President Bill Clinton commemorates official launch of Torrens University Australia with key note address outlining his vision for global education in the future

Adelaide, 24 July 2014: To officially commemorate the launch and inaugural year of Torrens University Australia, President Bill Clinton – The Honorary Chancellor of Laureate International Universities – today addressed hundreds of academic staff, students and industry leaders at the Festival Centre in Adelaide, outlining his future vision for global education.

Laureate International Universities – of which Torrens University Australia is part - comprises more than 75 accredited campus-based and online universities, catering to over 850,000 students spanning 29 countries throughout Asia-Pacific, North America, Latin America, Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.

In his role as Honorary Chancellor, President Clinton advises Laureate on social responsibility, youth leadership and increasing access to higher education. He has spoken to tens of thousands of students and academic staff at Laureate International Universities worldwide – however today is the first time he has had the opportunity to address students and academic staff from Laureate’s Australian based institutions including Torrens, the Blue Mountains International Hospitality Management School (BMIHMS) and THINK Education[i].

Ms Linda Brown, CEO of Laureate Australia said, “Laureate International Universities is incredibly honoured to have President Bill Clinton at its helm, championing Laureate’s commitment to raise new benchmarks in the higher education sector through ongoing innovation in program content, delivery platforms and teaching technologies that place students, social learning and industry partnerships at its core.”

“Leveraging the strength of its worldwide network, Laureate’s aim is to deliver an international perspective to education and help students achieve and succeed in a global marketplace. Torrens University Australia, BMIHMS and Think Education combine to give the network a significant presence in Australia, which strengthens its ability to fulfil this promise in the Asia Pacific, and beyond.”

Mr Michael Mann AM, Chancellor of Torrens University Australia said, “President Clinton’s presence here today is yet another milestone in what has been an incredibly exciting inaugural year for Torrens University Australia and the launch of its first Australian campus in Adelaide. Torrens is Australia’s newest comprehensive university – the first to open in 20 years – and in line with Laureate’s commitment to innovation in education we are crafting a brand new university model, designed in conjunction with industry, to better meet student and employer needs in the 21st century.”

About Laureate International Universities:

Laureate International Universities comprises more than 75 accredited campus-based and online universities, catering to over 850,000 students spanning 29 countries. Laureate universities offer hundreds of undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degree programs in fields including architecture, art, business, culinary arts, design, education, engineering, health sciences, hospitality management, information technology, law and medicine. www.laureate.net.

Laureate International Universities in Australia

Overview of Laureate’s Australian based education portfolio

 

Torrens University Australia

As Australia’s 40^th comprehensive university, Torrens University Australia aims to deliver an innovative environment for learning, scholarship and research that is culturally diverse, career-oriented, and with a distinctive global perspective. Offering a range of undergraduate, postgraduate and higher degree by research programs – for study on-campus, online or a mix of both depending on the program selected – all programs are built on the University’s keystone “Torrens You First Commitment” centered on flexible and fast-track delivery, accessibility, innovative learning, industry and global connectivity.

Torrens University Australia’s first campus opened in Adelaide in January 2014, offering programs in the fields of Commerce, Business, Public Health, Global Project Management and Education. The University is internationally focused and plans to expand its campus offering to additional Australian cities. Torrens University Australia is approved by the Australian Tertiary Education Quality Standards Agency (TEQSA) and its students are eligible for FEE-Help.

For further information, visit www.tua.com.au

Think Education

From health to design, business and hospitality, Think Education eight colleges equip more than 10,000 students with the skills and knowledge to successfully lead their careers, tackle global challenges, and change the future. Think Education includes some of Australia’s most respected colleges, covering a diverse range of specialist courses – from Business and Design, to Health and Hospitality.

Colleges include: APM College of Business and Communication; Australasian College of Natural Therapies; Australian National College of Beauty; Billy Blue College of Design; CATC Design School; Jansen Newman Institute; Southern School of Natural Therapies, and William Blue College of Hospitality Management.

For further information, visit www.think.edu.au

Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School (BMIHMS)

Each year, more than 500 new students experience Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School's (BMIHMS) unique approach to hotel and resort management education. Since BMIHMS was founded in 1991, the school has produced more than 3,500 graduates from more than 50 countries. Most graduates move into senior management roles within six years of graduation. BMIHMS has campuses in Leura and Sydney, Australia and Suzhou, China.

For further information, visit www.bluemountains.edu.au

Laureate International Universities

Laureate International Universities is a global network of more than 75 institutions in 29 countries providing programs to over 850,000 students on-campus and online throughout the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Laureate has 13 higher education institutions across Asia Pacific. In Australia, its education offerings include Torrens University Australia; THINK Education and Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School (BMIHMS).

Laureate's institutions offer hundreds of career-focused undergraduate, master's and doctoral degree programs in fields from architecture, art, business, culinary arts, design, education, engineering, health sciences, hospitality management, information technology, to law and medicine. President Bill Clinton, 42nd President of the United States, serves as The Honorary Chancellor of Laureate International Universities, offering advice on social responsibility, youth leadership and increasing access to higher education.

For further information, visit www.laureate.net

Source

Anne Wild & Associates – media relations representatives for Torrens University Australia