Arts’ summer program exceeds all expectations

The Faculty of Arts’ new summer session subject of “Politics, the Community and the Common Good” has been hailed as an outstanding success.

Subject co-ordinator, Dr Glenn Mitchell, said the program exceeded all expectations with enrolments five times higher than the most popular summer sessions subjects.

Attendance at some public lectures exceeded 300. The program has never been offered before at any of the country’s universities.

“The enthusiasm shown by UOW undergraduates and non-award community students was inspiring,” Dr Mitchell said.

“POL340 maintained a high academic standard over the busiest and hottest time of the year!”

Dr Mitchell said it showed that there was clearly a market – not just in Wollongong, the South Coast and the Southern Highlands – but in other parts of Australia for serious discussion of, and involvement in, areas of public debate that go to the heart of “what makes a good community”.

The program attracted high-profile speakers who addressed topics such as community engagement, empowerment and how education and knowledge can be used to advantage the ‘common good’.

Dr Mitchell said he was hopeful that the University would expand the subject.

He said the program had reinforced the University’s credentials and civic mission as an agency for positive community engagement.

Among the impressive line up of speakers participating were:

• Former High Court Justice Michael Kirby who is a respected international jurist and advocate for human rights

• Businessman, philanthropist and adventurer, Dick Smith, who is founder of Dick Smith Electronics, Dick Smith Foods, Australian Geographic and is credited as the first man to fly solo around the world via helicopter. He was Australian of the Year (1986)

• Former Independent Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly, Jaycees Australia’s Outstanding Young Man of the Year (1970), Australia’s ‘National Living Treasure’ (1998), legendary anti-corruption fighter and a Fellow of the University – John Hatton

• CEO of St Vincent’s de Paul, John Falzon

• Former Chairperson of the NSW Corrective Services Commission and famed promoter of equity, Professor Tony Vinson

• Honorary Professorial Fellow of the University, Emeritus Professor Stephen Hill, who is former Regional Director and Ambassador of the UN organisation, UNESCO. He promoted community empowerment in UN initiatives in Asia and the Pacific during the 1990s and 2000s. 

• Winner of a 2009 national award for excellence in teaching from UOW’s School of History and Politics, Dr Glenn Mitchell

Last reviewed: 1 February, 2010