By Matthew Sims
Federation University Australia will be expanding operations at its Berwick campus after it reached agreement with Monash University for control of the site
Since commencing operations at the Berwick campus in 2017, Federation University has been leasing the facility from Monash University, which established the site in 1996.
While the previous leasing arrangement allowed Federation to deliver high quality education and research operations from the Berwick campus, having full control will allow the university to invest more into the campus and better serve the needs of the local community and businesses to deliver a pipeline of highly skilled graduates for the growing Berwick community and South East area.
Federation University vice chancellor and president Professor Duncan Bentley said the agreement will allow the university to prosper for many more years.
“Federation welcomes the signing of the agreement that sees Berwick campus finally become University property,“ he said.
“This agreement will enable us to fulfill our campus vision for Berwick and provide an expanded offering that will better serve the education needs of the community for generations to come.
“I would like to thank Monash for their support in finalising our agreement for the campus site.“
The agreement coincides with Federation University’s expansion of course offerings at its Berwick campus from 2024, with the delivery of four new engineering courses from next year alongside the existing business, education, health, I.T, science, and society and culture courses that have seen thousands of students graduate from the campus over the years.
Securing the long-term future of the Berwick campus supports Federation’s commitment to becoming Australia’s first co-operative university, where all courses will be delivered in conjunction with industry partners from 2025.
Federation University Berwick campus regional strategy and engagement director Kathy Racunica said the expansion will allow the university to provide a wider range of learning opportunities across the South East.
“Our Berwick campus has a short, yet successful history and thanks to the support of the local community, city councils and our industry partners, we have given thousands of students the opportunity to study, and ultimately establish their careers closer to home,“ she said.
“By finalising the agreement for the campus site, Federation is now able to open its doors to a larger number of students in the south-east region of Melbourne.“
For more information about the Berwick campus, visit federation.edu.au/about-us/our-campuses/berwick
