NEW UNIVERSITY AT CANBERRA

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26020, 25 January 1950, Page 2

NEW UNIVERSITY AT CANBERRA

PROFESSOR COPLAND’S DESCRIPTION

The Australian National University at Canberra should, in the long run, strengthen the administrative and academic life of Australia and of neighbouring Pacific areas, said Professor D. B. Copland, vice-chancellor of the university, in an interview at Christchurch.

The university is entirely for postgraduate research. Its two major aims are advanced research by the permanent staff and the training of graduate scholars. A Commonwealth act of Parliament provides a State grant of £325,000, which will be used in the first instance for four main schools of research in medicine, physical sciences, social sciences, and Pacific studies.

The two major problems at present confronting the university were the building of the necessary laboratories and residential colleges and the recruitment of staff, which must be of a high academic standing, said Professor Copland. “It will take three years at least, but the university is a going concern already,” he added. “There are 50 graduate scholars, working mainly in England, and about 12 fellows. Three professors have been appointed in the medical school, one each in the physical sciences, and social sciences schools, and three in the School of Pacific Studies.” The university was arousing a great deal of interest in the United States and in Britain and there would undoubtedly be scholars and fellows from there and from Pacific countries. Special opportunity would be given for scholars interested in Pacific administration to undertake advanced study not only at Canberra but in the Pacific territories. New Zealand and Australia had common problems and responsibilities which could not be discharged without a much greater number of technically trained administrators than they now had.

The university wanted contacts with the outside academic world. Professor .Copland added. “We are just as interested in persons outside Australia, who are of the right calibre.” he said. “Appointments to key positions are open to them.”