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<\/p>\nMore than 750 special guests celebrated \u201850 Years of Innovation\u2019 with Curtin University at a Gala Dinner recognising half a century of excellence in teaching, research and innovation.<\/p>\n
Among those who celebrated the combined history of the Western Australian Institute of Technology (WAIT) and Curtin University, since 1967 and 1987 respectively, included Her Excellency the Honourable Kerry Sanderson AC, Governor of Western Australia, the Honourable Mark McGowan MLA, Premier of Western Australia, key local and national industry representatives and international guests.<\/p>\n
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Curtin University Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Terry said she was delighted to celebrate the significant achievements the institution had made over the past 50 years with so many important partners.<\/p>\n
\u201cAcross the last five decades, our forward-looking character has driven our educational and research achievements and made us an important contributor to the nation and the region,\u201d Professor Terry said.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday, Curtin is a large and sophisticated global university with campuses in Australia, Malaysia, and Singapore, with a campus set to open in Dubai in September.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Gala Dinner was a wonderful opportunity for us to thank the Western Australian community and our many State, national and international partners who have contributed to Curtin\u2019s success over the last five decades.\u201d<\/p>\n
Professor Terry said Curtin had grown from almost 3000 young Western Australians enrolled at WAIT in 1967, to WA\u2019s largest university with more than 58,000 students and more than 220,000 alumni today.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday, Curtin is one of Perth\u2019s biggest single-site employers, directly employing more than 4000 people and indirectly being responsible for some 12,000 jobs in WA, contributing about $1.9 billion to the WA economy in 2016,\u201d Professor Terry said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd we should all feel very proud that in our 50th year we have been placed in the top one per cent of universities worldwide and ninth in Australia in the prestigious Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU).\u201d<\/p>\n
The \u201850 Years of Innovation\u2019 Gala Dinner was held at Crown Towers, Burswood.<\/p>\n