Former Queensland Rhodes Scholar and political scientist Professor Don Markwell has been appointed to lead The University of Western Australia's academic programs as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education).
Announcing the appointment today, UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Alan Robson said Professor Markwell, currently Warden of Trinity College in the University of Melbourne, would join UWA in January next year.
"The University is delighted that Professor Markwell has accepted this important role particularly given his wide experience and the increased national and international focus on the higher education sector," Professor Robson said.
"I am confident that Professor Markwell will occupy this position within the University's leadership team with distinction. It is important that the University continues to articulate the values of teaching and learning and the benefits they bring to our community more broadly."
Rhodes Scholar for Queensland in 1981, Professor Markwell has been Warden of Trinity College since 1997 and is a Professorial Fellow of the University of Melbourne's Department of Political Science. Prior to this, he was a Fellow of Merton College, Oxford, and University of Oxford lecturer in Politics from 1986 to 1997.
As Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) at The University of Western Australia, Professor Markwell will lead and oversee UWA's academic programs, focussing strongly on the quality of the student learning experience. One of his early tasks will be a consultative review of curriculum and degrees.
"As someone long-focussed on the highest-quality student learning experience, I believe this is an exciting and important challenge in one of Australia's finest universities," he said.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Melbourne, Professor Glyn Davis, congratulated Professor Markwell on his appointment to The University of Western Australia.
"I have enjoyed working closely with Don Markwell on many issues, and deeply appreciate the outstanding contribution which he and Trinity College make to the wider University. 'Don Markwell will bring an outstanding intellect and outstanding leadership skills to his important new role at UWA," Professor Davis said.
