Prior to 1985, the university was called the Western Australian Institute of Technology (WAIT), formed in 1966. Its nucleus comprised the tertiary programs formerly conducted in the Perth Technical College which opened in 1900. In 1969, three more institutions were merged with WAIT: the Western Australian School of Mines (originally opened in 1902), the Muresk Agricultural College (opened in 1926), and the Schools of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy (in operation since the 1950s at Shenton Park). By 1976, it had expanded from 2,000 to more than 10,000 students.

In 1987, the institute became the Curtin University of Technology under provisions of the WA Institute of Technology Amendment Act 1986.

In 2005, the institute and Murdoch University were engaged in a feasibility study into the possibility of a merger.However, on 7 November 2005, both institutions issued a press release that such a merger will not be undertaken.

In 2009, the institute became the first university in the Australian Technology Network to be listed on the Academic Ranking of World Universities of research universities.

In 2010, the institute dropped the "of Technology" suffix, now operating under its trade mark "Curtin University". The legal name remains Curtin University of Technology until the Act within which it operates is amended by the Western Australian government.