Funding to help green university

BY MICK ROBERTS

A special one-off payment to two of Sydney’s landmark educational institutions will enable improvements in information technology and the environment.
The University of Sydney and University of Technology (UTS) will receive the Federal Government funding as part of an extra $500 million to help rebuild university infrastructure.
The University of Sydney will receive $35.2 million and the University of Technology will receive $13.7 million to improve information and communications technology, new laboratories, libraries and student study and teaching spaces.
The funding will provide support for high quality education, student amenities such as child care facilities and boost research capacity, Sydney MP Tanya Plibersek said.
Ms Plibersek said payment will help both universities to improve their campus infrastructure.
UTS Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Resources) Patrick Woods said the funding was an important step in the right direction, particularly in a sector that has done it tough for quite a few years.
‘Thought must be given to precisely how this funding will be spent by UTS, but it is safe to say it will contribute significantly to the quality of UTS’ facilities in the CBD and to our campus development masterplan,’ Professor Woods said.
‘In particular it will contribute to the ongoing greening of the UTS city campus and this will complement efforts underway by the City of Sydney in greening the city’s precincts.’
A University of Sydney spokesperson said their funds will be directed towards research infrastructure in the area of medical science.