The University of Wollongong is certainly thinking well outside the nine dots when it comes to student accommodation. Acquisition of the 150 room Ibis hotel in the heart of Wollongong joins the 84 room Keiraview hotel and inclusion of 25 rooms at Rydges hotel in providing much needed live-in accommodation for students - and there are plans for a 350 bed development at Gwynville.
The University of Wollongong is a " smart " university that has won numerous awards for innovative thinking. It's planners are tackling problems that other universities have consigned to " the too hard basket " - and taking a broader view of how a well managed university and it's huge number of students can help develop and be an asset to it's host city.
A prime example is the plan to house students in the CBD to create a more vibrant city centre which would do much to bring the city to life at night. At present, the Mall simply " dies " when the shops turn off their lights and close their doors because few actually live there - and that is about to change.
We already have a free Shuttle bus serving the transport needs of the city and this services the university. It will become a vital part of moving students from their place of living to their place of learning - and their return when the university day is over.
The management of our university have accepted the challenge to expand university services to provide everything a young person needs to gain a higher education. Not only will this see the university expand - it will also do it in lock step with this city of Wollongong.
The future looks bright in the field of education !
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