Charles Darwin University

Public university in Northern Territory, Australia

Charles Darwin University

Emblem of Charles Darwin University

Former name

List

*     * Darwin Community College[1]
(1974–1984)
* Darwin Institute of Technology[1]
(1985–1988)
* Northern Territory University[1]
(1989–2003)

Type| Public research university
Established|

* 1974 (earliest college)[1]
* 1989 (university status)[1]
* 2003 (university merger)[1]

Accreditation| TEQSA

Academic affiliation

* Innovative Research Universities (IRU)

Budget| A$403.95 million (2023)[2]
Chancellor| Paul Henderson[3]
Vice-Chancellor| Scott Bowman[4]

Academic staff

| 606 (FTE, 2023)[5]

Administrative staff

| 893 (FTE, 2023)[6]

Total staff

| 1,499 (FTE, 2023)[7]
Students| 22,338 (2023)[8]
Undergraduates| 8,340 (2023)[9]
Postgraduates| 3,511 coursework (2023)
365 research (2023)[10]

Other students

* 9,305 (VET) (2023)[11]
* 1,249 other (2023)[12]

Address|

Ellengowan Drive

Darwin

Northern Territory

0810

Australia[13]

Campus| Urban and regional with multiple sites[13]
Named after| Charles Darwin
Colours| Blue Red[14]
Nickname| Dangudbila (Larrakia for kangaroos)[15]

Sporting affiliations

* UniSport
* EAEN

Website| cdu.edu.au

Charles Darwin University (CDU) is an Australian public university with a main campus in Darwin and eight satellite campuses in some metropolitan and regional areas. It was established in 2003 after the merger of Northern Territory University, the Menzies School of Health Research, and Centralian College.

CDU is a member of the group of seven Innovative Research Universities in Australia, and offers academic degrees as well as vocational education.

## History

[edit]

Charles Darwin University has evolved over the years through the merging of several higher education institutions.

### Darwin Community College

[edit]

Darwin Community College, founded in 1974 and renamed Darwin Institute of Technology in 1984, was a combined College of Advanced Education and a TAFE College. It was situated on what is now the Casuarina Campus, although it used other buildings at various times in Darwin. By the time of the formation of the Northern Territory University, it gave degrees in arts, education, business and applied science.[16]

### Menzies School of Health Research

[edit]

The Menzies School of Health Research was established in 1985 as a body corporate of the Northern Territory Government under the Menzies School of Health Research Act 1985.[17] This act was amended in 2004 to formalise the relationship with Charles Darwin University.[18] Menzies is now a major partner of CDU and constitutes a school within the university on campus at CDU Casuarina offering post-graduate degrees and higher degrees by research.[19]

### University College of the Northern Territory

[edit]

On several occasions the Government of the Northern Territory requested the Australian Commonwealth Government to finance a university in the territory. The response was always that the population was too small. In 1985, it took the unusual step of financing the University College of the Northern Territory itself for a five-year period from 1987 to 1991. The college was governed by a council, chaired by Austin Asche and led by a warden, Professor Jim Thomson, from the University of Queensland. An arrangement was made with the University of Queensland that the college would award degrees from that institution. Staff were recruited in 1986 and housed in the old Darwin Primary School buildings. Just prior to taking the first students in February 1987, the college moved to converted building of the former Darwin Hospital at Myilly Point in Darwin. The former nurses' hostel became a student residence, named International House. The college had two faculties, of arts and science. It awarded, through the University of Queensland link, the first Doctor of Philosophy degrees in the Northern Territory.[20][page needed]

### Centralian College

[edit]

Centralian College was founded in 1993 from the merger of Sadadeen Senior Secondary College and the Alice Springs College of TAFE. During its life, the college delivered senior secondary, TAFE and higher education through its main campus in Alice Springs, and to a lesser extent the whole Northern Territory.[21]

After this body merged with NTU in 2003, a newly divested Centralian College became a senior secondary school, for students from Year 10 to Year 12. It shares its campus with the Charles Darwin University campus of Alice Springs. Centralian College uses the university's facilities and students attending Centralian College can participate in VET courses (as early as Year 10) offered by CDU.[22]

### Northern Territory University

[edit]

The Northern Territory University was founded in January 1989 by a merger of the Darwin Institute of Technology and the University College of the Northern Territory. The merger was controversial, but forced by the so-called Dawkins Revolution under federal Minister of Education John Dawkins. The new university started life on 1 January 1989. Degrees of the University of Queensland continued to be awarded to students who initially enrolled in them.

