ASIAWEEK POLL RANKS UNSW IN TOP TEN UNIVERSITIES IN ASIA

For the third year in a row, the respected Asiaweek magazine has ranked the University of New South Wales in the top ten universities in the Asian region.

In its third annual survey, Asiaweek ranked UNSW eighth - an improvement of two places on 1998 - out of 80 tertiary institutions, in which nine Australian universities are ranked.

UNSW is the highest ranked Australian university in the poll, with the University of Melbourne ranked tenth, the Australian National University thirteenth, and the University of Queensland nineteenth.

The survey cites UNSW as having the highest number of overseas students in the world, and scoring 17.5 out of 20 for its academic reputation.

The survey also cites further research conducted by UNSW last year where students were asked their opinion about their international classmates. "Most respondents found sharing a campus with foreigners to be an enriching and insightful experience," Asiaweek reported in its April 23 edition.

The report on the survey says UNSW is "making itself more attractive to potential students" through several recent initiatives including the opening in March of a $2.2 million International Office that will focus solely on raising the University's profile overseas.

Vice-Chancellor Professor John Niland said the Asiaweek survey confirmed that UNSW is a pre-eminent university in the region. "Despite the Asian economic crisis, students throughout the region are recognising UNSW as one of the leading universities," Professor Niland said.

The Asiaweek survey can be found on the Internet

56/99 Date issued: 22 April, 1999.

CONTACT: Professor Chris Fell, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & International) (02) 9385 2700;
UNSW Media Office (02) 9385 2864.