VC Pascale Quester announces a “bold and ambitious plan”

Professor Quester says her Horizon 25 strategic plan, is to build Swinburne U “as the prototype of a new and different university, one that is truly of technology, of innovation and of entrepreneurship and proud of it.”

She told staff yesterday that Swinburne U would eschew “incremental steps” and commit to four “moon shots,” by the end of 2025.

* “every Swinburne learner gets a work experience”

* “every Swinburne graduate gets a job”

* “every Swinburne partner gets a tech solution,” and

* Swinburne U “is the prototype of global best practice”

It is a fundamental plan to build the brand – research last August reported while 30 per cent of prospective students “would consider Swinburne,” “lack of familiarity was the key barrier.”

The university’s consumer brand (to launch next week) is, “Next Gen_Now” with positioning to “act like a tech company, positioning Swinburne at the cutting edge of what is happening right now, with an unveiling of our new upgraded offering each year.”

“It’s not how a university would normally talk, it’s the way tech companies position a new product, and that’s very deliberate,” staff learned yesterday.