The first vice-chancellor was Professor Malcolm Nairn from Murdoch University in Western Australia. Under his leadership the university prospered and morale was high among both staff and students. However funding declined as student numbers rose. During his term of office the various study centres on the territory, that previously had been run directly by the NT Government, became part of the university. The Palmerston campus, for a few years previously a TAFE College, also became part of the university. The Palmerston campus is situated on University Avenue, as this was the proposed site for a new university in a submission to the federal government in 1981.[citation needed]

The second vice-chancellor was Professor Roger Holmes from Griffith University. After an initial excellent start to his period of office, he disappointed the university and local community by resigning after serving for only one semester to take up the post of vice-chancellor at University of Newcastle.[citation needed]

He was replaced as third vice-chancellor by the then deputy vice-chancellor, Professor Ron McKay. Under his leadership, the financial constraints on the university increased. The environment of having to provide as wide as possible a tertiary education to a small population living in a very large area far from alternative institutions became even more hostile and the university did not prosper. In January 2001, the Katherine Rural College, including Mataranka Station, became part of the university.[citation needed]

After McKay's resignation due to ill health in 2002, an interim vice-chancellor, Professor Ken McKinnon, former vice-chancellor of the University of Wollongong was appointed. He took various actions to improve the health of the university, some controversial, such as the proposal to merge with Centralian College with a new name for the university.[citation needed]

### Charles Darwin University

[edit]

Library, Palmerston campus

On 21 August 2003, the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly passed the Charles Darwin University Act 2003 (NT), merging Alice Springs' Centralian College and the Menzies School of Health Research with the Northern Territory University to form Charles Darwin University from 1 January 2004. The inaugural university council meeting was held on 26 November 2003.[23][24]

## Organisation

[edit]

Courtyard, Casuarina campus

Charles Darwin University is a dual-sector university, which means the university offers vocational education and training (aka VET) courses and higher education undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, covering a wide range of subjects and disciplines.[citation needed][25][26]

CDU is a member of the group of seven Innovative Research Universities in Australia,[27] It has close links with Flinders University in South Australia, which itself has many students from the Northern Territory, including joint management of the Centre for Remote Health in Alice Springs and the Northern Territory Medical Program which is located on campus at Casuarina CDU.[28]

According to the 2019 annual report, enrolments in 2019 totalled 20,649 students, with 14,847 students enrolled in vocational and educational training courses and 12,343 enrolled in higher education degrees.[29]

### Colleges

[edit]

CDU is made up of six Colleges:[30]

* Asia Pacific College of Business and Law[31]
* College of Education[32]
* College of Engineering, IT and Environment[33]
* College of Health & Human Sciences[34]
* College of Indigenous Futures, Arts & Society[35]
* College of Nursing & Midwifery[36]

Vocational Education and Training is embedded within the Colleges.[citation needed]

### Campuses

[edit]

The university has its main campus in Darwin, with eight satellite campuses in some metropolitan and regional areas.[37][25][26][38]

### Research institutes and centres

[edit]

The university's research institutes and centres include:[citation needed]

* North Australian Centre for Oil and Gas [39]
* Menzies School of Health Research[40] (see also above)
* The Northern Institute
* Research Institute for Environment & Livelihoods
* Australian Centre for Indigenous Knowledge and Education (ACIKE)
* Research Centre for Health and Wellbeing
* Centre for Renewable Energy
* Centre for School Leadership, Learning & Development
* International Centre for Education (IGCE)

## Academic profile

[edit]

### Rankings

[edit]

University rankings

Global rankings
QS[41]| 621-630
THE[42]| 401-500
ARWU[43]| –
U.S. News & World Report[44]| 936=
Australian rankings
QS[45]| 32
THE[46]| 29–32
ARWU[47]| –
U.S. News & World Report[48]| 33=
ERA[50]| 37[49]

According to Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings of 2021, Charles Darwin University is ranked 501–600th in the world and 29th in Australia.[51] It is also ranked 101–150th in the world in the 2020 Times Higher Education 100 Under 50,[52] making it the youngest university in Australia to make this list.

