AGSM @ UNSW Business School has celebrated its 40th anniversary with more than 250 members of the nation’s business community at an immersive experience at Sydney’s Circular Quay.
AGSM @ UNSW Business School has celebrated its 40th anniversary with more than 250 members of the nation’s business community at an immersive experience at Sydney’s Circular Quay.
Guests including business partners, donors, senior university staff and AGSM Fellows were invited to walk through an interactive exhibition showcasing the history of AGSM from conception through to the school’s digital future.
AGSM graduate Ms Lucy Turnbull AO was guest of honour and delivered the alumni address.
"Everything I have done since my graduation, in the private sector, the startup sector, the not-for-profit sector, and in social innovation, has been greatly influenced by the AGSM," she said, " and I can’t thank them enough."
Guests were also addressed by UNSW Chancellor, Mr David Gonski AC, UNSW President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Jacobs, UNSW Business School Dean Professor Chris Styles and AGSM Director and Deputy Dean of the Business School, Professor Julie Cogin.
Established 40 years ago following a Committee of Inquiry into postgraduate management education, AGSM has grown to become one of the nation’s top business schools and has produced business leaders across the world.
AGSM delivers Australia’s only online MBA that is recognised in the Financial Times (UK) Online MBA Rankings, the MBAX, ranked 1st in Australia and 4th in the world. Forbes also lists AGSM as the leading full-time MBA in Australia, and 11th worldwide among non-US programs, while the Financial Times Global MBA Rankings (UK) places AGSM 54th in the world (an uplift of 21 places in 2 years).
Professor Cogin said: “We have been a leading Business School for 40 years and move into the future, again leading the way: with digital initiatives that include our online MBA, our digital course content and an AGSM ecosystem that connects students and alumni from across the globe.
“The AGSM has a distinguished history, built on the achievements of our 16,000 graduates. Our ultimate goal is to prepare great people to achieve great things, and it is thanks to our community that we can cement our place among the world’s best business schools, for which we and our alumni, students and faculty can be justly proud. As we look to the next 40 years, we look forward to working with our community to ensure we are constantly evolving to serve the needs of our students and the businesses of the future.”
Mr Gonski said alumni of the AGSM had made significant contributions across the world. "I want to congratulate those of you who are alumni. When you look at what you have done as a body of people, it is amazing.”
The AGSM was created after a 1970 government committee of inquiry recommended it as a solution to the underdeveloped, scattered programs for management around Australia.
“Our group was most impressed with the University of New South Wales,” said one of the report’s authors William Frederick. “They seemed to grasp the nation’s need more than any other Australian university.”
The 40th Anniversary Exhibition is also open to AGSM’s staff, student and alumni community on Friday 24 March and a series of initiatives to honour the 40th anniversary will be launched throughout 2017.
Media contacts: Janine MacDonald, Director, Public Affairs, UNSW Business School: 0478 492 110