The University of South Australia (UniSA) is a public research university in the Australian state of South Australia. It is a founding member of the Australian Technology Network of universities, and is the largest university in South Australia with approximately 37,000 students.
The university was founded in its current form in 1991 with the merger of the South Australian Institute of Technology (SAIT, established in 1889 as the South Australian School of Mines and Industries) and the South Australian College of Advanced Education (SACAE, established 1856). The legislation to establish and name the new University of South Australia was introduced by the Hon Mike Rann MP, then Minister of Employment and Further Education. Under the University's Act, its original mission was "to preserve, extend and disseminate knowledge through teaching, research, scholarship and consultancy, and to provide educational programs that will enhance the diverse cultural life of the wider community".
UniSA is among the world's top newer universities, ranked in the World's Top 50 Under 50 (universities which are under 50 years old) by both the Quacarelli Symonds (QS) World University Ranking (#29) and Times Higher Education (THE) (#46). It has two Adelaide city centre campuses, two Adelaide metropolitan campuses, and two South Australian regional campuses.
History
UniSA was formed in 1991 by the merger of the South Australian Institute of Technology with three South Australian College of Advanced Education campuses. To the former SACAE campuses of Magill, Salisbury, and Underdale, SAIT added its three campuses at City East, The Levels (now called Mawson Lakes) and Whyalla. The two other SACAE campuses, City (adjacent to University of Adelaide), and Sturt (in Bedford Park, adjacent to Flinders University), were later merged into their nearby universities.
School of Arts
The South Australian School of Arts can trace its history back to 1856 and the work of Charles Hill and H. P. Gill, and connected to the South Australian School of Design. As such, it can claim to be one of the oldest art schools in Australia, and the oldest public art school. The school, now within UniSA's Division of Education, Arts and Social Sciences, is also known for providing a visual arts scholarship, the Ann & Gordon Samstag Scholarship.
SACAE
The South Australian College of Advanced Education (SACAE) was formed in 1982 with the merger of five Colleges of Advanced Education (CAE). Adelaide, Hartley, Salisbury, Sturt, and Torrens CAEs became the Adelaide, Magill, Salisbury, Sturt, and Underdale campuses of the SACAE.
The CAE themselves were formed from various teachers' colleges in 1973. Adelaide CAE developed from Adelaide Teachers' College (est. 1921), which had its roots in a training school established in 1876. Murray Park CAE originated from Wattle Park Teachers College, which branched off from Adelaide Teachers College in 1957. Torrens CAE had its origins in the South Australian School of Arts, which dates back to 1856, and in Western Teachers College, which branched off from Adelaide Teachers College in 1962. Kingston CAE developed from the Adelaide Kindergarten Teachers College (est. 1967), which had its roots in a kindergarten training centre established in 1907. Sturt CAE was originally Bedford Park Teachers College (est. 1966). Salisbury CAE was originally Salisbury Teachers College (est. 1968). In 1979, Hartley CAE was formed from the merger of Murray Park CAE and Kingston CAE.
SAIT
The South Australian Institute of Technology traced its origins back to 1889 when the South Australian School of Mines and Industries established on the corner of North Terrace and Frome Road between the University of Adelaide and the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
The building, towards which Sir George Brookman was a significant contributor, and now known as the Brookman Building, was officially opened by Sir Samuel Way (lieutenant-governor) on 24 February 1903, after three years of construction. It was located on the site formerly the eastern annexe of the Jubilee Exhibition Building. When opened, only the main hall was named after George Brookman, and a plaque commemorating his contribution is still located in the hall. The Brookman Building in Grenfell Street, Adelaide city centre (now the site of the Grenfell Centre), was his business headquarters.