In the 2019 Student Experience Survey, Charles Darwin University recorded an overall satisfaction rating of 75.2.[53][54]

## Student associations

[edit]

Students are represented by the CDU Student Council (CDUSC), and postgraduate students by the CDU Postgraduate Student Association, a member of the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations. Multiple student associations also exist for the individual schools, including the CDU Law Students' Society,[55] associated with the Australian Law Students' Association,[56] and the CDU Business Students' Association. These student groups offer academic, career and professional support to their members, as well as organizing social events throughout the year.

## Vincent Lingiari Memorial Lecture

[edit]

The Vincent Lingiari Memorial Lectures were established in 1996 to commemorate the Wave Hill walk-off, which was led by Gurindji man Vincent Lingiari in August 1966. Held annually at the Casuarina campus amphitheatre, and open to the public, the lecture now forms part of the Gurindji Freedom Day Festival events. Past lectures have been given by William Deane, Gough Whitlam, Galarrwuy Yunupingu, Patrick Dodson, Malcolm Fraser, and Marcia Langton.[57]

Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, the 2020 lecture was jointly presented in an online format by Pat Dodson, Marcia Langton and Bruce Pascoe.[57]

In 2022, Torres Strait Islander man Thomas Mayo,[a] advocate for the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the proposed Indigenous Voice to Parliament, delivered the oration. He drew parallels between Lingiari's struggle to be heard by governments to what Indigenous peoples of Australia are experiencing today.[59]

## Territory FM

[edit]

104.1 Territory FM is a community radio station owned by CDU and based at the Darwin City campus. The station is broadcast on 104.1 Darwin and Palmerston and 98.7 Alice Springs and can also be heard in Batchelor, Katherine / Tindal, Tennant Creek, Nhulunbuy and Adelaide River.[citation needed]

## Notable people

[edit]

See also: List of Charles Darwin University people

The current and fourth chancellor of the university is the Honourable Paul Henderson, inducted March 2019.[60] The vice-chancellor and president of the university since May 2021 is Professor Scott Bowman.[4]

## See also

[edit]

* List of universities in Australia

## Footnotes

[edit]

