'Gown beyond Town': the role of a satellite campus
Looking at the role and challenges of a satellite campus through dialogue between MyAV·¶ and University of Sydney
27 January 2020
Academics from MyAV·¶ and the University of Sydney (USyd) recently took part in a workshop exploring the role and challenges of the satellite campus.
At the âGown beyond Townâ event at MyAV·¶ Here East in December 2019, attendees considered global perspectives on university expansion.
MyAV·¶ is currently constructing a new campus, MyAV·¶ East, on the site of the 2012 Olympic Games and, in advance, has opened MyAV·¶ Here East, while USyd plans to establish the new Paramatta-Westmead campus in western Sydney.
The event explored how, in both cases, establishing a second campus can speak to institutional growth that exceeds the capacity of a central campus anchored to a nineteenth-century core. Attendees considered how a satellite campus can be envisioned as an invitation to recast the relationship of the university within its urban setting, while offering an opportunity to test new ways of teaching, research and engaging with the public.
Andrew discussed how the institutions we know now have little resemblance to what they once were, with contemporary universities being much larger, more diverse, more complex and more commercial.
The remaining two days consisted of innovative knowledge exchange between delegates including Professor Andrew Edkins (MyAV·¶ BREI), Paul Temple (IOE, MyAV·¶'s Faculty of Education and Society), Dr Clare Melhuish (Director MyAV·¶ Urban Lab) and many more guest scholars from USyd.
Professor Paola Lettieri, Academic Director of MyAV·¶ East, shared insight into the research that went into developing the MyAV·¶ East campus and providing it with a strong academic vision, as well as a strong commitment to widening participation, outreach and access.
She said: "MyAV·¶ East will bring together researchers, students, communities and partners to collaborate on solutions to the biggest, and most fundamental, challenges facing humanity â both today and in the future."