Griffith University supports vision for Gold Coast

12 February 2015

Griffith University today strongly endorsed the vision for a knowledge-led future for the Gold Coast, as outlined in a comprehensive new report.
Bernard Salt, of KPMG, released his commissioned report, Future Gold Coast (http://futuregoldcoast.com.au/), which analyses data to envision the city in 2050. A key component is the impact of education and the role it can have in shaping the city as the population heads from 600,000 to 1.2 million over the next 35 years.

Griffith University Gold Coast
Griffith University on the Gold Coast, Queensland

Senior Deputy Vice Chancellor Professor Ned Pankhurst highlighted the fact that Griffith University was already well down the path of creating “advanced medical research schools” and “nex-gen” teaching and learning, as outlined in the report.
“Griffith has invested hundreds of millions of dollars already in this area so it is pleasing to see it endorsed. Our Institute for Glycomics is the only one of its type in Australia and one of only six in the world. Late last year Griffith announced the new Menzies Health Institute Queensland to be established on the Coast. The Griffith Health Institute also has a number of leading research centres, many run in conjunction with the new Gold Coast University Hospital.
“In 2014 alone Griffith received more than eleven million dollars in National Health and Medical Research Council grants, with more than two million dollars of that going to Glycomics research projects, which were widely reported at the time.
“Even as late as yesterday the Executive Director of the Institute, Professor Mark von Itzstein, announced a breakthrough in understanding of human para-influenza virus. This work was all done at our Gold Coast campus.
“We are conducting human clinical trials on the Gold Coast in what would be the world’s first malaria vaccine. This advanced research by Professor Michael Good has been reported by medical and academic journals as well national media.”
The landmark collaboration between Griffith University and the world-renowned Menzies Foundation which will bring even more world-class research to the coast.
The report also called on the Gold Coast to embrace “nex-gen” learning such as 3D printing and its potential for body parts manufacturing—also areas of leadership for Griffith.
The Regenerative Medicine Centre has been doing this work since last year, importing a $500,000 printer specifically to assist with this research. The head of Griffith Engineering, Professor Geoff Tansley, last month presented at a symposium in India where he spoke on artificial hearts, such is the global regard for Griffith’s expertise in the area.
“We are pleased that the importance of these areas of research has been highlighted and it affirms the direction already set by Griffith,” Professor Pankhurst said.
Last year, Griffith University released its Master Plan which projects growth and development of the campus through to 2030, allowing for a doubling of its current size. This would meet the predicted demand for higher education outlined elsewhere in the Future Gold Coast report.
The schools of engineering and information technology at Griffith University fall under Griffith Sciences, which offers undergraduate, postgraduate and research degrees across sciences, engineering and technology. Through an interdisciplinary approach to learning and research the university is bridging boundaries and transforming futures.

About Griffith University

Students at Griffith learn from degrees informed by world-class research and industry connections. Students learn in and out of the classroom, with teaching methods tailored to suit the needs of each degree. Depending on your degree, you might learn through work placements, overseas field trips, industry projects for real clients, or laboratory studies in Griffith’s state-of-the-art facilities.
Faculties at Griffith University

  • Arts, Education and Law
  • Griffith Business School
  • Griffith Health
  • Griffith Sciences

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