1. ^ Formerly known as Thomas Mayor.[58]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f "History of CDU | Charles Darwin University".
2. ^ https://www.cdu.edu.au/files/2024-06/annual-report-2023.pdf [bare URL PDF]
3. ^ "Chancellor: Paul Henderson AO". About CDU: Structure and leadership. Charles Darwin University. Archived from the original on 28 March 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
4. ^ a b "Charles Darwin University welcomes new Vice-Chancellor and President". Charles Darwin University. 18 February 2021. Archived from the original on 18 February 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
5. ^ https://www.cdu.edu.au/files/2024-06/annual-report-2023.pdf [bare URL PDF]
6. ^ https://www.cdu.edu.au/files/2024-06/annual-report-2023.pdf [bare URL PDF]
7. ^ https://www.cdu.edu.au/files/2024-06/annual-report-2023.pdf [bare URL PDF]
8. ^ https://www.cdu.edu.au/files/2024-06/annual-report-2023.pdf [bare URL PDF]
9. ^ https://www.cdu.edu.au/files/2024-06/annual-report-2023.pdf [bare URL PDF]
10. ^ https://www.cdu.edu.au/files/2023-06/cdu-annual-report-2022.pdf [bare URL PDF]
11. ^ https://www.cdu.edu.au/files/2024-06/annual-report-2023.pdf [bare URL PDF]
12. ^ https://www.cdu.edu.au/files/2024-06/annual-report-2023.pdf [bare URL PDF]
13. ^ a b "Our campus & centre locations | Charles Darwin University".
14. ^ "Style Guide".
15. ^ "CDU students ready to make their mark at Indigenous Nationals games | Charles Darwin University". 23 June 2023.
16. ^ "Darwin Community College". Charles Darwin University. Archived from the original on 31 August 2007. Retrieved 19 August 2008.
17. ^ "Act No. 60 of 1985". Archived from the original on 3 February 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
18. ^ "About us". Archived from the original on 30 November 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
19. ^ "Education and training". Archived from the original on 16 July 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
20. ^ Webb, Charles (2014). "Cdu-eventful-journey" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 July 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
21. ^ "Centralian College". Charles Darwin University. Archived from the original on 10 August 2008. Retrieved 19 August 2008.
22. ^ Webb, Charles J. (2014). "Cdu-eventful-journey" (PDF). www.google.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 July 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
23. ^ "Leadership". Charles Darwin University. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 19 August 2008.
24. ^ "Charles Darwin University Act 2003 (NT) Second Reading Speech". Archived from the original on 11 November 2005. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
25. ^ a b Webb, Charles J. (2014). "Cdu-eventful-journey" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 July 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
26. ^ a b Zoellner, Don (2017). Vocational education and training. Australia: ANU Press. ISBN 9781760460990.
27. ^ "Innovative Research Universities (IRU) – Innovative Research Universities (IRU)". Archived from the original on 16 July 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
28. ^ "Home – CRH – Centre for Remote Health". Archived from the original on 16 July 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
29. ^ "Annual reports". Archived from the original on 29 November 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
30. ^ "Colleges & Vocational Education and Training (VET)". Archived from the original on 1 December 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
31. ^ "Asia Pacific College of Business & Law". Archived from the original on 1 December 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
32. ^ "College of Education". Archived from the original on 1 December 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
33. ^ "College of Engineering, IT & Environment". Archived from the original on 1 December 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
34. ^ "College of Health & Human Sciences". Archived from the original on 3 January 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
35. ^ "College of Indigenous Futures, Arts & Society". Archived from the original on 29 November 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
36. ^ "College of Nursing & Midwifery". Archived from the original on 1 December 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
37. ^ "Our locations". Charles Darwin University. Archived from the original on 26 March 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
38. ^ "Charles Darwin University". 2022.
39. ^ "North Australian Centre for Oil and Gas (NACOG)". Archived from the original on 16 July 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
40. ^ "Menzies – School of Health Research". Archived from the original on 16 July 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
41. ^ "QS World University Rankings 2025". Quacquarelli Symonds Limited.
42. ^ "World University Rankings 2024". Times Higher Education.
43. ^ "Academic Ranking of World Universities 2024". Shanghai Ranking Consultancy.
44. ^ "U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities Rankings". U.S. News & World Report.
45. ^ "QS World University Rankings 2025 - Australia". Quacquarelli Symonds Limited.
46. ^ "World University Rankings 2024 - Australia". Times Higher Education.
47. ^ "Academic Ranking of World Universities 2024 - Australia". Shanghai Ranking Consultancy.
48. ^ "U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities in Australia". U.S. News & World Report.
49. ^ "ERA Research Excellence Rankings Analysis". The Australian. 4 December 2015. Archived from the original on 4 August 2017. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
50. ^ "Australian University Rankings". Australian Education Network.
51. ^ "Times Higher Education(THE) World University Ranking 2021". 25 August 2020. Archived from the original on 2 September 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
52. ^ "Charles Darwin University". Times Higher Education (THE). Archived from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
53. ^ "2019 Student Experience Survey" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
54. ^ Baker, Jordan (10 March 2020). "UNSW students least satisfied in the country, survey shows". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 22 June 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
55. ^ "Home – CDULSS". Archived from the original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
56. ^ "Member Associations". Archived from the original on 23 February 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
57. ^ a b "Vincent Lingiari Memorial Lecture". Charles Darwin University. Archived from the original on 11 September 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
58. ^ "The Voice to Parliament". Readings Books. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
59. ^ Collard, Sarah (25 August 2022). "Don't let 'low bar politics' hold back Indigenous voice, advocate to say in Lingiari lecture". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
60. ^ "Chancellor: The Honourable Paul Henderson AO". Charles Darwin University. Archived from the original on 1 May 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2021.

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[edit]

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