STAFF WRITERS
PROFESSOR Duncan Bentley will continue as vice chancellor and president of Federation University Australia after being reappointed to the position for a further five-year term.
Professor Bentley was first appointed vice chancellor in 2020 at a time when the university was navigating the challenging impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and has since led the university on a transformation agenda aimed at improving the learner experience, strengthening engagement with regional communities and ensuring its long-term financial sustainability.
A key achievement during Professor Bentley’s first term was the introduction of the Federation Co-operative Education Model – a globally proven model which gets students world and work ready through paid placements, career preparation and workplace skill development.
“I am delighted and honoured and to be reappointed to the position of vice chancellor and president of Federation University Australia,” Professor Bentley said.
“My tenure at Federation has coincided with one of the most challenging, yet also exciting times for our university, and I am especially proud of seeing our co-operative education model move from strength-to-strength as it is embraced by students, staff, employers and communities across the country.
“My focus for my second term will be to position Federation as Australia’s first fully co-operative university, deliver an outstanding learner experience – particularly focused on supporting those from equity groups, while also supporting Federation TAFE’s ambition to become the number one TAFE in Victoria.”
Federation’s reputation as a world-class regional university has been enhanced under Professor Bentley’s leadership, including a significant improvement in the latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings, with the university moving into the top 401-500 universities in the world, an uplift on its position last year when it was within the top 601-800 universities globally.
Professor Bentley will continue to be a vocal advocate for the university and the regions it serves, while ensuring that Federation continues to deliver on its core objective of transforming lives and enhancing communities through improving equitable access to tertiary education, and supporting regional economic growth through the delivery of world-class learning, teaching and research.
Federation has campuses in Gippsland (Churchill), Berwick, Ballarat, Melbourne, and in the Wimmera region.
