B/1 History of QUT
The Queensland Institute of Technology was established in 1965 as part of Queensland's response to Commonwealth directions at the time for the development of higher education in Australia within distinct sectors of universities, technological institutions and teacher-training colleges, with coordination by a single federal body.
QIT replaced the Brisbane Central Technical College, which had operated under the control of the State Department of Education. In its early years, the Institute continued to operate under the Education Department's control. In 1970, however, following amendments to the Education Act, QIT was granted self-government. The first Institute Council was appointed in June 1971.
Australian Government reforms to higher education in the late 1980s ended the arbitrary, binary divide between higher education institutions and resulted in a unified national system of higher education characterised by fewer, larger institutions across Australia. In the Unified National System, institutions were funded on the basis of their teaching and research performance. Most non-university institutions were either amalgamated with or reconstituted as universities.
QIT became the Queensland University of Technology in 1989 and commenced negotiations for amalgamation with the Brisbane College of Advanced Education (BCAE). On 1 May 1990, QUT amalgamated with BCAE (Kelvin Grove, Kedron Park and Carseldine campuses and the Sunshine Coast Centre) under the Queensland University of Technology and Brisbane College of Advanced Education Amalgamation Act. A comprehensive review of academic and non-faculty organisational structures was completed in October 1990, resulting in the creation of eight new faculties, three administrative divisions and a Chancellery structure.
The University is now located on three main campuses: Gardens Point, Kelvin Grove and Carseldine (the Kedron Park campus closed in 1995), and the Caboolture Community campus. In 2007, 38,953 students were enrolled at the University on three campuses serving the central city and north Brisbane region. In 2006 it graduated more than 9587 students, including 3225 at postgraduate level. QUT offers more than 400 courses covering most professional fields.
QUT brands itself as a university for the real world. To date this positioning has emphasised the employability of graduates and the applied nature of research. The strategy has been largely successful as evidenced by sustained strong demand for QUT's courses and success in competitive grants for collaborative research.
Council appointed Professor Peter Coaldrake, formerly Deputy Vice-Chancellor, to the position of Vice-Chancellor for a seven year term commencing on 14 April 2003.