UCL to establish an Asia-Pacific base from 2009

Students across the Asia-Pacific region will soon have the opportunity to study for a 2-year Masters degree in Energy and Resources at a new campus to be opened by UCL (University College London) in Adelaide in 2009, following an agreement signed between UCL and the government of South Australia.

This will be the first time that UCL, one of the world's leading universities, has left its shores to offer a degree programme overseas.

Under the terms of the agreement, the UCL School of Energy and Resources, Australia will initially be underwritten by the South Australian government, and offer executive education programmes, to be followed by a full Masters programme from 2010. The School, which will occupy the Torrens Building in central Adelaide, will be an integral part of UCL, which was recently ranked 7^th in the Times Higher Education world university rankings.

The SA Government is putting $AUS 4 million towards the refurbishment of the Torrens Building and will support the School's set up and operations over its first seven years. Once this term is complete, UCL will continue its activities in Adelaide, which it is intended by that stage will be self-financing. UCL will appoint a Director and core academic staff to the School, and the teaching model will also require academics from London to teach in Adelaide. Joint London-Adelaide research programmes will also be developed. UCL will ensure that the MSc's curriculum reflects the concerns of industry and will work with employers to ensure that professional training is flexible and relevant to employers' needs.

"Transnational education is changing the way that students and professionals now study and develop their skills. Through our campus in Adelaide and as part of University City there, UCL will give a global lead on industry-focused research and teaching in a global context," said Professor Michael Worton, UCL Vice-Provost (Academic and International). "Our presence in Adelaide will also provide a further opportunity for students from the Asia-Pacific region to study at one of the leading global universities. We are already a truly international university, with international students making up one third of our total student body, and this new campus will further strengthen our position as 'London's global university'.

"UCL is committed to working to solve real-world problems and we relish the opportunity to work not only with the South Australian Government but also with many Australian and international energy companies through our presence in Adelaide," added Professor Michael Worton. "The State of South Australia not only has enormously important energy resources, but also a far-sighted vision regarding the sustainable consumption of energy. Australia plays a key role in the supply of resources to developed and developing societies alike, and is well-connected to key energy and resources markets such as China, India and Japan. The School will enable UCL to play its part in addressing this complex worldwide challenge."

Notes for Editors

1. For more information about the UCL School of Energy and Resources, please contact Dominique Fourniol in the UCL Media Relations Office on +44 (0) 20 7679 9728 or +44 (0)7881 833 274, email d.fourniol@ucl.ac.uk

2. For more information about the Government of South Australia, please contact Rachael Leverton, on +44 (0) 20 7520 9107, email rachael.leverton@south-aus.eu